Small towns between Rome and Florence
My brother and I will be spending 8 - 10 days in Italy next summer. It is not the first time there for either of us.
We are hoping to explore some small, non touristy towns, between Rome and Florence. Mode of transportation is undecided - could be car, bus or train, whatever works best.
Suggestions??
Katie
Glen Burnie, MD US 10/31/09
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Hi Katie,
I'd suggest renting a car and visiting the Hill Towns of Tuscany. You can easily spend 8-10 days exploring--chose one or two towns as a base. In September my husband and I spent time in San Albino about 4 km. from Montepulciano and explored Monticchiello, Pienza, San Quirico, Bagno Vignoni, Cortona, and others.
Rick Steves does a great job of describing the towns and the highlights in each.
A search of this site will also give you lots of good info about car rental, places to visit, etc.
I agree completely with Sharon.
We plan to spend some time in Rome and Florence, and some time exploring smaller towns. Of the ones you mention, which do you most recommend?
You can do two or three small ones each day by car if you plan it right. My favorites of the biggies are Siena, Orvieto and San Gimignano. You can take a day or several in each.
Rick has a great article on Hill Towns of Central Italy. My favorite quote from Rick "...if you want to dance at noon with a toothless lady while your pizza cooks, press a good-luck coin into the moldy ceiling of an Etruscan wine cellar, or be introduced to a mediocre altar piece as proudly as if it were a Michelangelo, then stow your guidebook, buy the best local map you can find, and explore."
Thanks!
Katie, Take a look at http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm
Katie, great decision. Small, non-touristy towns call out for car rental though. Do your research- driving is different, even small towns have ZTLs. You will drive a stick shift-of course- need lots of insurance, including theft, and pay triple for gas, but your car will be tiny and efficient. Trains don't go the hilltowns. No worries, driving is no problem in the countryside as long as you do your research! It's not like home, if you don't assume it is you will be fine.
Pienza, Montepulciano are gems, but ahem, hardly non-touristy. Get a map and pick some towns off the beaten path. The tower at Radicofani is very cool. Don't expect people to speak English. Aquapendente and Castello San Bernardengo were fun, completely non-touristy stops. They are so non-touristy I hesitate to recommend them incase people ask me "Why on earth would you want to go there?" But, I found the stops interesting and delightful even if it didn't have E-ticket tourist attractions. Buonconvento was good for a short walk-though-- definitely not the tourist stop though. Avoid Greve, it was disappointing, Panzano is a few km south and is the superior stop. Castellina is a great stop on the way to Siena. Lots of Etruscan tombs dot the countryside, explore some side roads and villages.
No disrespect to RS-- its my primary travel guide-- but small towns off the beaten track are just not his thing. Rick focuses on destinations best served by train, you will need to look elsewhere for good information about stops along the Chiantigiana and in Tuscany/Orvieto.
If you like to explore small towns then I suggest renting a car and you can all of them and stop as long as you want. I did this in France, from Paris to Golden Coast and it was a wonderful experience. Also get a good road atlas like Michelin.