Driving in Tuscany

[Jev]

Hi,
We are coming for a vacation to Tuscany in September. We are renting a car and want to drive all around the countryside. Just wanted to ask if any type of car was suitable to driving in the Tuscan countryside? We are thinking of renting a mini car, like a Fiat 500 Mini, or Economy Peugeot 107. Will a mini car be okay to drive around the Tuscany countryside roads?

[Micaela]

Ciao Jev,

yes, the cars you mentioned are very ideal to drive in tuscan countryside because they are small and cheap. When you will be in Tuscany, you'll see that these cars are much used by the people.

However, if a day you want to do a particular experience or a romantic trip, you can also consider that many accommodations in Tuscany offer to rent luxury cars or vintage cars.

One of these accommodations is Casale Poggio alle Fonti at Terranuova Bracciolini between Arezzo, Florence and Siena, but also the hotels of the Ross Hotels Group in province of Siena offer this option.

[Lourdes]

Ciao Jev,

For most of the driving you'll be doing on countryside roads, those smaller cars are perfectly fine. Actually will feel like the right size, considering how some roads can be quite narrow!

And, of course, if you want to try the experience of a tour in a vintage car, there are those too, from either Florence or Siena: http://www.partner.viator.com/en/835...cany%20vintage

Enjoy your time in Tuscany

[Jev]

Thanks guys!
we will rent a mini car

[flushhushed]

Hi,
We are coming for a vacation to Tuscany in September. We are renting a car and want to drive all around the countryside. Just wanted to ask if any type of car was suitable to driving in the Tuscan countryside? We are thinking of renting a mini car, like a Fiat 500 Mini, or Economy Peugeot 107. Will a mini car be okay to drive around the Tuscany countryside roads?

Driving is stressful, especially when you're on holidays and would like to just relax and enjoy the locations. I suggest you take public transpo.

[Jay]

Driving is stressful, especially when you're on holidays and would like to just relax and enjoy the locations. I suggest you take public transpo.

Hello, my wife and I will be taking a bus from Florence to Siena the morning of Nov. 6. Our plan is to rent a car from Siena the moment we arrive and then drive to one of the hot springs - Petriolo or Saturnia or San Filippo - most likely Saturnia, given that it is apparently the best of the three. We we will drive back the same day to Siena and enjoy that evening and the next morning there before we catch a bus to Rome.

Would you recommend driving from Siena to the hot springs? Or is it possible to take the bus from either Florence or Siena straight to the hot springs and back? If so, will the bus be a convenient option schedule wise? How about the distance from the bus stop to the hot springs?


This is our first time in Italy and we're really looking forward to it!

Thank you for any help you can offer. Love the website.

[Dingeryote]

Jay,

Just got back and might be able to offer some thoughts.

The folks trapped in the busses missed out on some of the best countryside drives on the planet.
Tuscany is about the landscape and getting swallowed up in it, between stops.

Bus trips stay on bus friendly roads, and they dictate how long and where you stop.

At one point on our trip, the wife had me stopping a dozen times within an hour, just to get out and look, take a few pics, and breathe.
I dunno how many times we simply drove "That way" just to see what could be found, and were rewarded with breath taking countryside.

The best roads are steep, winding, narrow, and feature sheer cliffs with no guard rails to obstruct the views. They force you to slow down, and soak in the place. Italians are sneaky that way.

Take the car, take your time, and plan on getting lost and enjoying it.
Folks that take the bus, or stay on the main roads, miss the point.

Have an awesome trip!!!

[Jay]

Jay,

Just got back and might be able to offer some thoughts.

The folks trapped in the busses missed out on some of the best countryside drives on the planet.
Tuscany is about the landscape and getting swallowed up in it, between stops.

Bus trips stay on bus friendly roads, and they dictate how long and where you stop.

At one point on our trip, the wife had me stopping a dozen times within an hour, just to get out and look, take a few pics, and breathe.
I dunno how many times we simply drove "That way" just to see what could be found, and were rewarded with breath taking countryside.

The best roads are steep, winding, narrow, and feature sheer cliffs with no guard rails to obstruct the views. They force you to slow down, and soak in the place. Italians are sneaky that way.

Take the car, take your time, and plan on getting lost and enjoying it.
Folks that take the bus, or stay on the main roads, miss the point.

Have an awesome trip!!!

Thanks a ton for your response Dingeryote! We'll be driving Hopefully though, driving a manual car on steep and winding roads is lesser of a challenge than I am anticipating.

[Lourdes]

Jay - I actually recommend the Bagni San Filippo, stopping at Bagno Vignoni as well (both have free springs). In Bagno Vignoni you have to head down the cliff to get to the waterfall/river.
It is closer, both are still pretty impressive and you'll be driving through BEAUTIFUL countryside. A day might not be enough!!

Maybe I'd suggest doing Siena first, then heading down toward Val d'Orcia and then keep on going to Rome!

Saturnia is definitely too long of a drive to do for a one day outing, returning to Siena... I'd only recommend it if you kept heading south, as it is practically on the border with Lazio. The difference between Bagni San Filippo and Saturnia is 1 hour vs 2 hour drive just one way from Siena.

[Jay]

Jay - I actually recommend the Bagni San Filippo, stopping at Bagno Vignoni as well (both have free springs). In Bagno Vignoni you have to head down the cliff to get to the waterfall/river.
It is closer, both are still pretty impressive and you'll be driving through BEAUTIFUL countryside. A day might not be enough!!

Maybe I'd suggest doing Siena first, then heading down toward Val d'Orcia and then keep on going to Rome!

Saturnia is definitely too long of a drive to do for a one day outing, returning to Siena... I'd only recommend it if you kept heading south, as it is practically on the border with Lazio. The difference between Bagni San Filippo and Saturnia is 1 hour vs 2 hour drive just one way from Siena.

Thank you, Lourdes, for your expert opinion! I am considering the option of driving to Saturnia or the Vignoni/San Filippo combo and then driving south to Rome from there. My only concern is that I'm not comfortable driving in Rome. Could you please recommend a town/city just outside of Rome, where I can return the rented car and then catch a bus/train to the historic city?

Finally, now that I'm planning to drive south to somewhere near ROme, would you still recommend the Vignoni/San Filippo springs combo OR the Cascate del Mulino in Saturnia?

Can't wait