I will be in Florence solo for a week in early Feb 2011 and am thinking of making at least one day trip - can anyone advise me on this? My options are Orvieto, Assisi, Poggio a Caiano, or Lucca. Given the shorter daylight hours and time to train or bus to each, which would you recommend would give me the most time at the destination, allowing me to get back into Florence at dusk or shortly thereafter?

Lucca is probably your best bet but have you considered Siena? If you haven't been there, it is a quick trip and a wonderful destination.

I agree--Lucca by train or Siena by bus. Both are about an hour away and the transit points are close to/or in town.

Without knowing your interests, I think it is pretty hard to advise. Bologna is a fantastic destination, 45 minutes from Florence.

Assisi is certainly 10 times in importance to Italy and Italian art than is Lucca. Orvieto is a bit far, but its cathedral is spectacular. Lucca is most enjoyed by people who like to stroll around and "wander" -- but in February, that might have limited appeal.

Why do you need to be back in Florence before dusk? It is a very, very brightly lit city, the streets are safe and the dinner hour isn't until 8-8:30. I can understand wanting to be back at your lodgings in time to freshen up for dinner and have a drink, but if the sun is setting around 5pm, I don't think you need to be back that early.

Anyway, weather is going to play a huge factor in what you might like to do. Bologna and Siena have many indoor sights (Bologna has more incredible shopping plus porticoes to keep rain and snow off you). But unless you are spending more than a week in Florence, you are not going to run out of things to do there indoors, and on a lousy day, you might skip waiting on a cold train platform and delve deeper into Florence.

On a lovely day, consider running up to Fiesole (a 15minute bus ride) to sample olive oil, enjoy the views, and visit the Roman ruins. Or Lucca and Siena depending on your interests.

Thanks for the replies - I am going to get to Siena and Bologna one of these days, just not on this trip, perhaps. And perhaps I wasn't clear in my question....I already know what my interests are and what I'd like to see/do. I really would like to get to Assisi or Orvieto if I could on this trip. What I am hoping to do is to get some input on which of my options, if any, would be suitable for a day trip when daylight hours are shorter and transportation options may be limited by weather, etc. I appreciate any thoughts you may have!

Lucca is spectacular and so close to Florence. But if you want to go to Assisi or Orvieto both are easy day trips from Florence by train or, in Assisi's case bus as trains to Assisi only deposit you in the valley a few miles under that hill top city but buses take you straight away up top. But Lucca IMO is hands above any of those places you mention and all of those places are stupendous. of course just my opinion after having been to all.

Have you looked at the Trenitalia website or read up on the bus connections to Orvieto and Assisi? The travel times are not going to change. There is a bus that takes you to the top of Assisi and a funicular that takes you to the top of Orvieto. Lucca is flat. Unless it is snowing or a deep freeze, the trains should run normally.

Given the shortness of the days, the Italian "pausa" and the fact that it may be very cold, you might want to base your decision partly on how early you would need to get up in the morning to make the day worthwhile, especially if you want to be back in Florence near sunset. If it is very cold, you may not want to be outside until well after the sun comes up. Most stores and some museums and tourist offices will start to shut at 12:30 and they will not re-open until 3:30 -- and you will need to be back on a train shortly after that.

Personally I find Lucca not at all as compelling as the art cities with world class art and architectural treasures, which describes Assisi and Orvieto. Moreover, it is not at all someplace I would plan to be in February, since it almost entirely an outdoor experience. You could luck out with a balmy day in February, but Lucca sits in a valley beneath Alps, and the norm is humid cold in February.

Orvieto is the most compact town in terms of sightseeing. If you go and see the cathedral, it's up to you how much more you want to stay after that, but it's not like you will be missing any more highlights. Assisi is a more complex place.

One other thing:

You'll need to have access to a weather forecast for Assisi and Orvieto before getting on a train -- even Lucca. Italy is a land of microclimates, and it can be sunny and dry in Firenze and snowing or raining a train ride away.