IdyllicItaly

I think a stop at Il Poggerino http://www.poggerino.com/en/default.asp in Radda-in-Chianti would be lovely. We stayed there many years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Since then, they have added a pool, B&B accommodations, and dinner by reservation.

As others have suggested, I recommend driving from there to Venice to drop off the car. It will be quicker and possibly cheaper. Make sure to check the hours that the rental agency will be open. You can do that on the Autoeurope website, an agency I highly recommend.

annhig

It IS possible to stay in Florence and have a car - the place I stayed at a couple of years ago was just outside the ZTL and there was parking right outside:

http://www.residenzacasanuova.it/

but you'd have to make sure that you didn't stray into the ZTL on the way there or when leaving.

Jean

But the OP is considering returning the car IN Florence.

annhig

Jean - I'd missed that. I agree it's tricky; we did drive in Florence once but that was 25 years ago when it seemed quite easy, and parking outside our very central hotel was no problem at all.

fast forward to 5-6 years ago and the traffic had increased hugely - I was so glad we were using the buses and trains!

centeno

As crazy as it seems I am thinking of changing this whole itinerary! Maybe I should start a new thread? We are still flying into Rome and spending three days in Il Pelicano in Port Ercole. I than think since it will be hot and crowded first week of July in Florence and Venice (and we have already been there several times) we should stay on the coast and drive up to Forte Di Marme and on to the Cinque Terre, Portofino?, ( where we have never been) and than I'm not sure. Train to Venice or end up in Milan and fly out? Any thoughts driving up the coast and stops along the way? I am not particularly interested in hiking CT however I see on other forums you can take the boats to other towns etc.

BowenLinda

If you decide to stay in Tuscany I stayed here with a friend a few years ago:

http://www.agriturismo.it/en/farmhou...804/index.html

Easy access to San Gimignano and Volterra, gorgeous, two pools (if I remember correctly), it had no minimum stay then, and we had one of our best meals in Italy just down the road.

loumartinez

I completely agree you can successfully daytrip to Florence, Siena, Chianti and Mugello if you choose to stay in a hotel near Florence as Relais Villa L'Olmo http://www.relaisfarmholiday.it/ Do you love wine and food?
So you are definitely in the right spot.