Hello Fodorites,
We will be traveling to Italy in mid-March. We have the front end and back end of our trips planned. We'll be traveling from north to south and we have one extra night. We do not want to spend it in Firenze (having been there a few times already). We will end up in Rome, but would prefer to see a place we have not yet seen - if even for 24 hours.

Places we have been... the Cinque Terre, Portofino, Portovenere, Pisa, Montepulciano, Montacino, Pienze, Arrezo, Assisi, San Galgano, Siena, Orvieto, and Civita

Any suggestions for something unique? I've read and re-read this site and a few others trying to come up with a different smallish town. We're active, mid-30s, love unique and different things. I also love photography (work as a professional photographer)... so anything with that inclination would be great, too.

Right now we're considering Lucca or Lerici, but I'd really like to hear other suggestions.

Help!

Thanks

Grasshopper

Where will you be coming from? Your heading suggests Florence, but in your description, you say that you don't want to spend time in Florence.

How will you be travelling? Car or train? That will make a difference.

And while Lucca isn't between Florence and Rome, it's a great little city. Is the Emilia-Romagna area too far out of the way - it doesn't sound like you've explored that region of Italy. Bologna, Verona, Ravenna, Ferrara, are all worth part or some of your 24 hours. Or in Umbria, there's Spello, Bevagna, Montefalco.

Grasshopper, I don't know if want to get further from Florence but there is a charming town - Castellina in Chianti - that we spent one night in and just loved. Another option is Greve but they are both fairly close to Florence (ie. ~ 35-40 km. Check out http://www.castellina.com/
http://www.greve-in-chianti.com/

How about Orvieto>?

How about Montevarchi, close to Arezzo ?

Vincenzo

Hi R,

Orvieto is a good idea.

Also see www.castiglionedellago.it

Halfway between Florence and Rome, seaside, nice old small town; Castiglione della Pescaia...

Hi, we also stayed in Castellina in Chianti, in a villa with some friends for a week. We were about a 5 minute drive out of the town, but there is other accommodation in the town itself.It is a gorgeous little town and the area is stunning. Well worth exploring and photographing. Enjoy!!

Thanks, everyone.
This is good information.

Yes, we will be traveling from Firenze... by train.

We really like Orvieto - been there a few times on past holidays - so we'll probably skip it this time. Just looking for a new place to visit for one night (wish we had longer!)

I'll do some research based on the above suggestions.

Thanks again!

Roger

Perugia?

Or Assisi?

Another vote here for Spello and Montefalco, lots of photo ops there. Both are lovely little towns. How about Todi? Also very picturesque and untouristed.

We really like the town of Bracciano, on Lake Bracciano. The town is about an hour or so from Rome and isn't very touristy. The lake is lovely and Bracciano has an interesting castle that one can visit. We visited a few years ago and really enjoyed ourselves.

http://www.lakebracciano.com/default_en.html

Best wishes,
Tracy

What about Castiglione del Lago, on Lake Trasimeno? I think it's on the Florence Rome line.

On the train route from Firenze to Roma and taking all the great town you've been to out of eqation... just had a great time with the train schedule.

I've spent a great deal of time in the Chianti area and I think Monte San Savino is a beautiful little town (I think far better than Montevarchi). Most of my favorite Tuscan towns are not acessable by train.

Have not spent a lot of time here but how about Todi or Perugia.