Driving 7 teenagers from Rome to Florence
 

After spending 3 nights in Rome, my husband and I, along with my sister and brother-in-law and all of our kids (7) will be picking up rental vans and driving to a rented villa outside of Florence. We have to check-out of the apartment in Rome on Saturday, June 2 and cannot check-in to the villa until late afternoon so we have the whole day to get there. Any suggestions of routes to take or places of interest to stop? The kids are all very easy and range in age from 11 to almost 19 and are all girls except my 17 yr old son. None of them have ever been out of the country and we are not likely to be back in Italy anytime soon so I really want to make the most of our time without overdoing it and also without spending a fortune. All of you experts always have such wonderful advice. Thanks in advance!

I'd stop in Bagnoregio (it's just such a quirky place; I think kids would love it - and it won't take up much of your time), then Orvieto, which could take up a few hours.

I would stop in Bomarzo and then Orvieto.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57622914974923

Are you heading back to Rome after Florence?

Where do you plan to explore from your villa and how many days do you have there?

More towards Florence for sure but I have just been reminded of this place:

http://www.mulinodiquercegrossa.it/

There is a restaurant there and some great pools to pass the time before you haed to your rental. May be a hit with the kids!

Orvieto alone could be a good place. Park your car in the big parking lot below the train station, take the escalator up to the level of the ticket office, cross the street, and take the fun funicular up the steep hill to town. Not only is it a small hilltop town with mostly pedestrian traffic, there are underground caves and tunnels to explore on a tour. tickets are sold in the Piazza del Duomo, across from the Duomo. There are even some restaurants that are underground. Le Gotte del Funaro is one.

Also near the top of the funicular is the deep, deep well (name escapes me right now, but ask at the Tourist Info place right there.). you pay to climb down a couple of humored steps in a circular staircase. It was built to provide water in case of a siege. There is also an old decayed fort there that is now a nice city park with stunning views over the countryside.

With lunch and a gelato stop, this could take up two or three hours, and pretty well fill up your time. If you still need a couple of hours, go to Civita di Bagnoregio, as St.Cyr suggests. It's about a half hour drive out of Orvieto, plus another hour to explore, then a half-hour back to the autostrada.

of course, the climb into the well is a couple of HUNDRED steps, not humored. (another autocorrect glitch)