My husband and I have been to Italy several times - have stayed in Northern part of Tuscany. This trip we are planning on going to the Val'Dorcia region of Tuscany and Umbria. We are going for two weeks and I am trying to get a feel how long to spend in each area and @ how many bases. From the reviews I have read about Umbria I would like to stay in Spello (Hotel Palazzo Bocci). Would 4-5 days be enough time?? Should this be my only base in Umbria or should I also plan to spend a day or two in Orvieto?? Then on to Tuscany- planning to stay near Pienza (Fonte Bertusi). How many days here?? We are planning to fly in and out of Rome. I would like to take train to nearest stop near Spello where we can pick up a rented car-- would that be Orvieto or Chuisi? Also - leaving from Tuscany/Pienza - would the nearest train be Chuisi?? thanks for any feedback you can give.

I'm certain that I've done this post a dozen times, but here you are:

Orvieto is a one hour train trip from Rome and the Hertz office is a block from the station. I go out of my way to do this every trip because I can take the funicular across from the station to Orvieto Alto and have lunch at I Sette Consoli, IMO the best food in Italy.

Is the train station in Rome far from the airport??

The nearest train station to Spello (we stayed at Palazzo Bocci last year) is actually in Foligno, about 10 minutes drive from Spello.

If you're flying into the Rome airport, I would probably just pick up the rental car there and drive to Tuscany or Spello (whatever your first stop is). I'm not real familiar with Rome train stations, but the only one I know if is in the middle of Rome. So it would be a minor hassle to arrive at the airport, then get to the train station, then take a train, then pick up a rental car.

From/to Tuscany, I think Chiusi is the best train station. Though do a Fodor's searhc on this topic; I think there's something different about this train station, like that the rental car places are down the hill from the station. (We've never taken the train to or from Chiusi.)

Spello is a beatufiul little town, but I'm not sure about spending 4-5 days there. Maybe 3 nights there, and two nights in Orvieto. Then you can get to the southern points of Umbria without too much driving. Though Orvieto isn't real convenient to the eastern parts of southern Umbria, like Spoleto. But you could visit Spoleto and places near there on the way from Spello to Orvieto.

Enjoy!

Car rental offices in both Orvieto & Chiusi seem to come & go, and are usually closed on Sundays, sometimes Saturdays, and often Lunch. Phone AutoEurope (www.AutoEurope.com) to find the situation for your travel dates.

The train station in Rome is not close to the airport. You can take a train from the airport to the Rome station, then to Tuscany. Departures to Orvieto are frequent, but limited to Chiusi.

I would try to spend as much time in the Pienza location as possible - 4-5 days Min. If you plan to visit Siena and San Gimignano/Volterra from there - add a day for each. That's by far my favorite region in Italy.

Do you have my 20+ page Italy itinerary - with lots of stuff about the Val d'Orcia (note spelling), and some excursions from that area?? If not, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll send a copy.

Stu Dudley

MandyD,
My trip report might help you http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35046872

If you have questions or want more ideas for southern Tuscany feel free to e-mail.

Henry

Hi Mandy,

Lucky you! Two weeks in paradise!

One thing to think about regarding picking up a car at Fiumicino (Rome) airport -- people have reported LONG lines to pick up there. I haven't done it myself, just something to consider.

I have stayed in Orvieto (3 nights) and loved it. Found the length of time there just right for what we wanted to do: thoroughly see Orvieto, afternoon to Civita di Bagnoreggio, ceramics mission to Deruta combined with an afternoon in Todi.

We dropped our car there. No waiting, 1/2 block from the train station. Simple!

My last trip I stayed 1 night in Assisi (not planned) and 2 nights in Spello at Palazzo Bocci. Visited Montefalco from Spello. Dropped my car at Foligno where the Avis (rented through Autoeurope) office is in the same building as the station. Again, no wait at all, easy.

I think with 2 weeks, I would split it this way (based on all the towns I've visited):

3 nts Orvieto (first night arrival day)
4 nts Spello
7 nts Val d' Orcia

Personally, I loved Montalcino. I picked up my car in Chuisi, but at that time the rental office for Autoeurope required a taxi ride from the station. I understand there is a Hertz office right across the street.

Buon viaggio and have lots of Brunello for me!

>> Chuisi, but at that time the rental office for Autoeurope required a taxi ride from the station.<<

You probably mean Europcar.

Stu Dudley

Stu,

No, I rented through Autoeurope and their Avis office was actually at a car dealership a ways across town! Seemed a little weird to me, but whatever.

AutoEurope has no offices (except in Portland Maine) and "their" Avis office is not theirs - it belongs to Avis alone. AutoEurope is just a broker. I know - just semantics, but I just wanted to make sure people don't get to Chiusi & look for the AutoEurope office - like your post stated. There may be a EuropCar office there also.

Stu Dudley.

Thank you all for your feedback. A few more questions. About how long a drive is it from Rome Airport to Orvieto?? Regarding our stay in Val D'Orcia region for 7 days - I have two recommendations where to stay near Pienza- should I split that time and have 2 bases in that area or is Pienza central enough (I have previously stayed in Northern and Central Tuscany- so we are mainly interested in this area)?? Also, I wondered if anyone had a recommendation on where to stay in or near Orvieto?? Usually we a prefer quaint Agriturismo to a hotel but are open to recommendations. Thanks for any feedback.

From the Rome Airport it's 1 1/2 hrs to Orvieto, and then another hour to Pienza.

Stay in Pienza the entire time - no need to move around. 1+ hr to Assisi & Perugia if you want to go there. 1- hr to Siena. About 1 1/2 to San Gimignano & Volterra.

Stu Dudley

The rental car lines at Fiumicino are indeed often long, but it's still less time than it takes to get into Rome and take the train to Foligno or Chiusi.

I picked up cars in Chiusi twice last year. First time was on a Sunday. I paid an extra 20 euro for someone to come to the office (Avis), open it up,and get my car for me - so you CAN pick up on a Sunday, for a fee. The Avis office is two blocks from the station. The Hertz office, which I also used, is right across the street from the station. I don't understand how anyone would need to cross town to pick up a car.

Hi MandyD,

I can recommend Le Case Gialle in central Umbria as a wonderful base.

http://www.lecasegialle.it/

I found the location (near Bavagna) to be great for exploring Umbria. The accommodations and people were wonderful. As an added bonus, they have award winning organic olive oil, which is absolutely the best I've ever tasted.

With 2 weeks, I recommend 5-7 nights in Umbria and the rest in Tuscany (7 minimum).

While in Umbria, be sure to plan a day to Norcia and the Piano Grande. Make sure it's a sunny day, start early, and take your camera and appetite. In my 20+ trips to Italy, this was one of my favorite days.

As far as where to pick up your car- I have picked up my car at the Hertz in Chiusi and found it soooo easy. If you are starting in Umbria though, I recommend either picking up at FCO or in Foligno, as others have mentioned.

Have fun!

Mandy, you have lots of conflicting advice. We just did a similar trip to yours. Flew to Rome Fiumicino- took the Leonardo Express to Rome Termini station (11 euros each) Journey time 30 mins frequency 30 mins. Train from Rome Termini to Orvieto (1 hr journey. frequency every 2 hrs) Picked up hire car at Hertz rental- just down the street from train station. Stayed at agritourismo Locanda Rosati just outside Orvieto. Wonderful! See report on Tripadvisor site. Visited Civita, Viterbo, Lake Bolsena as well as Orvieto itself. On to Spoleto via Todi and Narni. Stayed Wallace's Arthouse in Spoleto. Again fantastic B&B. Visited Perugia by train, Spello, Montefalco and Bevagna by car. I would have thought 2 nights would be enough in Spello -it is a very small place. Have a wonderful time.

Thank you all for your feedback. I am thinking we will spend 4 days in Spello (and visit the surrounding areas), 2 in Orvieto and then 7 in Val D'Orcia. Would it make sense to drive from Rome to Orvieto first or Spello?? Also - I did look at the website recommended for a stay at Locanda Rosati near Orvieto . It really looks great- did you have your dinners there as well?? How was the food?? Also - they do not have prices listed on their website - are their rates under or over 200 Euros for a double?? Again - thanks for such great feedback.

Mandy,
We just received a quote from Locanda Rosati for E 120/night for a double for 4 nights next June. It looks really good and I think we would also like to know if people ate there every night, or went elsewhere.

We are planning to use this as a base to see Orvieto of course, but also Pitigiliano and surrounding towns, maybe Lake Bracciano, but just explore this region for a few days. This will be the end of our trip - flying into Rome, staying there a few nights to catch a breath (have been there before), then going south for Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.

St. Cirq,

Please note that I said "at the time" because when I rented an AVIS car THROUGH Autoeurope, the ONLY office was in Chuisi Scalo - on the other side of town.

Also, at that time, no one here on Fodor's or at Autoeurope could tell me if there were other location options in Chuisi, believe me I asked. And, we all know how offices and hours change in the small town rental locations.

Locanda Rosati is a great place to stay to explore that area, but realize that it is 9 km out of town. Do not miss dinner there. The food is very good and the wine and grappa flow freely.

The rental offices in both Orvieto & Chuisi have come & gone several times. That's why you need to inquire about the situation at your time of travel.

Our closest friends live nearby part-time, and keep us informed as to what's happening if we're planning on a visit there.

Stu Dudley