We will be visiting Rome and then Palermo in late August for a wedding. Want to go from Palermo to visit some of towns in Tuscany. First trip to Italy. Any suggestions?

At that time of year you have a lot of choices of travel -- air or boat to Roma, air of boat to Genova. There are flights to Milano, I'm sure, and if you can find flights to Pisa or Firenze (Florence), all the better. You should also check out boats and planes to Livorno. You are going to need to book a flight or ferry fairly quickly.

If you do Roma, I would suggest you take the train to Orvieto (one hour from Roma) and start your Tuscany trip there. In fact, if you want to see the most famed parts of Tuscany -- Chianti, Montelpucliano, etc -- you should probably get yourselves to Roma.

If you arrive by way of Genova, you might as well just pick up the car at the airport. (If you arrive by ferry, take a taxi to the airport to rent the car). If you arrive in the morning, you can easily make it to northern Tuscany in a day -- but most people when they say "Tuscany" they are talking about Southern Tuscany. So you will want to stop en route, either on the coast or in the area of Lucca, etc. It's also possible to arrive in Genova, take a pleasant train ride down the coast, stop at a seaside town, and then pick up a car in Pisa to proceed with your journey.

Unless you are quite used to traveling by the seat of your pants in Italy, you are going to need hotels very quickly if you are talking about this august and you want to visit much-talked about places.

There are many places in Tuscany, however, that aren't talked about, that make perfectly nice bases for touristing, by car or train.

If you are sensitive to heat, you will need air conditioning and a pool -- and you need to book in advance in August to be guaranteed of those.

Are you sure--that is a long way. I would stay in Sicily, which deserves 2 weeks.

There are budget flights from Trapani on Ryan Air(very close to Palermo) to Pisa which is in Tuscany. A few months ago I found a free flight (you paid taxes only - about 24&euro, but I'm sure that sale is long gone. Ryan Air and Windjet fly between Pisa and Palermo too.
www.whichbudget.com

Another bargain was the Happy fare on Snav although I don't think you will find very good prices for August. Snav's overnight ferry is from Palermo to Civitavecchia. I think Grand Navi travels between Genoa and Palermo.

Thank you for the help. Travel agent has booked a flight from Palermo to Florence and then 6 days later a flight from Venice home. Obviously there is enough to see for weeks, not days. I plan to return to Italy at a later time. For this few days I had hoped to scout some of those less well known towns that would make a good base for travel next year. Would this be possible? If not, any other suggestions, given our time and flights.

I think your plan to scout lesser known towns is eminently possible -- although if you find a lesser known town in Tuscany, let us all know!

Have a great time in quasi-Greek Roma, quasi-Arab Palermo and quasi-tourist Tuscany! You will have quite an overview of Italy for your next trip, and a lot of great food and sweet people along the way.

zeppole, you wrote: "There are many places in Tuscany, however, that aren't talked about, that make perfectly nice bases for touristing, by car or train."
Could you tell me what they are and perhaps suggest the best way to reach them. Thank you for your time.

Mai Tai Tom's trip report covers some off the beaten paths/towns in Tuscany. I think the first 4-5 days are Umbria and most of the rest is Tuscany. In some towns they encountered few to no tourists.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34691579

Thanks kybourbon maitaitom's report is great fun and full of good information.

Just in general, most of the Maremma area of Tuscany is almost completely unexplored by foreign tourist, and yet it has marvelous historic towns, sites, hotsprings, wines and food (including seafood)

http://www.lamaremmafabene.it/inglese/mappa/index.asp


The Lunigiana near Liguria and the cool, mountainous Garfagnana beyond Lucca is a hinterland to most foreign tourists, who never go beyond staring at Cararra from the autostrade. But it has alps, wine, olive oil and well as historic and artistic treasures

http://www.welcometuscany.it/tuscany...garfagnana.htm

The intersection of Tuscany, Le Marche and Emilia-Romagna is one of the most fascinating and unspoiled parts of Italy, with fantastic food and sights all around you

http://www.grandealberoturismo.com/p...ntefeltro.aspx

Last but least, tourists stampede past such towns as Prato or Pistoia on their way to Firenze and Pisa without realizing they have considerable artistic treasures, marvelous restaurants and more parking!

Because I live in Italy, I have the luxury of going out sometimes with simply the idea that when it's lunch time, I'll put out my red Michelin guide and see what looks tasty where I am. Nine times out of ten, I find myself eating fantastic food in such multiply astonishing towns as Pontremoli or Castelnuovo di Magra, sometimes with stunning views, sometimes with great history, sometimes with art treasures, sometimes all three and -- I've never heard of this place before.

Have fun.

This may be a better guide to the Maremma

http://www.tuttomaremma.com/en/maremmaimages.htm

Valtiberina

http://www.tuscanyholidayvilla.com/u...er-valley.html

Bookmarking. Thanks for the links.

I suggest this guide of maremma, there are informations and a wonderful slideshow:

www.bellamaremma.com/en/

bookmarking