My sister and I (age59&61) are going to Italy next week and want to tour Tuscany but do not want to rent a car. We'll be coming from Ancona. Is it possible get to towns such as Orvieto, Assisi, Montepulciano, by public transportation? Bus or train? Would it be best to stay in Siena or Perugia and take day trips?

Yes.
Both.
Either.

Seriously, we've done both -- car and public transport. I infinitely prefer train/bus. It's a piece of cake. Lots of frequent, inexpensive trains.

Hi SC - You can find train timetables on:

http://www.trenitalia.it/en/index.html

Coming from Ancona your first stop could be Assisi or Perugia (- via Foligno).

There is a bus service connecting Assisi-Perugia-Siena (- operator: Sena).
For details see:
http://www.sena.it

Hope this helps ...

Steve

P.S. Sena operates a connecting bus service from Foligno (- in coincidence with train from Ancona) direct to Assisi/Perugia.

Here's the link:
http://tinyurl.com/2jbd7q

Lots of relevant info here: http://www.chianti.info/chianti_without_car.htm It emphasizes Chianti but there are public transport links for all of Tuscany there.

I hope you realize that Assisi and Orvieto are not in Tuscany. And, the closest train station for Montepulciano is several miles outside of town and remote. Those location are doable by train---the rest of Tuscany is really not, except Siena.

As Bob says, the closest train station to Montepulciano is some distance away in Chiusi, but it is possible to take a bus to Montepulciano from there, and there is also bus service to the area from Siena (though I think it would be difficult to get from Siena to Montepulciano and back in a single day by bus). Information on bus lines is at http://www.trainspa.it -- at the top of the page, click on "Orari" and then "Extraurbano." Another option if you prefer not to rent a car is to hire a driver -- if you search this board for private tour guides in Tuscany, you'll find the names of a number of reputable people who will take you wherever you want to go.