Train vs car in Italy
 

I am traveling through Italy in July. My stops are Venice, Riomaggiore, Lucca/Pisa, SanGimignano, Montepulciano, Cortona, Greve, Florence and Venice. Should I rent the car for the whole trip? (Most of my hotels have parking) Or at what point should I get the train. Evaluating economics as well.

You do not want a car in Venice nor Florence---the rest you do. I would get it and drop it in Florence at the airport.

Unless you expect to take several day trips from Florence, the most sensible plan would be to rent the car at the conclusion of your 1st Venice stay, then drop the car off when you get to Florence. (This assumes that any drop-off charge would be reasonable.)

Although you could theoretically get around using local buses and trains, it would take you a huge amount of time and you would be very limited in your ability to explore. Florence and Venice, on the other hand, are best explored on foot.

It won't be easy to drive to centre of these towns and cities, mangy streets would be one way or No Entry and a big challenge to find parking. But most towns and cities in Tuscany would have huge parking lots outside the centre. Venice has covered parking for which you have to pay a fee, quite close to where the ferries leaveI remember we had parked in one of these huge garages, but they can be a bit costly.

In my opinion, nothing beats hiring a car to tour around Tuscany, as you would see much more at your own leisure, and not waste time getting to train stations etc,. Economically I am not so sure as prices of fuel are increasing but I guess even train fares are on the increase. If the hotels have parking it certainly is an advantage. But I guess it would still not be easy if it were a hotel in a centre of Florence.

Do whatever you're more comfortable doing.

Two years ago we were in Tuscany based in Florence for 10 days. We did not rent a car.

We had been to Venice twice before so didn't include it.

We took days trips for 6 days (actually two of the daytrips were overnighters and we kept our room in Florence).

We went to Cortona & Arezzo.

San Gimignano & Sienna.

Pisa/Lucca and checked into our hotel in La spezia in time to take a quick train to Riomaggiore for sunset and a great outdoor dinner facing the ocean. The next day we hiked between some of the villages before returning to Florence in the evening.

One day we train/bused to several Medicci villas. This was the only thing I wouldn't do without a car. Or else go to less of them.

If you're interested in Pisa fine. If all you want to see is the area around the Tower then I can tell you about a little known train station.

In Lucca we walked the town from end to end. Then we rented bikes and drove around the town on the wall. Stopped for a picnic.

It was a great trip. We even got to Fiesole. Like I wrote, the only thing I would do differently is the villa day.

If you'd like you can see photos at:
www.travelwalks.com

Personally I like renting a car, it just gives you so much more flexibility and I think it saves a lot of time.
Agreed though that in Venice you have to park it before you get into the city, so you will not use it there, and driving in downtown Florence, I've done it, is very confusing. Have fun whichever way you go! Sounds like a fabulous trip.

Riomaggiore I'm also not sure about in terms of cars, you'd have to look into that. Some of those Cinque Terre towns can't be reached by car I don't think, but I'm not sure about that one.