julies

We are planning a short, three night road trip starting in Rome and ending in the Cinque Terre. We'll be arriving from the US and driving from the airport to Tarquinia where I have two nights reserved. So, we plan to use that as a base for 1.5 days to see local area sights. Then, we have one more overnight before our arrival in the Cinque Terre.

Does anyone have any places you recommend we see on our drive up to the Cinque Terre that aren't too far out of the way our route will be going? And, do you have any suggestions for a good smaller town between Tarquinia and the Cinque Terre to spend that night? Thanks.

massimop

What do you like to do? If it's sampling wine, try the area of Bolgheri. If it's all preserved historic architecture in dramatic hill towns, try Massa Marittima. Have a thing for Romantic English poets? Byron used to hang out in Montenero, above Livorno with romantic views. Then stop by San Terenzo for lunch before you reach le Cinque Terre to see where Shelly lived. (Stop by Viareggio to see where his drowned body washed ashore.)

Food markets & delicious seafood? Livorno itself is a first class treasure in that regard.

You can visit the Carrara marble quarries (sleep in Pietrasanta).

A dogleg inland will enable you to see Pisa, and it is at its best at night.

yorkshire

Greatly enjoyed Orbetello, Massa Marittima, and Lerici along that route.

julies

Great help! many of them sound interesting, with the possible exception of the Carrara quarries. I am now going to get out my map and see where these places are.

We plan to start out in Tarquinia area where we want to see the Etruscan ruins. We are open and like lots of different things--quaint, charming towns, the seaside, historical places.

The food markets in Livorno sound fabulous, and we'd love to be able to visit a market and get some prepared food we could later eat at the apartment we'll have in the Cinque Terre. Unfortunately, I am guessing purchasing, keeping cold and then trying to transport it on the train with our luggage would be too big of a hassle. (We will be dropping our rental car in La Spezia and then taking the train to Monterosso.)

yorkshire

If you become fascinated by the Etruscan sites like I did, and if you have time, one of the best sites we saw was outside Sovana. I almost mentioned Pitigliano, but I though it might be too far--about 45 minutes off the main coastal road.
As you drive north, there is also a fantastic archaeological park at Populonia/Baratti. It is close to Massa Marittima if that gets the stop.

julies

Time for more map looking. Thanks again.

PalenQ

You can easily drive to the Leaning Tower, on edge of Pisa towards CT - without driving thru Pisa -right on the way - reserve a time slot to ascend tower or just have a look it.

massimop

i never travel anywhere in Italy anymore without a soft sided foldable insulated bag so I can transport food. They are lightweight and cheap on Amazon. Ones with shoulder straps make transport easy when you have luggage. They fold flat when empty & easily fit into a suitcase or backpack.

When I went to Livorno pent the night, had a great dinner of cacciucco, and the next morning went to the central market in Livorno and bought my lunch to eat on the train (plus other things for later dinners). The stuff that didn't need refrigeration went into a big cloth sling tote I also always pack too, and the stuff needing refrigeration went into the thermal tote.

Just a thought but you might switch your car drop-off to Livorno, spend the night and take the train to le Cinque Terre the next day.

If you like small well-preserved Tuscan towns with good restaurants, you could also try Montescudaio (and eat at Il Frantoiao). Or go to Suvereto & eat at de Ghigo Or take a look at the rest of this list

https://www.visittuscany.com/en/idea...ets-near-pisa/