Just adding another encouraging word about renting a car in Italy.
I have always found people to be extremely helpful to me when I drive in Italy. Just on my last trip I had someone drive miles out of their way to lead me to a town near Alberobello in a rainstorm. Then smile, wave and drive away after they saw me to my destination. That's only one example.

The best driving maps are the Touring Club Italiano regional maps. Scale 1:200,000. They are easy to read.
You might want to pick up the one for for Umbria/Marche as will as the one for Toscana.

https://www.trektools.com/product.ph...rtner=slowtrav

The only thing that I would add to the many posts is to have patience with the signage or lack thereof. To my husband and I, that is the only challenging difference in driving in Italy.

We have never had any trouble with signage in Italy - and in fact, we find that it is generally better than in most places in the US.

Separately - Senso Unico? What else could that mean on a street sign but One Way - even if you had never heard a word of Italian? Assuming the driver is a native speaker of English or any of the Romance languages - the meaning is obvious.

Total and utter piffle -

there are 2% of Italian drivers who need their heads seeing to. They are notably more insane than the average countries poor drivers.

However, avoid those drivers and the roads are very straight forward - most of the country roads in Tuscany are empty - the sign posts are very good, maps good and usually the locals will be helpful and speak English.

Driving round Tuscany's roads IS the only way to do it!

Just to remind people that it's a LEGAL requirement for non-EU folk to have an IDP in Italy

I agree with all the postive comments from above.

For me, I actually enjoy driving in Italy (and Europe in general) more than here in the US because Italian drivers pay attention and they don't slow cruise the inside lane of the highway.

As far as getting help with directions, sometimes if there are two or more people present when you ask, they will start a discussion on the best way to go, and end up making you confused. But they are not hostile to tourists asking the way.

And if you learn some basic phrases such as Mi scusi (excuse me) come se arriva a (whatever place)? Or Dov'e (il duomo, un bar, etc.) they will be very pleased and helpful.

(Get an elementary Italian CD or online lessons and learn it and the pronunciation.)

Be careful, very careful, about Limited Traffic Zones - ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato) in Florence and other places, also about speeding. Tickets are issued via automated systems and your rental car company will provide your address (you will pay them to do that): http://www.bella-toscana.com/traffic...ions_italy.htm

I find people to be REALLY helpful if you get lost actually :-) no need for a lot of Italian...just have them point on the map.