Which Tuscan/Umbrian town to visit for one night?
 

My wife and I will be spending two nights in Venice, one night in a town in between Venice and Rome, and then four nights in Rome this October. We will be taking the train the entire time (no rental car) and packed moderately (probably two suitcases)

Which town would you recommend visiting for one night and two days? I have already been to Florence, so that one is out. We have considered Siena and Orvieto, but are looking for other suggestions. We really love scenic towns (Hawaii is our favorite tropical place and Luzern, Switzerland and Edinburgh, Scotland are our favorite European cities). We also love history, but art will probalby not be as important for this town (lots of that in other cities on our trip).

One worry I have is how difficult is it to get from the train station to the main area (Hotel Duomo possibly) in Orvieto?

Any other ideas or suggestions?

Hi ma,

I recommend Orvieto.

The Funiculare ride is very interesting, and so is the town.

I Sette Consoli is one of the better restaurant in Italy.

You might also consider Arezzo.

((I))

I second Orvieto and I Sette Consoli.

Orvieto was the city that I really had my eye on.. So, with that in mind:

- Is the train station at the bottom of the hill? Is the funicular near the train station? If not, how do you get to the city center if you dont have a rental car?

- We're looking to spend $150-$200 on our hotel room for the night. Do you have any suggestions other than Hotel Duomo?

Yes, that train station is at the bottom of the hill and the funiculare is right across the street. DO NOT try to drive around town.

We were only there for the day, so I can't comment on hotels. We really loved our day there and also highly recommend I Sette. Ira has never steered us wrong with food! It was an awesome meal.

We enjoyed the underground tour as well. Have a wonderful trip!

Hi ma,

As noted, the train station is across the street from the Funicular.

When you exit the Funicular, you will be met by a little bus. Your ticket is good for the bus ride to the town center.

You can also walk; it's not far.

If you are planning on lunch or dinner n the garden at I Sette Consoli, make reservations.

I Sette Consoli
Pzza Sant’Angelo 1A
phone/fax 011 39 0763 343911

((I))

If you have never been to Venice before, I would add the that night to Venice and save Tuscany for another trip.

My suggestion would be to drop a Rome night and add it to Orvieto. Just to see one hilltown is really not seeing Tuscany, IMHO. Actually I'm sure you know Orvieto is really in Umbria. I would suggest on that extra day you take a bus to another hilltown in Tuscany, say Pienza or Montepulciano. I drive in Italy, so I cannot advise on bus routes, etc from Orvieto, but maybe someone can suggest. Enjoy your trip! I think the small towns are the best part of Italy.

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far.. They have really helped.

The problem is that we're trying to do too much in too little time..

We have two days scheduled for Venice, one for a hilltown, and four for Rome. My wife wants to journey down to Pompeii/Sorrento with one of the days that are scheduled for Rome though, so we're really down to three. Plus, she's interested in all of the Catholic things in Rome, so we'll spend a good bit of time at the Vatican there.

I have been to Venice before, so we're not really looking at the possibility of spending three nights there.

Since we are spending one night, and two halfs of a day in Orvieto, if we have seen everything we want to see in the city the first afternoon, are there any other hilltowns really close by that we should check out (a place like civita di Bagnoregio for example)?

Thanks

Hi Ma,

If you only have 4 days for Rome, I wouldn't recommend trying to get down to Pompeii. Too much travel time involved. Save it for a southern Italy trip!

Orvieto is a favorite of mine. A very lovely town. I'm sure it will be one of your's too! Be sure to do the underground tour, short but facinating. Getting to and around Orvieto is a breeze.....

Civita di Bagnoreggio is a great 1/2 day trip. My friends thanked me over and over for putting this wonderful little place in our itinerary. I believe Rick Steves gives bus travel instructions in his Italy book.

Buon viaggio!