<BR>The tension is building. November will be here soon. Can two people drive a car from <BR>Rome/Flumicino airport to Todi without being killed in traffic? I am the map reader and the driver seriously has trouble with his left and right. We will be terribly jet lagged. Any advice? Do the car companies have good maps? We must get to Todi and are excellent drivers in the states. Any help will be very appreciated. <BR>

Sharon, as a fairly intrepid driver (hop off the plane, into a car, drive on the left-side, manual transmission, take off for Windsor)but doing that nearly caused a divorce and did cause over an hour of driving around the same block over and over again! However, I can honestly say I would never drive in Rome! But thats just my opinion though. Is there a train you could take, or is your destination within taxi distance? I would try to find an alternative and pick up the car the next day. But it will be interesting to see if someone else has done what you suggest.

It will take you 2 hours to drive from Fiumicino to Todi. I don't think you really need good maps. Any map should do. All you have to do for a long driving time is to look for the signs indicating Firenze. After leaving the aiport, you'll have to take the A12 Autostrada (here signs to the center of Rome will also do). Once on the A12, you'll soon hit the GRA (Gran Accordo Annulare). You'll want to go north (look for the Firenze sign). This will lead you skirting Rome. You'll pass the exits to Cassia, Flaminia and Salaria. At the Salaria exit you're very close to where you should leave the GRA, taking the A1 Autostrada to Firenze. <BR> <BR>You have to leave the A1 at the Orte exit, taking the S204/E45 to the East (direction Terni). Before you get to Terni, the highway bifurcates. You have to head north on S3bis/E45. This will lead you to the neighborhood of Todi. <BR> <BR>In case you miss the Orte exit, you may follow all the way to the Orvieto exit. Taking the underpass, turn left and head south on S205 along the Autostrada. After some 10km, take the Autostrada underpass. S446 will lead you into Todi. This may be viewed as an alternative to above route, which would take some 15 minutes longer. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

Good evening, Sharon <BR>Getting from Fumicino to Todi.. <BR>Will take about two hours, plus. <BR>Leaving Fumicino you take the autostrada <BR>toward Rome, a few minutes out of the <BR>airport you will reach a ring road, <BR>right to Naples and South, north to <BR>Firenze and Todi. You continue on this <BR>ringroad to Autostrada A-1. Just before <BR>Orvieto you go right onto S448 . Go to <BR>www.maps.expedia.com. You will be able <BR>to pull up maps for your journey. <BR>Richard of La Grange Park, IL..

Thanks everybody.Messages received and printed. New question. Does anyone know anything about the Rosia area? We will be staying at a place called Montestigliano. We will have five days to explore the area. We have never been to Italy, but we do not want to overload on the first trip. On our return to Rome, we will be staying North of Rome for one night at Tenuta Santa Rufina. Does anyone know of this B.and B. Thanks again! <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>S we want to take it slow and become familiar with one area. On our way back into Rome we will be staying for one night outside Rome at the Tenuta

I think what the folks here are saying is that you don't have to go into Rome to reach Todi! Just follow the signs carefully, use turnsignals when passing and yield to faster cars that come up behind you because they're always faster than the rentals. Take your time and be careful.

Just to make the record straight, one should read S448 instead of the S446 that I misstyped in my previous message. <BR> <BR>I don't remember an exit from A1 directly into S448 as Richard has pointed out. From what I remember driving in the area, one has to go all the way near Orvieto and then drive back some to hit the S448. I may be wrong on this. I don't have a detailed map here to straighten this out. <BR> <BR>Regarding your other questions, I can't help much Sharon. You may wish to post this under a more appropriate title. Rosia is located southwest of Siena, some 20 minutes driving. I've only driven as far as Sovicille out from Siena. Concerning location, it's a good base for exploring southern and central Tuscany. Both, San Gimignano and Volterra could be visited on a day trip. The total driving time back and forth to Rosia would add to only 2 1/2 hours, giving you plenty of time to visit both hill towns. On other daytrip that would take about 2 1/2 hours driving would be Monte Olivetto Abbey, Buonconvento and Montalcino. A third daytrip out from Rosia would be the Chianti circuit (Castelnuovo Beradenga, Brolio Castle, Gaiole, Radda and Castellina). This would also call for a total driving time of about 2 1/2 hours. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

We were in Rome last month. You can buy really good maps at Barnes and Noble. They are cheaper in Italy, but it's easier to take one with you for the area you are visiting, rather than to search for one. If you stay out of the city, the driving is not really too much different from the US. The only noticeable difference is that you don't want to stay in the left lanes unless passing, or speeding. Also, get a list of common street/directional signs before you go. Although most signs are easy to decipher, it is good to have a reference sheet to check it out. we drove from Assisi and Todi to Rome without any problems unless you get in the city traffic. Then, it is difficult, because people drive every which way.