Hi all,

We are planning a trip in May and have a very long travel day to get from Chianti Florence all the way to Positano. I was wondering if anyone had two or three good rest stops that were along the way. Ideally split evenly between the two with one on the Florence side of Rome and the other on the other Positano side of Rome.
I have heard of Herculaneum as a possibility, however, I have no clue to the Florence side?
We are traveling with 4 adults and are pretty open to everything except the typical Church/indoor museum type stop as we would like to get some fresh air and stretch our legs.
I am looking forward to hearing all of you wonderful ideas!

Wendy

Herculaneum is one hour from Positano.

An interesting place right in the middle of your drive is Tivoli with Hadrian's Villa, an excellent archeological site.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadrian's_Villa

I agree with traveler1959 - Hadrian's Villa. 3 1/4 hrs from Greve (Chianti) & 3 1/2 hrs to Positano. I think if you stop in two places - you may get to Positano late.

Stu Dudley

It is on the close side to Positano, but a hike on Vesuvius is fun and a good stretch of the legs. Plus good views.

4 adults in a European car will need to stop and stretch their legs more often then once every 3 or 4 hours. Plus you need to eat lunch. The most direct route to Positano from the center of Chianti to Positano is at the very least 6 hours of driving, and if you add to extra miles to drive to popular tourist sights, plus finding parking, you don't have much time left -- if any -- to tour historic sights or climb mountains. Even if you snatch up tickets and trot through these places, you will be there for an hour.

If you are unwilling to drop the car somewhere close to the Chianti and go by train + taxi to Positano, then the least stressful plan is to identify a couple of easy places to eat lunch on your drive down, and go to the one you are closest to when the clock says 12.30pm. I would look for good lunch restaurants between Civita Castellan and Frosinone. You should stop every 90 minutes or so at the AutoGrille or in small towns right off the highway just to have a cup of coffee.

You really do not want to run the risk of running late at some historic site and then end up breaking a sweat to get to Positano in the fading light. Just have a pleasant a drive as possible (or change the plan to take the train).

You might want to read this report of a trip to Hadrian's Villa in terms of timing and reward:

http://www.revealedrome.com/2010/08/...from-rome.html

If you get to the area of Herculaneum early in the afternoon, with plenty of daylight left before you need to reach Positano, then it might make sense to swing by and walk through the excavation site (it takes about 90 minutes or more from where you park to walking through the site, and then getting back to your car).

But otherwise I would be happy to take what comes along the road. Pull off when you need a break. Line up some plausible very small towns or agriturismi for lunch (with easy parking). Be happy with being off the beaten track. Generally, if you road trip like that, you find yourself in absolutely charming places wondering why nobody ever seems to have discovered this enchating corner of Italy with friendly people, good food and treats, and picturesque architecture.

We've visited Hadrian's villa twice & loved it. Once, my 85 year old father in law was with us on a 4 week tour of Italy. Hadrian's villa was one of the highlights of the trip for him. We spent a couple of hours there. Michelin gives it a 3 star rating - their highest rating. But if you are not "into" Roman Ruins - you might not enjoy it as much as we did.

Stu Dudley

I presume you'll have luggage in your car? Then don't go sightseeing and leave your bags unattended. In fact, if you stop at an Autogrill make sure someone stays with the car. That may sound hyper-alarmist but cars do get robbed in Autogrill carparks and definitely in tourist-area sightseeing spots such as Herculaneum.

Save your sightseeing and keep the car well within your view at all times.

>>Save your sightseeing and keep the car well within your view at all times.<<

Or go sightseeing and park your car so that the trunk is backed up against a wall, lightpost, rock, so the trunk can't physically be opened. Park it so your car is less likely to be robbed than other cars.

Stu Dudley

I doubt that would be effective to a determined thief. It would also mean keeping the cabin of the car clear of everything - and I mean everything - including keeping the glove compartment and ashtrays open so a thief knows there is nothing of value in them. A lightpost is half a metre across - that won't stop a thief.

The OP will have to weigh up the risk for themselves, but stolen luggage and/or smashed car windows to steal items on seats will be a monumental inconvenience to say the least.

Thank you everyone for all the words of advice. Some good things to think about. This is my first time posting in a forum. The internet is an amazing tool to use for just about everything

One other thing: As you plan your stops and timing, try to make sure you reach Positano before dark. That shouldn't be too difficult in May, but I think it's worth a mention, as the leg between Sorrento and Positano can be a bit hairy for drivers who aren't experienced on the cliff-side winding roads.

No one here is suggesting Roman ruins aren't among the highlights of Italy. Just pointing out the difficulties of enjoying sightseeing excursions for several hours en route and getting from the Chianti to Positano before dark.

I had thought they had recently buit a secure underground car park at Herculaneum, but perhaps it is not guarded. Regarding luggage, it is always a good idea to take anything valuable with you out of a rental car -- your computers, GPS, camera -- which also cuts into the enjoymenet of sightseeing ruins -- and make sure your luggage is totally hidden in the boot. It's reasonable advice not to leave a car unatttended at an AutoGrille. For lunch at a restaurant, there is scant worry if you eat in a small town trattoria and I would say zero if you eat at an agriturismo, but I routinely take my computer and such with me when I leave a car.

>> leg between Sorrento and Positano can be a bit hairy for drivers who aren't experienced on the cliff-side winding roads.<<

On one occasion, our car was pinned against a cliff by a large bus. Other drivers had to get out of their car to help us and the bus driver "straighten things out". On another trip, there was a fire near the road between Sorrento & Positano, so we had to leave Positano by going over the inland route - which took much longer. On our very first trip in the early 90s, we were "behind schedule". We stopped in Vietri and I gave my wife 45 mins to shop for pottery. She filled the trunk up with stuff. When we switched cars on the Italy/France border, she unloaded the trunk & proclaimed "OHMYGOD!!!". We had to purchase an additional suitcase to haul the pottery home.

Lots of obstacles along the Amalfi Coast.

Stu Dudley

(But personally, I would put together a picnic, buy a nice bottle of Chianti, drop of the car, and relax on the train. Even if you are planning inland visits to Paestum or wineries etc from Positano, I would arrange for a tour rather than keep the car.)

Stu: It took every ounce of restraint to keep me from replying: "You want to drive into Positano? Are you nuts?" But you're word picture does the trick.

I dunno. There are skilled drivers who enjoy driving along the Amalfi Drive, and one hopes May has not become too crowded for that now. Plus, if people want to see wineries or Paestum, it's easier and cheaper to have one's own wheels. It's the long-haul on the autostrade from Chianti that I would mainly want to avoid -- and even if I ended up deciding to drive, I wouldn't try to cram in Hadrian's Villa mid-day.

I just hope you have free parking at your hotel/apartment otherwise your car will be an expensive liability (30-50 euro per day for parking lots and if you want to use your car, allow a lot of time for the attendants to retrieve it as they jam the vehicles in and moving them is like a game of tetris - so takes a while).

Your drive from outer Sorrento to Positano at the moment (in February) takes 20 minutes but allow well over an hour - longer possibly - as the trundling big tourist coaches, terrified tourists, local SITA bus and weary locals all join the caterpillar line to Positano and beyond. Remember Positano is one-way traffic so don't miss the turn-off at Bar Internazionale or you face the horrifying prospect of making a u-turn further along.

>>so don't miss the turn-off at Bar Internazionale or you face the horrifying prospect of making a u-turn further along.<<

Is I recall, it is more that a simple road U-turn. You have to circle around much of Positano and end up on the one-way road you drove on to enter town.

We parked our car in Positano in a lot, and Blueeyedcod is not exaggerating.

Stu Dudley

Hi Gwendolyn… do you think we're related -

Anyhow, my husband and I had an experience like Stu Dudley's….the car between a cliff and a big bus. But even so my husband loved driving the Amalfi Drive… did it several times. I should think in May traffic volume will be picking up and driving will be slower. No need to worry about some hotshot local on your tail.

Sandralists's suggestion about getting off the beaten track is excellent. Some of our most memorable experience have happened that way.

Have a great trip!