Hello Fodorites, I need your help again.

The itinerary we nailed down for a return trip to Italy in Oct. 2005 is:

Fly into Venice --- 4 Days
Train to Florence ---6 Days
Train to Rome ---5 Days with a side trip to Ovierto (spelling?).

I think Florence deserves 3 days, but the question is which hill towns in Tuscany do we make sides trips to in the remaining 3 day? Siena, San G, Gubbio, or Lucca? Or any other suggestions?


Thanks,
Greg

Hi Vol,

Orvieto.

Siena and San G make a good daytrip by bus.

You can also visit Greve and Castellina by bus.

Lucca (and Pisa if you wish) can be done by train.

See http://www.sita-on-line.it for buses
www.trenitalia.com/en for trains.

Don't forget to take the bus up to Fiesole for an afternoon.

Ira,

Would you recommend doing both Siena and San G by bus in one day? Or just saying that they both are accessible by bus?

We also will have 6 days in Florence, and are deciding between 2 or 3 daytrips- Siena and Lucca are definites, but I would love to see San G also, and perhaps Cortona/Arezzo. I think Chianti region will be saved for another trip at this point!

Thank you!

I know while in Tuscany I'd want to do a 1/2-day sidetrip to Vinci and I'd want to do a side-trip to Verona while in Venice.

I've wanted to see Siena for quite some time.

All! I'd only do 2 days in Florence, I just loved the smaller Tuscan towns. Do you have a car? That's the best way. Of towns you listed, San G was my favorite (we went after 5 when tourbusses were gone and stayed overnight), then Siena. Monteriggioni is just outside Siena and worth a stop but very tiny. Didn't get to Lucca but hear great things. Greve was cute.

SOuthern Tuscany on your way to Rome was the best imo- Montepuliciano, Montalcino, Piena.
Enjoy!

Another hill town to consider is Volterra because it is beautiful and more atypical. Very high with cliffs and the artisans here are known for their alabaster work. I'm not sure about buses because we had a car, but we did this in one day with another town (I'm at work and I can't get to my itinerary and can't remember which one.) Have fun! (and planning is half the fun!) HelenR

Since you have nailed down your itenerary, I think it all depends if you get a car for your Tuscany day trips. There are many places you can reach from Florence.
Since a good portion of your time is devoted to travel, I would have made 2-not 3-major areasmy bases.
Since you are spending 5 days in Rome, I recommend 3 days northern Tuscany , 3 south and leave you car at Orvieto before Rome.
With your limited time, I would not do Vinci unless you stopped on your way back from Lucca. I liked Vinci, but it is a bit out of the way (drive time).

Hi VolGreg,

I agree with Jabez and would recommend 2-3 days in Florence and then head for the beautiful countryside of Tuscany or Umbria. Return the car in Orvieto.
We did, it's easy.
Buon viaggio!

Thanks to all.

Greg

jabez and Dayle; Did you mean to use Florence a hub and then return the the car to Orvieto or pack up & leave Florence for the hill towns? Also, I assume you mean to catch a train from Orvieto to after dropping the car....

HelenR , I agree planning is half the fun. We MUST be sick!!

Thanks
Greg

Another vote for Volterra, which also has a terrific Etruscan museum. Volterra and San Gim make a nice day (by car).

You could use Florence as a base for northern Tuscany. If you then based yourself in southern Tuscany (Siena,Pienza,etc.), you can visit the southern.
You can plan on driving to Rome and stopping at Orvieto on the way in. Or you can return your car (depending on company you use) at Orvieto and train to Rome.
It really depends on what you want the most. Lots of the bigger cities with all their history. Or a fair amount of small hill towns and scenic areas.
You can't go wrong no matter how you plan.