Does anyone know how busy the roads and trains will be on May Day? Also, are there any interesting activities for this holiday in southern Tuscany. My husband and I will be enroute from Montalcino to a villa near Montepulciano and Pienza. We have friends arriving on the first and 2nd of May who are contemplating train travel from FCO into Chiusi. I realize it's a national holiday and many things will be closed but I'm not sure how crowded and/or closed things will be in the countryside, etc. Thanks for any insight.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
I agree with Alice: the roads will be crowded, especially because it is on a Saturday. Friday afternoon will be awful as well!
Most restaurants willbe open, but most of the rest will be closed. May 1st is a pretty dull day like January 1st and Christmas Day or August 15th: everybody wants a day off. Let's hope that there will be good weather, so that we can enjoy the countryside and the outdoors!
Thanks for your help. Which do you think would be more efficient, the train or a car, from FCO to Chiusi, Pienza area? My friends want to arrive easily and maximize their time in Tuscany.
quote: Which do you think would be more efficient, the train or a car, from FCO to Chiusi, Pienza area?
I vote for the car. Pienza is not near a train station. If you take the train, you need to go from FCO to the Rome train station, to Chiusi, then a bus through the country roads to Pienza. Way too long. A car gets you there in 2 1/2 hours (180km), maybe less if you drive fashionably.
If friends plan to have a rental car, then I'd say they should take the train from Rome to Chiusi and pick up car there. From Chiusi to Pienza is about 25 miles at most. The AVIS station is directly across the street from the Chiusi rail station. Trick will be to see what hours the Chiusi station is open on May 1st, though...the car rental company can tell you that. I wouldn't want to be driving out of Rome on that holiday personally.
Sally -- I thought the friends are coming from FCO not Rome. Going from FCO to Termini to Chiusi, and then a rental car just for a couple of days in Tuscany sounds like a little bit of overkill to me. It's a straight shoot from FCO onto A1Dir, even in busy holiday traffic, it's probably less stressful than having to luggage around the train stations on a holiday.
But if lisa meant friends coming from Rome, not the airport on arrival, yeah, I'd probably ride a train instead.
I really appreciate all of your educated views. My friend who's arriving at FCO around 11:30 am on Sat. May 1st told me that she wants to be in the countryside ASAP. She loves to drive and has driven in large cities in the US and abroad, though never in Italy. She is a woman traveling alone and with more than carryon luggage. Once she arrives into the countryside she really won't need the extra rental car as there will be other cars available. If she takes the train we will certainly pick her up in Chiusi. My other friends are arriving Sunday the 2nd, a married couple. I'm less concerned about them because they are traveling together. I know the train is less expensive but I'm just wandering how much more trouble it would be. My first time into Roma Termini was confusing and exhausting perhaps due to the flight and the meds. Thanks so much for your expert advice.
quote: My first time into Roma Termini was confusing and exhausting perhaps due to the flight and the meds
Does anyone have experience with the Rome Tiburtina station? The train to Chiusi does pass through Tiburtina and there's train and bus to Tiburtina from FCO. Maybe it's a better option than Termini?
There's a train leaving Tiburtina for Chiusi on May 1 at 13:21. If she makes it, she'll be in Chiusi at 3pm.
Okay Bill's not here but if he were he might suggest:
Train directly from FCO to Orte and switch to a train to Chiusi. I think that can be done - let me check. Or you could just pick her up in Orte instead.
There's a direct train at 12:57 that gets into Orte at 3:00.
There's also one at 3:00 that gets into Orte at 5:00.
If your friend doesn't mind changing at Tiburtina, there's a train at 12:27 that gets into Orte (w/ a change) 2:00. And one at 12:57 that gets into Orte at 2:23 (w/ the change and it's still faster).
Now if she trains all the way, there's a train from orte to chiusi at 3:23 getting in at 4:10. But that's one or two train changes depending on which train she takes to Orte. It's about 90 minute ride from Pienza to Orte.
And still another option would be to take the 12:27 train from the airport to Orvieto (but she'll have to change at Tiburtina) and she'll arrive at Orvieto about 2:30 and you pick her up there which is about an hour drive from Pienza.
And of course, there's always the option to take the train to Termini and transfer there to a train to Chiusi. But no matter how you slice it, other than you going to pick her up in Roma, I wouldn't recommend the car rental option for only one person.
To put my prejudices up front: I am NOT a public-transportation advocate in general, and always take taxis from the airport and always drive when possible, even in NY.
That said -- I would definitely take the train at FCO. I have done it as a single female traveller, and it's not really complicated at all. Not compared with following Italian road signs. I mean I'd rather drive in Israel (home of the traffic accident, for those not in the know) alone than in Italy, and that's saying something. Nearly impossible without a navigator. The way to the train is well marked.
I'm with Sally, one car for one person is really expensive. In addition, driving in unknown places after a long air ride. For a hundred miles, I would hire a car and driver - they meet you, arrange for the luggage and you will be in your place so much faster and safer.
Dan, Athens, Georgia
Posts: 202 | Location: Athens, GA | Registered: 14 April 2002
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