We leave next week! We have a week in Rome, then pick up car and go spend night in Assisi, having stopped in Cortona for lunch, next night in sienna, then week just outside Florence. Any absolutely don't misses on the way? We are considering Sna Giamigiano (sp?), Montepulcino (sp?) or doing those as day trips and seeing if we hit some small, non-guide book reccommended villages? what do you think?
Thanks,
Jane

On you drive up to Florence, stop at Orvieto - even if just to see the cathedral - outstanding! As a possible day trip from your Florence location Lucca shouldn't be missed.

TG

Hi J,

Better yet, do Orvieto as a daytrip from Rome.

See http://gram.eng.uci.edu/~alberto/orvieto/en_seeing.html

If I'm reading your route correctly, I'd suggest lunch in Cortona on the way from Assisi to Siena so you can avoid backtracking.
And I'm also a big fan of Orvieto. The setting is like nothing I had ever seen before.
Also, if you take a more direct route to Assisi, you might want to stop in Spoleto. In particular, visit Ponte delle due Torri. As you climb the hill and then come around the bend, you have to be amazed by the site of it.
Bella Umbria website has lots of info and itineraries if you are planning to drive through the area.
http://www.bellaumbria.net/ Choose the English version in the upper right corner of the homepage.

Thanks to you three. The Umbria website is good. I'll include Orvieto. How about it as a day trip from Florence. With only a week in Rome and not getting to see everything we consider don't misses, we don't have time to sleep, so no time for day trips there.
Jane

Hi Jane - Orvieto is perfectly viable as a day-trip from Florence.

IC trains take approx 1hr 25'

Be aware that not all Orvieto trains leave from Florence SMN.
Some leave from Fi. Campo Marte and Fi. Rifredi stations.

For details see:

http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

Hope this helps ...

Steve