Thanks to all who helped my college roomie and I plan our trip next week to Florence. We're all set - just one more thing! We are looking for a guide to do a 1/2 or full day trip. Friend wants to go to a couple of little towns outside Florence, see some olive groves, local places, etc. Any advice on guide and also on towns you'd recommend? FYI, we plan to train to Assisi during the time there and also to Siena. We may add Lucca as well. Thanks to all the Fodorites who have made this planning easy and fun.

Don't use the train to get from Florence to Siena, get the bus from the bus station just next to the main railway station.

This has several advantages - buses are frequent, direct (most trains need a change at Empoli), quicker and most importantly, stop in Siena itself rather than at the railway station at the bottom of the steep hill.

The bus takes around 75 minutes and last time I used it (April) cost €13 return

We just returned from Italy. We wanted to see San Gimignano.
http://www.sangimignano.com/sghomei.htm

SG is a steep uphill walk but worth it. SG and Assisi are probably 2 of the best hill top villages in Italy.

Our hotel had info on an afternoon tour to SG which suited it perfectly. Left on a small bus from a parking place across from the train station about 2 PM. The guide was very informative and fun. After our time in SG the tour stopped at a winery for a wine tasting on our way home. We arrived back about 8 PM. It was a very enjoyable time and the cost was about 40 Euro.

Don't remember the name of the tour company - our hotel made the arrangements for us. If you have time be sure to see SG along with Siena.

Forgot to mention if you go to Assisi for a day trip - check out 1st class train travel. We went 2nd class and didn't we would ever got to Assisi. Took forever!!

There is a bus that goes right from the train station up the hill just below St Francis Basilica. Cost is 1 Euro each way. They run up and down all day.

Be prepared for a steep uphill walk.

The bus leaving Rome for Sienna doesn't leave from the main train station, Termini. It leaves across the street from a station further out--Tiburtina Station.

The bus station is across the street and all the way at the back end of the lot--go past the first building at the front and the 2nd building. There is another building further back with several offices and the SENA bus office is in there. If anyone wants clearer directions, I'd be happy to give them. We nearly missed the bus because it was so hard to find.

We are glad we took the bus--very clean and almost half empty but I just wanted you (or anyone reading this) to know a little better how to find it.

After you get to Sienna, do NOT get off at the station outiside of town and at the bottom of the hill You want to get off at Gramsci station. We asked the driver if we were there and he said yes. We were not and had to rent a taxi to get up the hill--quite a ways. Gramsci Station is more IN town and up the hill. The station is across the street from a park (a landmark to look for).

I can highly recommend Luca from www.hillsandroads.com as a private driver who will take you anywhere you want to go. If you know where you want to go, just tell him and he will tell you if it is feasible. If you're not sure where you want to go, tell him what you're interested in and he will suggest an itinerary.

Connie - I think we are talking at cross purposes. The bus from Rome to Siena run by the SENA company leaves from the Tiburtina bus station, but the OP was asking about trains to Siena from Florence.

The Blue bus to Siena from Florence leaves from the Florence bus station next to the Santa Maria Novella station.

fitznj,
you might want to look at laartista's thread (she is an American who is living in Florence at the moment. She and her friend did something called "Machiavelli Chianti Tour" from Florence that left (by bus) in the early morning from Santa Maria Novella Station and toured CHianti for a full day. Her post of 10/06 at 1:54 pm describes the tour, which sounds like it includes the things you want. Also very reasonable at 15E.

the thread is here:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2

I took the Sena bus from Siena to Florence last month and it was not right next to the train station. There is much road construction (the entire area in front of the train station and the left side if you are facing the station was cordoned off) in and around the Florence train station. The bus dropped us about 1 1/2 blocks away at what appeared to be a hub, down a little side street. You would walk down via Caterina di Siena if that's where they are also departing. Not all Sena busses are corse rapide (direct). Some stop at Colle V.E. and Poggibonsi. The busses aren't as frequent on Sundays.

I would not attempt a day trip to Assisi from Florence.

kyb - Assisi - too far?

Assisi will be a minimum of 2 hours on the train each way. Save Umbria for your next trip.