Travel from Sorrento to somewhere in Tuscany - and also where to stay
Jan 16th, 2013, 08:14 AM
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Travel from Sorrento to somewhere in Tuscany - and also where to stay
We will be in Sorrento in the third week of April and we are planning to spend sometime outside of Florence after that to wander (by car) around the countryside. We want to be close enough to Florence to spend a day there.
We are less interested in museums and architecture than we are in just getting a sense of life in that region, seeing beautiful country, visting a couple of amall towns and small-town markets and having some amazing Italian country cooking. I am intrigued by Lucca and that area but its kind of far from Florence.
The area around Greve has been recommended to me but I can't really get a sense of what its like.
We also need to get from Sorrento to wherever we're staying and pick up a car somewhere enroute. I am assuming we'll start out by train and stop in a larger town to get the car.
We are less interested in museums and architecture than we are in just getting a sense of life in that region, seeing beautiful country, visting a couple of amall towns and small-town markets and having some amazing Italian country cooking. I am intrigued by Lucca and that area but its kind of far from Florence.
The area around Greve has been recommended to me but I can't really get a sense of what its like.
We also need to get from Sorrento to wherever we're staying and pick up a car somewhere enroute. I am assuming we'll start out by train and stop in a larger town to get the car.
Jan 16th, 2013, 09:09 AM
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Well from Sorrento hop the CircumVesuviana commuter train (no reservations just buy ticket at station) from Sorrento to Naples Centrale (actually to a smaller station adjacent to Centrale but in the same complex) - then hop on very frequent trains to Florence perhaps only going to a large city with lots of car rentals like Arrezzo (sp?) - right in the heart of the Tuscan and Umbrian hill towns - close to Assisi and Perugia - a wonderful area to start driving thru.
When done driving return car to Arrezzo or some other town with train or bus service to Florence, a place where you will NOT even want to have a car.
Score discounted tickets for Naples to Florence (or Arrezzo, etc) at www.trenitalia.com - Italian Railways web site - limited number of discounted tickets cheaper than full fare, which would alwayw be available right at Naple Centrale IME - but booking ahead for the limited in number discounted tickets can save lots of money but note these can be hard to change from that specific train or refund so be sure of you time.
Allow 2 hours at least from leaving Sorrento before your train at Naples Centrale - maybe a bit more if using discounted tickets - full fare tickets can always be used on other trains I believe and can be changed too, I believe.
For lots of great info on Italian trains check out these fine IMO sites - www.seat61.com (good info on discounted fares); www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
and again do not worry about just showing up in Naples and buying the ticket north to where you want to go - rarely sell out and there trains about every two hours that go direct to Florence via no change of trains in Rome
When done driving return car to Arrezzo or some other town with train or bus service to Florence, a place where you will NOT even want to have a car.
Score discounted tickets for Naples to Florence (or Arrezzo, etc) at www.trenitalia.com - Italian Railways web site - limited number of discounted tickets cheaper than full fare, which would alwayw be available right at Naple Centrale IME - but booking ahead for the limited in number discounted tickets can save lots of money but note these can be hard to change from that specific train or refund so be sure of you time.
Allow 2 hours at least from leaving Sorrento before your train at Naples Centrale - maybe a bit more if using discounted tickets - full fare tickets can always be used on other trains I believe and can be changed too, I believe.
For lots of great info on Italian trains check out these fine IMO sites - www.seat61.com (good info on discounted fares); www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
and again do not worry about just showing up in Naples and buying the ticket north to where you want to go - rarely sell out and there trains about every two hours that go direct to Florence via no change of trains in Rome
Jan 16th, 2013, 11:14 AM
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You could also take a train from Naples to Rome and then change to local trains on the slower rail line to Florence and get off at Chiusi, where there are several car rental places right near the station - this is in the heart of the proverbial tuscany hill towns - Montepulciano being a short drive away - then work your winding way up to Siena and San Gimignano to Pisa - if the Tower is in the works, return your car there perhaps - even at the airport and take direct trains over to Florence, right from the airport if you wish.
Jan 16th, 2013, 06:32 PM
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Thanks so much for the info. I'm starting to think that getting from sorrento to tuscany is going to be a whole day's journey. Would it make any sense to rent the car in sorrento (if that's possible) or in Naples? Is it a difficult drive from Naples to Florence? It sounds like it might be faster - especially if we want to rent a car anyway.
Jan 16th, 2013, 06:59 PM
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It certainly is possible to rent a car in Sorrento or Naples, but there are, for me, negatives to both. Sorrento is on a peninsula, and it takes some slow driving to get to the highway. Naples is, well, Naples. Not a driving dream.
I personally love Arezzo, but if you aren't into art and architecture, it might not be the best choice for you.
Nor would, I think, Lucca give you the "sense of Tuscany" you are looking for. It's flat and walled and pretty much unlike postcard Tuscany.
Greve and the towns of the Chiantigiana sound a lot more like what you seem to be looking for. And close to Florence, too.
Montepulciano and might work for you, too.
I personally love Arezzo, but if you aren't into art and architecture, it might not be the best choice for you.
Nor would, I think, Lucca give you the "sense of Tuscany" you are looking for. It's flat and walled and pretty much unlike postcard Tuscany.
Greve and the towns of the Chiantigiana sound a lot more like what you seem to be looking for. And close to Florence, too.
Montepulciano and might work for you, too.
Jan 17th, 2013, 08:44 AM
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Orvieto will fulfill your romantic notions of any Italian hill town - built on a volcanic plug that soars high above the surrounding pastoral countryside - this is an ABC city - Another Bloody Church around every corner and really nice ones! Orvieto is like a house of cards - built on a lava hill in which has been hewn out over the centuries many tunnels - touring the underground Orvieto is very popular. Orvieto makes a nice first night stay from Naples - even if driving the whole way.
Orveito can be reached by train on the slower older rail line Rome to Florence but not I think by high-speed trains Naples to Florence - so change in Rome on most links I think.
Orveito can be reached by train on the slower older rail line Rome to Florence but not I think by high-speed trains Naples to Florence - so change in Rome on most links I think.
