midnattros

Hello Helpful Fodorites!

We have a honeymoon coming up in italy late september/early october and need some advice on an umbria base!
Initially I was thinking B&B in Orvieto or agriturismo nearby, now I'm wondering if there are better options. Was interested in Pitigliano (but could see that on the drive up to our next stop San Quirico D'orcia), Civita di Bagnoregio, and Orvieto. We would like to stay near or in a town.

Here's our trip:
Arrive in Rome 4:30 pm, rent car.
1. Umbria 3 nights
2. San Quirico D'orcia, Tuscany 4 nights drop off car at Grossetto train station
3. Manarola, Cinque Terre 3 nights
4. Rome 4 nights

Would love your help!

Jean

It depends on what you want to see in Umbria in your two days there, but Orvieto is not particularly convenient to all of Umbria. It's fairly close to some towns, but a little too far from others. You need to tell us what was on your Umbria agenda before we can comment on Orvieto as a base.

Were you planning to drive after a long flight? If you land (on time) at 4:30 p.m., you may not be on your way until 6:30. Sunset in late September will be at 7:00, so it's likely part (if not all) of your drive will be in the dark. FYI, you could take a train from the airport to Orvieto(change at Roma Termini) in less time than it would take to rent the car and drive yourself. The next morning (as long as this isn't a Sunday) you could rent the car in Orvieto and start exploring Umbria.

bobthenavigator

Hmmm !
Why the Grosetto drop? Why not drop at La Spezia?
Makes no sense.

ourjetboat

Why not stay in Rome your first 4 nights...get over your jet lag ...

Jean

Most here would suggest putting all of the Rome days at the end since that is the departure point. What would have been nice is if the OP could have flown into Pisa and out of Rome, but for a trip that is just weeks away I assume the airline tickets have already been purchased.

RonZ

I would definitely suggest a stop in Orvieto, which I think is the most attractive town in the region.

However Spello is very handy as a base, well located and very easy to get in and out of.

StCirq

Well, I'd certainly visit Orvieto, but as a base for Umbria? No, it's too far south.

midnattros

Thank you for your input!

Bob- thank you for the car suggestion... silly me didn't even consider that. just happened to think that train was the only way. hopefully roadways are not too confusing or bad up to la spezia? will need to take a train from la spezia to vernazza once dropping off the car.

Will check out Spello first, but I think I may do agriturismo near orvieto since a couple on here really liked Orvieto. And we'll visit Pitigliano, Sorano, Civita di Bagnoregio, Orvieto, possibly Saturnia thermal baths and maybe there are some other little spots here and there that we can find that are of interest.

Mimar

Well, I'm not such a fan of Orvieto (found it most impressive viewed when driving by it on the autostrada), and it makes a terrible base for visiting Umbria. In fact, I don't find it a good base for visiting the immediate area. It's up on top of a mesa-like protrusion, so if you stay in town, you'll have to work your way down the side of the mesa in the morning and back up in the evening.

And as others have said, it's on the edge of Umbria. Are you sure you really want to visit Umbria? Which towns? I think Bevagna would make a good base. It's flat and easy to get in and out of. You could do daytrips to Assisi, Spello, Spoleto, Montefalco, Trevi, Deruta. And of course Perugia, but I think I'd investigate the bus for that.

midnattros

sorry, i guess the umbria border is right there near orvieto, so most of that area is not considered "umbria." looking into spots you recommended now tho.

would bevagna or spello be tough to get to after landing in Rome at 4:30 pm, picking up car, and driving? (ie. in dark)

what would the "must sees" be for a 2 day bevagna or spello base?

hollywoodsc

I would suggest, after a long flight, taking the train to Orvieto. Not sure if there's a direct one from the airport or if you need to go to the Termini in Rome, then change to one to Orvieto, it's about 1:20.
Not very central for Umbria, you might want to consider making your base further North because the town is high up and it's time consuming getting up and down!

Trains in Italy are very efficient and run on time. Use them as much as you can. Whoever is driving will miss the scenery, and fines in the cities are astonomical. And the cost of gas? Ouch. It's so nice to just get yourself settled on a train, relax and enjoy lunch as the scenery goes by.

midnattros

Yes, i considered the train to orvieto. however, it costs more (significantly) to rent the car in that case!

StCirq

<<however, it costs more (significantly) to rent the car in that case! >>

Why is that?

midnattros

hollywoodsc - since you are a train fan- would you suggest driving from Southern Tuscany, dropping off car then training from Grosseto to La Spezia or driving all the way from Southern Tuscany to La Spezia?

maitaitom

Although now a trip seven years old (hill towns don't change that much, I guess), we spent the first three nights in Spello (great base to see Umbria) at Palazzo Bocci, and then the next four in San Quirico d'Orcia at Palazzo del Capitano. If you put the correct petrol in the car, the drive is pretty easy. I'm sure someone has been to either of those hotels since we visited, but my trip report with photos could give you ideas of places to visit while in Umbria and Tuscany. Have a great honeymoon.

http://www.travelswithmaitaitom.com/...alia_2005.html

midnattros

StCirq,

I don't know why it costs more. I guess because it's more expensive to rent in Orvieto than from the airport. Renting from Orvieto was my original plan, then i scratched it when i checked with auto europe.

zoecat

<<Will check out Spello first, but I think I may do agriturismo near orvieto since a couple on here really liked Orvieto. And we'll visit Pitigliano, Sorano, Civita di Bagnoregio, Orvieto, possibly Saturnia thermal baths and maybe there are some other little spots here and there that we can find that are of interest.>>

If you have only 3 days and want to visit those towns, then stay in either the Orvieto or Pitigliano area and visit those towns you list. They are fantastic. You do not want to stay in Spello and try to visit those towns.

If you have the time, you could also visit Lake Bolsena and the town of Bolsena.

midnattros

Thanks zoecat.

If I did stay in Spello or Bevagna, I would make a new itinerary and wouldn't visit those places. (if i did visit them it would maybe a quick visit on the drive up to next stop San Quirico D'orcia )

vespacurves

Given the towns you want to see near Orvieto, I think staying near there is terrific.

I also think it is a terrific idea to drop off the car is Grosseto. Makes a lot of sense. The train time is just about equivalent to the drive time (a bit shorter, actually), and it will work out better in terms of when the car rental offices are open. If you drop off the car in Grosseto in the morning, you can be le Cinque Terre for lunch. If you drive to La Spezia and suffer delays on the road, you could end up stuck with car until the car rental offices re-open.

midnattros

vespacurves- thank you!