"note none of the high-speed trains serve Chiusu which is why it's better to go back to Florence - the Florence to Rome and Rome to Naples high-speed trains do not stop anywhere in between."


Let me play devil's advocate here. That comment is not the whole story. Sure, there are no ES or AV trains from Chiusi. BUT, Chiusi is well south of Florence. Trains from Chiusi to Rome take 90min - the same time as Florence to Rome. Yes you'd have to change trains to get to Naples, while you could take a through train Florence-Rome-Naples.

But, it will take you 90min to drive from Montepulciano to Florence, plus time to turn in the car and get to the train station.

Since you will be staying in Montepulciano then headed straight to AC, my recommendation is to proceed as you planned - drop off the car in Chiusi, which is right near the train station. Then take one of the 90min IC trains to Rome, then transfer to a Naples train. Total travel time will be less than driving North to Florence just to catch the ES/AV train.

Pal, The OP used all caps for the entire initial post. To me and others, posts typed in all caps read as screaming. BXL has been very gracious about this correction.

By the way, BXL, if no one has mentioned it, there's an excellent description about the entire italian train system at the Slow Travel web site. Here's the link:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/index.htm

ellen - mea culpa - i agree upon circumflexion with you

ellenem,
Thank you so much for the Slow Travel web site link. It appears that it will address all of my
questions and then some. Thank you
bxl

J62 makes sense - i failed to note Montepulciano and was thinking like Siena where it would be quicker and easier to turn the car in there and take the bus to the Florence train station and shoot directly to Naples and Sorrento/Salerno

>>>>I also have to say that until planning for my trip I had not even learned how to email! <<<<

Good for you! I just didn't want you to think the all caps thing was only this website.

Even if you take the AV or ES between Florence/Naples, it will stop in Rome. I did that route last fall. My AV/ES train departed 1 hour late from Florence. Perhaps yet another reason to drive.

Thanks again to all who responded. We have decided to drop off the car in Chiusi and
follow the route that J62 recommended.bxl

Well, I don't know if you are still following this, but do consider the train route from Rome to Salerno. I think that is the easier way to get to the town of Amalfi.

I do not like training from Chiusi > Rome > Naples > Sorrento > to bus (or driver) to Amalfi.

Chiusi > Rome > Salerno > bus (or driver) to Amalfi would be preferable to me.

tuscanlifeedit,
I like the Chiusi-Rome-Salerno-bus option. I believe I have read on other threads that going to Salerno is a better route if going to Amalfi. Thank you
bxl

Good idea tuscan.

We are doing the same trip. When are you going? I was planning to drop the car at Orvieto. From Orvieto there is a "direct" train to Naples. I think it stops in Rome but you don't need to change trains. By direct- I mean it goes to Naples without changing train, not to be confused with diretto trains.

leuk2,
We are going in May for our 20th wedding anniversary.
bxl

The nicer, newer, more comfortable trains (AV/ES)don't stop in Chiusi.

Just checked out the Florence option. Looks good, but the last thing I want to do is drive into Florence. Where to drop the car?? The Naples train leaves at 10:50 a.m. so have adequate time to get Florence. We are going in Sept/Oct. So much for the other option- having bxl drive us to the amalfi coast. I'd sit in the back and screech at every intersection, give wrong directions, and ask to stop at every rest stop.

Where are you staying in Montepulciano. We are staying at locanda san francesco. We found by reading a response to a previous post. Bobthe navigator recommended it. It looks great, good reviews on trip advisor. I thank BTN for his help. We're staying at a B&B in Praiano. Can't remember the name right know but looks great as well. Its our 25th anniversary.

leuk2,
If we were going in Sept/Oct we would be happy to drive you! We are staying at La Falconara
which is an Agriturismo. We will have an apt for 5 days for 440 euro. It comes recommended
by Rick Steves and the owners have been very helpful. By the way happy anniversary.
bxl

Same to you. Maybe we will connect at another time/place. I will explore the Florence option and let you know how it works out.

Re Orvieto to Naples direct train - it still may behoove you to switch to a high-speed train at Rome if the Orvieto to Naples direct train is not high-speed and may stop lots compared to the non-stop Rome-Naples high-speed trains.