Planes, Trains and Automobiles (in Italy)
Jan 20th, 2005, 08:16 AM
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Planes, Trains and Automobiles (in Italy)
Hi Fodorites! We will be staying in San Gimignano for a few nights (late March / early April) before the next leg of our trip takes us to Rome. We have a car that is scheduled for drop off in Rome. I am thinking about dropping off the car in Siena, and then taking the Trenitalia Intercity to Chiusi and then to Rome. I am not worried (much) about driving in Rome, but our travel day will be a Saturday, and Trenitalia has good rates on Saturdays. Also, I think our 5 year old son will dig being on the train after having done a lot of roadtripping the week before. Agree or disagree?
Jan 20th, 2005, 08:39 AM
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Sure - that's a good idea. Driving into Rome is not a good idea, unless you have a lot of experience with driving in European cities.
I would probably do it a little differently. I would get on the N2 & drive towards San Quirico. Just after the Montalcino exit, look to your left to see the cypress trees & umbrella pines dotting the ridge of a hill - you will probably have already seen this on postcards. Just a little later & before the bridge close to San Quirico, look for the very pretty grove of cypress trees to your right - again subject of many calendars & postcards.
On the bridge before San Quirico, there is a lovely view of this medieval town. At San Quirico, head east on the beautiful N146 and drive through the very scenic val d'Orcia. The winter wheat will be luch green when you are there, and you won't believe how beautiful the countryside is.
Just past San Quirico,
I would probably do it a little differently. I would get on the N2 & drive towards San Quirico. Just after the Montalcino exit, look to your left to see the cypress trees & umbrella pines dotting the ridge of a hill - you will probably have already seen this on postcards. Just a little later & before the bridge close to San Quirico, look for the very pretty grove of cypress trees to your right - again subject of many calendars & postcards.
On the bridge before San Quirico, there is a lovely view of this medieval town. At San Quirico, head east on the beautiful N146 and drive through the very scenic val d'Orcia. The winter wheat will be luch green when you are there, and you won't believe how beautiful the countryside is.
Just past San Quirico,
Jan 20th, 2005, 08:55 AM
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Hey - Fodors is working great - it decided to post my reply all by itself. Anyway, here it is again.
Message: Sure - that's a good idea. Driving into Rome is not a good idea, unless you have a lot of experience with driving in European cities.
I would probably do it a little differently. I would get on the N2 & drive towards San Quirico. Just after the Montalcino exit, look to your left to see the cypress trees & umbrella pines dotting the ridge of a hill - you will probably have already seen this on postcards. Just a little later & before the bridge close to San Quirico, look for the very pretty grove of cypress trees to your right - again subject of many calendars & postcards.
On the bridge before San Quirico, there is a lovely view of this medieval town. At San Quirico, head east on the beautiful N146 and drive through the very scenic Val d'Orcia. The winter wheat will be luch green when you are there, and you won't believe how beautiful the countryside is.
Just past San Quirico, on your right drive into the parking lot behind the Taverna del Barbarossa restaurant (which is associated with the Casanova hotel). The parking lot is at the south end of the complex. Park the car, get out & you will see another of the most photographed sites in Tuscany. In fact, the very first picture that appears in my ’95 Michelin Green Guide to Tuscany, is a photograph of this scene – a farmhouse sitting on top of a hill, surrounded by cypress trees. A “coffee table” book I have has photographs of this site at different times of the year – it’s quite remarkable. This site is even on the cover of that book. I also have a poster.
Continue on the N146, and in about 1.5 K look to your right & you will see another much photograhped sight - a small church & another small building with an umbrella pine & cyptess tree - it's on the crest of a hill with lovely green winter wheat all around. You might recall this scene if you saw the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun".
Proceed on through Pienza (visit if you have time), then on to Montepulciano. You will see a wonderful view of the San Biago Church with Montepulciano climbing up the hill behind it - it's impossible NOT to stop & take a photo.
Continue on through Montepulciano & then Chianciano and on to Chiusi, where you can return the car & pick up a train to Rome. The station is small & it's a little south of the town of Chiusi. When we returned a car there in '02, there was only an Avis office there, so if you are renting from AutoEurope (my recommendation), make sure that they reserve an Avis car for you (they will already know this if you specify that you want to return the car in Chiusi).
I consider the drive from north of Montalcino to Montepulciano to be a MUST SEE in Tuscany.
Stu Dudley
drive into the parking lot behind the Taverna del Barbarossa restaurant (which is associated with the Casanova hotel). The parking lot is at the south end of the complex. Park the car, get out & you will see another of the most photographed sites in Tuscany. In fact, the very first picture that appears in my ’95 Michelin Green Guide to Tuscany, is a photograph of this scene – a farmhouse sitting on top of a hill, surrounded by cypress trees. A “coffee table” book I have has photographs of this site at different times of the year – it’s quite remarkable. This site is even on the cover of that book. I also have a poster (yes, it was hanging in my office too).
Message: Sure - that's a good idea. Driving into Rome is not a good idea, unless you have a lot of experience with driving in European cities.
I would probably do it a little differently. I would get on the N2 & drive towards San Quirico. Just after the Montalcino exit, look to your left to see the cypress trees & umbrella pines dotting the ridge of a hill - you will probably have already seen this on postcards. Just a little later & before the bridge close to San Quirico, look for the very pretty grove of cypress trees to your right - again subject of many calendars & postcards.
On the bridge before San Quirico, there is a lovely view of this medieval town. At San Quirico, head east on the beautiful N146 and drive through the very scenic Val d'Orcia. The winter wheat will be luch green when you are there, and you won't believe how beautiful the countryside is.
Just past San Quirico, on your right drive into the parking lot behind the Taverna del Barbarossa restaurant (which is associated with the Casanova hotel). The parking lot is at the south end of the complex. Park the car, get out & you will see another of the most photographed sites in Tuscany. In fact, the very first picture that appears in my ’95 Michelin Green Guide to Tuscany, is a photograph of this scene – a farmhouse sitting on top of a hill, surrounded by cypress trees. A “coffee table” book I have has photographs of this site at different times of the year – it’s quite remarkable. This site is even on the cover of that book. I also have a poster.
Continue on the N146, and in about 1.5 K look to your right & you will see another much photograhped sight - a small church & another small building with an umbrella pine & cyptess tree - it's on the crest of a hill with lovely green winter wheat all around. You might recall this scene if you saw the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun".
Proceed on through Pienza (visit if you have time), then on to Montepulciano. You will see a wonderful view of the San Biago Church with Montepulciano climbing up the hill behind it - it's impossible NOT to stop & take a photo.
Continue on through Montepulciano & then Chianciano and on to Chiusi, where you can return the car & pick up a train to Rome. The station is small & it's a little south of the town of Chiusi. When we returned a car there in '02, there was only an Avis office there, so if you are renting from AutoEurope (my recommendation), make sure that they reserve an Avis car for you (they will already know this if you specify that you want to return the car in Chiusi).
I consider the drive from north of Montalcino to Montepulciano to be a MUST SEE in Tuscany.
Stu Dudley
drive into the parking lot behind the Taverna del Barbarossa restaurant (which is associated with the Casanova hotel). The parking lot is at the south end of the complex. Park the car, get out & you will see another of the most photographed sites in Tuscany. In fact, the very first picture that appears in my ’95 Michelin Green Guide to Tuscany, is a photograph of this scene – a farmhouse sitting on top of a hill, surrounded by cypress trees. A “coffee table” book I have has photographs of this site at different times of the year – it’s quite remarkable. This site is even on the cover of that book. I also have a poster (yes, it was hanging in my office too).
Jan 20th, 2005, 09:18 AM
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>>>StuDudley...where did you get the poster?<<<
Don't recall - somewhere in Tuscany. Most likely at the poster shop in Siena on Via di Citta, close to Via die Pellegrini I have about 10 or so posters of various scenes in Tuscany. When I was still working (I retired early in '99 so we could travel more), I had perhaps 20 or so posters all over my office walls - it was the only thing that kept me sane !!!
The one of the San Biagio church with Montepulciano in the background is my favorite.
Stu Dudley
Don't recall - somewhere in Tuscany. Most likely at the poster shop in Siena on Via di Citta, close to Via die Pellegrini I have about 10 or so posters of various scenes in Tuscany. When I was still working (I retired early in '99 so we could travel more), I had perhaps 20 or so posters all over my office walls - it was the only thing that kept me sane !!!
The one of the San Biagio church with Montepulciano in the background is my favorite.
Stu Dudley
Jan 20th, 2005, 04:08 PM
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Thanks for the responses everyone!
The reason I might drop the car off in Siena, is because Auto Europe specified that as a drop off point. I could possibly check into Chiusi as a drop off point, but Auto Erope would have to switch to Avis (so they say), which would be slightly more expensive. BTW, I got a screaming deal on the car rental. Right now, they have a free one class upgrade. Compared to Avis, they were over $150.00 cheaper for the same rental!
Michelle (ma belle) from NYC, I lifted the "gravysandwich" appellation from a James Taylor song lyric. Thanks for noticing!
StuDudley, thanks for the heads up on the scenic drive suggestion. We will definitely do that.
gravysandwich
The reason I might drop the car off in Siena, is because Auto Europe specified that as a drop off point. I could possibly check into Chiusi as a drop off point, but Auto Erope would have to switch to Avis (so they say), which would be slightly more expensive. BTW, I got a screaming deal on the car rental. Right now, they have a free one class upgrade. Compared to Avis, they were over $150.00 cheaper for the same rental!
Michelle (ma belle) from NYC, I lifted the "gravysandwich" appellation from a James Taylor song lyric. Thanks for noticing!
StuDudley, thanks for the heads up on the scenic drive suggestion. We will definitely do that.
gravysandwich
Jan 20th, 2005, 04:43 PM
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>>>I could possibly check into Chiusi as a drop off point, but Auto Erope would have to switch to Avis (so they say), which would be slightly more expensive. <<
No-brainer - go for it. NEVER worry about arraingements with AutoEurope. They are extremly accommodating. Spend the extra & take the drive I described & drop off the car in Chiusi - the Avis office is about 50 yds from the train station.
Stu Dudley
No-brainer - go for it. NEVER worry about arraingements with AutoEurope. They are extremly accommodating. Spend the extra & take the drive I described & drop off the car in Chiusi - the Avis office is about 50 yds from the train station.
Stu Dudley
Jan 20th, 2005, 08:22 PM
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Well, I can't help with your question, but your screen name immediately made me think of my cousin, who, when we were kids, always loved bread with gravy! And then my father-in-law also loved it.
I'm going to Italy in Sept and have taken a few notes from the answers you have received!
I'm going to Italy in Sept and have taken a few notes from the answers you have received!
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