Itinerary:Rome & Florence/Tuscany
 

Hello: Just returning after a bout with the flu. Hoping all you experienced travelers can help me out. Plans are to go to Rome and Florence (10 days)in May. Looking for advice on the following:

1. What would be best, fly into Rome and out of Florence or vise versa?

2. We would like a car for Tuscany. Where should we pick it up and drop it off?

3. We might be more interested in Tuscany that Florence. Thinking about visiting San Gimignano, Siena, Assisa, Montepulcian, Monteriggioni. Is that too much, too spread out, etc. Any comments on those locations or other recommendations?

4. Any recommendations for an itinerary?

Appreciate any feedback. Thanks very much - Donna

First, congratulations for surviving the flu. Now for your questions:
1. There is really no difference in flying into either airport, except that flying into Rome can be nonstop from the U.S. (if that's where you are). If you fly into Florence, you'll have to make a connection, which might be tiring after an overseas (and usually overnight) flight. Flying out of Florence will also entail a connection somewhere, such as Milan or Rome.
2. Many people recommend a train to somewhere like Florence (assuming you arrive in Rome) and a car rental at Florence. If you fly into Rome and out of Florence, then dropoff in Florence is an obvious choice.
3. If you are not too interested in Florence, see what you want for a day or two before renting the car, then rent the car for touring the Tuscan countryside. Assisi is a bit farther from your Tuscan base than the other places, and if you want to spend some time in each of those places you named plus others, you'll need to winnow down your list. I think I'd choose one base in central or south central Tuscany and then explore from there on day trips.
4. Suggested itinerary:
-Arrive Rome. Spend 3 nights.
-Train to Florence. Spend 1 night in Florence, or none if you wish.
-Rent car in Florence and head for your home base. Since some of the small villages are hard to get into and out of with a car, consider a town where it won't be difficult. OR, since you are planning to explore, you might choose a hotel outside one of the villages where access is much easier. As for places to see, there are so many. Lots has been written on this forum about Tuscany; use it to collect data.

I'd suggest you locate yourself fairly close to Florence if that's where your plane will depart. Then work out a plan that will allow you a few days of circular routes from and to your home base. Good luck.

the very best piece of travel advice I can give regarding a rental car in Florence is to have the agent at the rental car map out your route back to the rental office from wherever you will be driving back from. Another piece of advice..when you are in a roundabout simply keep driving around and around until you figure out exactly where it is you need to exit. (this will make sense to you when you are in Italy). We actually flew into Rome and out of Venice and found it to be a great deal easier than circling back to Rome. Siena and Montepulciano are two of my most favorite places in Tuscany. I would also recommend(if you like wines) a trip to Montalcino and a visit to the Fortezza for tastings.

Thank you both for your responses. Wayne you mentioned some small towns are hard to get in and out of with a CAR. What do you do? Do you park outside of town and is it then easy to walk to where you need to go. Would it be better to know the ones not conducive to a car and get there another way? Just curious as to your thoughts on our return to the states (CA). If we begin in Rome, train to Florence, should we plan to fly out of florence or train back to Rome and fly out of Rome.

Thanks Pam for the tips on wineries, etc. Will definitely do that.

Do you guys have any recommendations on a good central point to stay outside Florence/Tuscany for visting the other towns? Thanks for for you help.

I think you could stay outside of San Gimigiano or Siena and be ok. Parking in either place can be difficult at best. Of the two, I far preferred Siena. (Tip: Park at the Campo garage)
Siena has a great deal to see and do. It is also hoe to university students so it does have a cosmopolitan feel.(We spied Alice Waters shopping there) San Gi is very much filled with tourists. It is small in comparison to some of the other places you have mentioned. Folks who have stayed there after hours have said it's magical. I can imagine that. Montepulciano was easy to navigate in and out of. We also found this to be one of the few hilltowns where life seemed to be going on around us rather than because of us(tourists). I'd allow for a full afternoon if not day in both Siena and Montepulciano. The duomo alone in Siena will occupy some time. Montalcino is small and charming but limited(it seemed) in terms of goods and services. Hopefully some of those familiar with Pienza will answer your post, this is supposed to be great. I am not familiar with it.(not yet!!) Check out the Rada in Chianti,Castellilna en Chianti and Greve area as possible places to stay as well. The train ride from Rome to Florence is easy and you can take a fast train which,to my memory, takes under 2 hours. It will probably be faster and ultimately cheaper to take the train with RT booked out of ROme(although flying British Air it was a nominal difference in airfare to fly into Rome and out of Venice) More tips on rental cars: you can rent very close to the train station in Florence. I recommend renting from Avis or another office on the other side of the river. You will be in very close and relatively easy access to the road into Tuscany towns(Siena-Florence route). Another..car rental places have different hours on Saturdays and Sundays. Make certain the rental office you are booked through will be open when you want to p/u or drop off your car.

that's Castellina en Chianti. These last three towns I mentioned will put you in good distance to some of the places you hope to see and will be very easty to move in and out of.