We are planning a 20 day trip to Italy in September. We arrive Milan, train to Venice for 3 nights, train to Florence for 3 nights. We want at least 1 night in Siena, 3 nights in CT, and plan to stay in a hill town for Tuscany flavor (thinking of Orvieto). We end in Rome for 4 nights before returning. <BR><BR>My dilemma is the timing of the Siena stay. Should we do that before or after CT, considering locations & transportation issues? We do not plan to get a car. <BR><BR>Also posters have recommended Voltera as a wonderful town to visit. Would you suggest it over Orvieto or in addition, even if we do not get a car for Tuscany?<BR><BR>Any suggestions on our plans would be welcome.

If it´s ok for you to leave Venice on a 10am IC train, you may hit Monterosso in the CT without a change, arriving at 3:57pm. From there I´d go to Florence (trip of about 3 hours).<BR><BR>Without a car, I'd probably choose the Assisi area for a hill town flavor (BTW, both, Orvieto and Assisi are actually in Umbria) because it´s very well served by public transportation. One may easily visit Perugia, Spello, Foligno, Bevagna, Trevi, Montefalco and Spoleto (more than one could doi in 3 days).<BR><BR>I´d therefore head to Siena from Florence, by bus, and would also take the bus from Siena to Assisi.

Hi Pam!<BR><BR>My last trip was very similar in length & destinations. You might want to do a search for "Guilty & Ashamed". It might give you some ideas on things to see.<BR><BR>We visited Volterra (Umbria) & enjoyed an afternoon there, but I wouldn't choose it instead of Orvieto (Umbria).<BR><BR><BR>Buon viaggio!

Dayle -- I searched as you suggested for "Guilty & Ashamed", but came up with nothing.<BR><BR>Can you help by topping it?<BR><BR>Also, is this type of itinerary possible for those who limited to high school Latin 20+ years ago? I.e., we don't really speak Italian beyond the basic Hi & Thank you.

Thank you Dayle & ppp,<BR>If I understood ppp correctly, you really are advising us to go to CT before Florence. Unfortunately, I have booked hotels for Venice, Florence, & Rome. I am trying to get the CT set, so that's why I am trying to firm up the exact time we should be in CT.<BR><BR>I think we will have to get back to Florence to get to CT from Siena or on to Tuscany or Umbria area. So I assume it would be back-tracking too much to go to Siena after CT. Please let me know if I am correct. BTW thanks for the town suggestions. I will investigate them. <BR>Thanks agin for everyone's help.

Changing hotel reservations happens thousands of times every day <BR><BR>Anyhow, if you don´t want to change hotel reservations, your best bet is to hit the CT after Florence, next to Siena, and wrap it up with Orvieto (or Assisi which IMO is a better choice if you intend to spend more than a single night). <BR><BR>The train trip from Florence to the CT takes about 3 hours (more or less depending on departure time and town you choose to stay). From the CT to Siena it´s about 4 hours. The train trip from Siena to Orvieto takes about 2 hours. From Orvieto to Rome it´s 1 hour. The bus trip between Siena and Assisi takes about 2 hours and the train trip from Assisi to Rome may also be done in 3 hours.

Changing hotel reservations happens thousands of times every day <BR><BR>Anyhow, if you don´t want to change hotel reservations, your best bet is to hit the CT after Florence, next to Siena, and wrap it up with Orvieto (or Assisi which IMO is a better choice if you intend to spend more than a single night). <BR><BR>The train trip from Florence to the CT takes about 3 hours (more or less depending on departure time and town you choose to stay). From the CT to Siena it´s about 4 hours. The train trip from Siena to Orvieto takes about 2 hours. From Orvieto to Rome it´s 1 hour. The bus trip between Siena and Assisi takes about 2 hours and the train trip from Assisi to Rome may also be done in 2 hours.