iwannago2

We'll be traveling to Italy in September 2006. Our Itinerary is shaping up:
Fly in to Florence
After 4 nights in Florence - pick up rental car at the airport or just outside of town
3 nights in San Gimignano - daytrips
3 nights in Cortona - daytrips - then drop off the car - then ?
4 nights in Venice

I could use some help on the best place to drop off the car outside of Cortona and pick up a fast train to Venice.

Thanks for any experiences you can share.
Terry

Steve_James

Terry - Your best choice is Florence, though Arezzo is an alternative.

From Florence there are DIRECT Eurostar trains to Venice S.L.
Journey time is normally just under 3 hrs.

Alternatively if you leave from Arezzo you will normally have to change at Florence SMN (- or otherwise at Venice Mestre).
This would add 1 hr+ to journey time.

For details and fares go to:
www.trenitalia.com

Hope this helps ...

Steve

dorkforcemom

Chiusi has a car rental place right by the train station. Chiusi is not far from Cortina - something to look into as an alternative. Happy travels!

ira

Hi iw,

Is there a reason for not driving to Venice and dropping the car there at Piazzale Roma?

iwannago2

Thanks for your replies folks. I'll look into the Florence option Steve. It had crossed my mind but was thinking that it would be covered ground, but if we drove to Arezzo, that would give us a different route. Similar thoughts on Chiusi, since we plan to visit Pienza, but never the less an option.

Ira, my understanding of the Cortona to Venice drive is that it would be too long (no real research to back it up yet). We'll be navigating the roads in Tuscany for a week and thought we might enjoy "leaving the driving to someone else". Should we reconsider?
Thanks a million,
Terry

ira

Hi iw,

According to www.viamichelin.com, it's 4:30 hr from Cortona to Venice.

If you take the scenic route via Ravenna and the coast, it's 5 hr.

iwannago2

Thanks Ira,
We'll toss the idea around. Is there a place along the coast you would recommend for an overnight?
Terry

ira

Hi iwan,

>Is there a place along the coast you would recommend for an overnight?<

Ravenna.
See http://www.tours-italy.com/ravenna-t...nformation.htm

There are also a number of small towns along the coast north of Ravenna.

See www.viamichelin.com

Have a nice visit.