Staying the nite in Orvieto, driving early in the morning to Assisi (spend 2-1/2 hrs), then to Gubbio (spend 2-1/2 hrs), and then to Siena for the early evening, enjoying a bit of the town w/o so many tourists, dining there, spending nite?? <BR><BR>Thinking we could enjoy more of the town in the morning and early afternoon, before driving to Florence.<BR><BR>

Far, far too much.<BR>Assisi has so much both in the town and surrounding area - one day is needed to get any idea of it's beauty and history.<BR>Forget Gubbio and you can make it to Siena in the early evening if you want.<BR>(I think a night in Assisi is the very best - when most of the tourist leave the town is magic!)

Just another opinion. While I think that day does sound a little too packed, it is most definitly possible to enjoy towns like Assisi and Gubbio in 2-3 hours. You don't NEED a whole day. Sure, if you have the time it could be very nice. But not everyone does and I would say visit these places for a couple of hours if that's all you have, rather than skipping them just because you don't have a whole day. We were in the area in July and stayed in Perugia and did Assisi and Spello (spent about 3 hours in Assisi and 2 in Spello). Went back to our hotel for a few hours and then went to Gubbio for dinner. It was a very pleasant day. You are talking about driving from Orvieo and to Siena in the same day and that does add some time.

That sounds like a scavenger hunt where you get your ticket punched for having found the location. I agree with Helen.<BR>Skip Gubbio and enjoy the rest.

Come on!! are you Japanese or what!!!?? Siena alone needs at leat 2 full days!!<BR><BR>ciao

LG---Clearly, you must have some reasons for visiting these cities, and I assume your reasons are valid. Therefore I won't tell you it's a bad idea, because in fact it can be done. Now, in order to see any of these cities completely, you would need more time than most of us have for an entire European vacation. Others who have responded have given you their opinions of how long you need, but in fact none of their estimates are long enough for really enjoying a town. So since you can't see and enjoy any of those cities completely, why not hit the high spots in each one for a couple of hours? If that's what you want to do, do it. I've done the same sort of thing before in cases where I really wanted to go to a particular place and didn't have much time.

Yes, I wanted to at least see these places for a couple hours, but it's not worth it if it'll make for a 'crazy' kinda day for everyone. I, myself, have only been to Orvieto and Florence before and this time am traveling w/5 others, all of whom have never been to Italy. I'm trying my best to plan this trip and really appreciate everyone's input. So, Assisi and then to Siena would be *more enjoyable......Thanx!

You say you are leaving Orvieto early in the morning. So we assume you will have spent some time there and already seen it, not needing to spend any time "seeing" it that day. You also say you want to get to Siena by early "evening". That gives you somewhere between 10 to 12 hours to get from Orvieto to Siena which is only a 2-3 hour drive. So why not visit at least Assisi and maybe also Gubbio. You would have at least 3 hours in each. Plenty of time for a nice walk, lunch in one of them, gelato in the other. Do you need to decide in advance if you will do one or both. Can't you go to Assisi and once there decide if you want to spend the whole day there or go on to Gubbio. Obviously if you were trying to "see" Orvieto, Assisi, Gubbio and Siena all in one day you would not have enough time to even get an idea of what they are like.

Yes, Isabelle, we'll have spent nite in Orvieto (at least at *this point in planning), and I'd planned getting on road to Assisi by 8:30am. At first, it did *seem doable + not ridiculously hurried, just to wander the streets for about 2-1/2hrs each to see what they're like, but I guess I really should just wait and see how the whole adventure goes and decide as we go. <BR><BR>Wondering how easy it'll be to find last-minute lodging in Assisi in May, should we go *that route.<BR><BR>

Gubbio is a wonderful town, both for its cultural and culinary treasures. Though I consider it not to be missed, it is found after travel on a long, winding road, not really what I would consider a quick adventure. Unless you have the time to enjoy the journey, I would say to save it for the next visit.

LG you say you area staying over night in Orvieto but thats not the same as seeing Orvieto - will you have at least a couple of daylight hours there the day before to see this beautiful village?

Yes, we'll be arriving into Orvieto about 11:30, 12 in the afternoon. We should be able to enjoy it before leaving early the next morning.

Another possibility would be to skip Gubbio and stop in Cortona on the way from Assisi to Sienna. I was in all those towns this summer and I think Cortona was a little easier to get to than Gubbio. I didn't go to Gubbio from Siena but from Perugia (which would be the road you would take from Assisi) and that road takes about 45 minutes, is very rural and nice but very windy. The road from Perugia to Cortona is about the same time but some of it is highway and once there you are much closer to Siena. Cortona has been made famous by the books "Under the Tuscan Sun" but we didn't find it touristy at all. We were there in the morning, maybe it gets crowded later but it certainly wasn't when we were there. Gubbio seemed a little more touristy but both were much less so than Assisi. Did you have a specific reason for choosing Assisi and Gubbio? If not, there are lots of other towns between Orvieto and Siena that are just as nice and perhaps a little less driving. But if you especially want to visit Assisi and Gubbio I say go for it.

Ann - Reason was: Assisi+Gubbio came highly recommended from experienced traveller friend. <BR><BR>But maybe I could just put this question out there for itinerary help: We're starting day in Positano, pvt car to Naples TS early morning (8/8:30). Have 1-1/2 days to see Orvieto and another couple towns bfr Florence. We *can do day trip from Florence to see Siena. <BR><BR>Love medival towns to roam around in for a few hrs. Love interesting shops, photo ops w/scenery, not too crowded. (Can arrange stop early AM or evening to avoid bulk of crowds in more touristy spots).<BR><BR>Seems like direct train Naples/Orvieto would be nice, (easiest/quickest) especially if we'd be able to rent car in Orvieto.<BR><BR>Thank you so much for any further suggestions. <BR><BR><BR>

If the choice is between Gubbio and Cortona, I vote for Cortona. Much more charming and picturesque. I found Gubbio a bit "cold."