I'm flying into rome and out of Venice and was going to stop at Florence, but now I decided I would rather go to Siena. Will I need a car? Also, is there a train that will take me from Rome to Siena and then Siena to Venice?

Hi snowflake,

Train schedules are at www.trenitalia.com/en

Snowflake: What dates are you planning on being in Siena? The reason I ask is that there is a famous horse race in the market place on 16 Aug. That town will be a zoo. If you don't have tickets to it, I'd opt for Florence.

Slight correction to Dia23, the race is held in the main piazza called Piazza del Campo not in the marketplace. The race is on the 2nd of July with trial races starting on the 29th of JUne and on the 16 of August with trial races starting on the 13th. The race is called Il Palio.

I have much better luck checking out train schedules at www.raileurope.com
I don't know whether it is just me, but I have alot of trouble using the Trenitalia site
If you do not see what you are looking for on the raileurope site, call them! I was having trouble finding on-line a specific station that I KNEW they stopped at , and got my assistance via the phone.The people at raileurope are very friendly and extremely helpful!

We enjoyed Florence, and there is alot to do, of course, but I loved Siena! and given my choice, I would stay in Siena, and make a really long day of Florence.

If at all possible, please stop in Florence. It is an amazing city filled with so much history, art and gelato.

Seriously, the Uffizzi (sp), David, the Duomo and Bapistry, and many others demonstrate the significance of the city before, during and after the Renaissance.

Don't get me wrong, I like Sienna and consider it one of my favorite places but if you have been to neither and only have time for one my vote would go to Florence IMHO.

nanb,
Try using the Italian version of the trenitalia site as the English version is always spotty. Just be sure to type in the Italian names for the cities (Firenze, Roma, Venenzia).

I might get kicked off this site for what I about to say, but here goes....I was soooo disappointed in Florence the last time I was there in June! It used to be one of my favorite cities and I was so excited to return, but once I got there it was so crowded you couldn't even see your feet. The lines at the David and even for ice cream where overwhelming. I'm sorry but I don't like Florence anymore:'(. Siena was great fun. I don't think there is a direct train to Rome. I remember we had to transfer going from Rome to Siena. Be carful with transfers. Don't cut it too close because Italian trains are not all that reliable and if you miss one you could wait a long time for another.

I think there is direct (SITA) bus service from Rome to Siena that compares favorably with (or better than) train service. Siena to Venice might best be done by a combination of bus plus train, though I am sure you can go, directly by train with a change in Florence.

Best wishes,

Rex