Locations around Tuscany

<p>Hi,<br>

I will be traveling to Italy and visiting Tuscany for 4 days in early May. As of now I have not booked a rental car and plan to make Florence as my base location. Ideally I would like to capture some photographs of the Tuscan landscape. What might be my best bet, location wise, if I don't have a rental car?<br>

Thanks,<br>

Prasoon</p>

<p>You won't like this, but without a rental car you will be severely limited. To the point that if it were me I simply wouldn't bother. IMO the best landscape photography opportunities are not around Florence, but about 30-40km south/south east of Siena. And very early/late in the day so a combination of location and time of day makes public transport very difficult and you will waste a heap of time. </p>

<p>If you really won't rent a car stick to the towns. Pienza, Montepulciano, San Quirico, Montalcini, Siena. </p>

<p>I agree, Tuscany without a car is difficult. The trains are based around non-tourist schedules. I would also suggest that, assuming you get a rental car, you consider a different location that Florence, unless you are staying on the outskirts of the city. It's really difficult getting in and out from the center, tons of one way street, alleys, and confusing streets. We rented a three bedroom chateau near Umbria for a week for the price of two nights in a decent Florence hotel.</p>

There aren't a ton of photogenic spots you can get to without a car, except in the cities. While you're in Florence, don't

miss Antico Noe (a sandwich shop).

<p>Picking up Jeff's point I'd just add that IMO at least, the best reason to stay in Florence is if you have a real interest in renaissance art. If your interest is in landscape photography there are better places to stay and certainly places easier to get in and out of. </p>

Although I didn't get there myself, the town of Fiesole is just a short local bus ride from the train station with

a hill top view over Florence. The Cinque Terra area is a set of five towns along a rocky coast connected

by trains, boat and a walking path and is probably doable in a day. The small city of Lucca is a very

pleasant place with a walkable earthen wall around it and many little open squares and outdoor cafes.

Have a good trip.

<p>Sienna, Lucca, San Vincenzo, Montepulciano.... I would not stay for more than one day in Florence, unless it street photography you're after. No car means limiting yourself to mostly Florence. Don't forget to get navigation too, as is in the countryside many smaller roads do not carry street names.</p>

<p>Thank you all for your responses. Back in mind, I knew that I would hear something along these lines. If I do rent a car, the question is how are the driving conditions in rural Italy and is a car with automatic transmission possible to rent?<br>

Thanks.</p>

<p>I found driving conditions in Italy to be better outside the cities, not bad at all. Finding an automatic transmission is going to be a little more work, you will have to check with the agencies. My last trip, I rented a car which was standard shift but the agency ran out of small cars and gave me a Mercedes station wagon (!) with an automatic. You might have to bump up to a larger car to get automatic.</p>

<p>I don't altogether agree: Siena, Lucca, Pisa, and Arezzo, for example, I think are quite easily reached from Florence by train and, as with most Italian towns, very worth seeing. Italian trains are/were slow when I used to go, but it has a great network. The complex of the Campo di Miracoli (Leaning Tower etc) is very beautiful, with or without tourists in Pisa. You can also take a bus up to Fiesole to see glorious views of Florence from afar. To be honest though, I think I would stay in Florence if you want the main experience: there is more than enough to see there for 3 days, and maybe make a one day trip out to Pisa, Siena, or Lucca. Check out the travel times when you get there to see what makes the most sense for you. Siena is impressive but a bit claustrophobic and choked with tourists (as is Florence), there is also a lot to see there: which may prove a bit daunting/tiring.</p>

<p>Driving conditions are good, but Italians are notoriously aggressive and fast drivers - make sure you get all insurance.</p>

<p>Thank you Jeff and Robin.</p>