Dukey1

Re Verona: those tickets have been on sale FOR MONTHS (I know because I bought mine months ago for this coming July) so be aware of the possibilities. However, the arena is HUGE but you may not get really good seats.

As to the Bernina Express...I am perhaps wrong in my impression that you are going to possibly drive to Tirano, leave the car and take the train, stay overnight and return to Tirano and then go onwards?

I've done the Bernina trip and it is great but I think it isn't worth the hassle of what you intend. I would drop that part and do something else.

Jean

We have based in Orvieto, Montepulciano, Siena, Florence and Castellina over multiple trips. They are all great places to stay but are proximate to different parts of Tuscany. You can't pick one and hope to see most of the region in 3-4 days.

If you want to see Florence one day, go to the Lucca festival one day and, presumably, see the Leaning Tower one day (go by train, have Tower reservations), I guess Lucca makes the most sense. I'm just not very enthusiastic about Lucca, but it is convenient to Florence and Pisa by train (don't drive to either).

I don't understand your question about 'doing' Siena without a car. You can't drive into the historical center of Siena. You park outside and walk/bus in, and the drive alone from Lucca would take nearly 2 hours one way. Public transportation from Lucca to Siena would take even longer. If you were staying in Florence, you could take the bus to Siena.

You also can't drive into the centers of Montepulciano or Orvieto, and IMO you don't have time to see both on your drive to Lucca. The kids would likely enjoy Orvieto more than Montepulciano. Park near the train station and take the funicular up to the town.

Where are you picking up the cars in Rome?

kmh7

We are getting transport to airport in Rome and picking up cars there. You may very well be right about Lucca. We don't have to do any of the things I described. Nothing is written in stone. My sister keeps saying "whatever you decide will be great!" I am feeling like it may make more sense to go for one of the small towns closer to main hub of Tuscany. How is Arezzo? HI haven't been there it looks more central.

Jean

Arezzo... More central to what? You still have to make the tough choices of where you want to go from your base. Arezzo is no different/better than Lucca if it translates to day trips that would be upwards of 2 hours of driving in each direction.

Maybe your idea of a small town is different from mine. Arezzo isn't what I would call small, although its limited traffic zones (it has two with different restrictions) and parking are slightly less hostile to tourists. My idea of small is Montepulciano, Pienza, Castellina, San Gimignano, etc.



I wouldn't let my sister off that easy.

kmh7

Jean, thank you . I really appreciate your time and advice. I am tempted to change to smaller town, going to start some research. There is so much to do in the area we probably can't go wrong
And you haven't met my sister, ( she's scary....and fun!)