We will be staying in Rome for two nights before heading to a villa accomodation in Vinci (15 minutes from Florence). In Rome we are staying in the Via Nazionale area. Does anyone happen to know if it is easy to drive out of Rome from that area to head up Vinci?
Welcome to SlowTrav. Shall I take it that you'll be picking up a rental car as you leave Rome? Having a car in that part of Rome gives you the risk of big ZTL fines. If you're getting a rental, you can pick it up at the Villa Borghese parking garage, listed as via del Galoppatoio on the Auto Europe, and there's a fairly straightforward route to the A1 autostrada on via Salaria. You can search old posts for more discussion of the matter.
Thanks for your help. This is our first time going to Rome. We actually have a car held by Hertz at the Rome Termini Station as it is a 10-15 minute walk from our hotel.
I agree with Matt D that Rome is not a good place to begin if you haven't driven in Italy.
Also, I think 15 minutes from Vinci to Florence is a little optimistic. It's about 50 km.
If you're planning on driving to Florence, I would also acquaint myself with the ZTL (camera enforced limited traffic zones) there, as there are horror stories of multiple fines in just a few minutes or one wrong turn.
Posts: 355 | Location: La Canada, California | Registered: 08 July 2004
Also, were you planning to drive back to where you're staying to pick up your bags? You would run into the Rome ZTL restrictions in most weekday daytime hours. If you're at a hotel, they can call to clear you, but you need to make sure that everything's done right, and it's hard to appeal if a ticket shows up in the mail a year later.
Thanks for your help. This is our first time going to Rome. We actually have a car held by Hertz at the Rome Termini Station as it is a 10-15 minute walk from our hotel.
I suggest that you get a VERY good Rome map before you try driving out of Rome....and spend some time learning the road signs From Termini, you should plan to go east toward the GRA (circumference road) and then north on it to connect to the Autostrada towards Firenze.
When do you plan to pick up your car? There are some time when the ZTL is not active and you have more options about which ways you leave the center of Rome.
Have you driven in Europe before?
I am assuming you are from the US. Is that correct? If so, and this is your first time to drive in Europe you should know that directional indications (North South East West) are not used on European road signs. Instead, you have indications Firenze, or Napoli, on road signs on the autostrada and the other road signs will have the same indications to smaller locations.
Thanks for the helpful information. We were planning on picking up the car on our way out of Rome on a Saturday morning. Do you happen to know if the ZTL would be in effect then? We are from New Jersey and are used to driving in Manhattan, but have never driven in Europe. Do you think a better option would be to get to Chiusi and pick up the rental car at that location? Thanks again!
Saturday morning, until 2 p.m., is a time that the ZTL is not in effect in Rome. Still, you should be very confident before you try to drive in central Rome, and know about things such as, if I remember right, Via Nazionale being one-way going southwest, although buses and taxis can go the opposite direction; don't join them, because you risk a big fine 24/7.
Going to Chiusi is an option, but those offices are closed Saturday afternoon. As I say, I'm comfortable with the Villa Borghese garage; others like to get the car well out on via Tiburtina in Rome.
As I say, I'm comfortable with the Villa Borghese garage; others like to get the car well out on via Tiburtina in Rome.
I looked at the Hertz website and was surprised that Hertz did not list a location at the Villa Borghese garage. They do list a pickup-only location at Via Sardegna 35 which is about a block and a half from the Porto Pinciana.
The easiest Hertz location to leave for Florence will be the location at: Via Flaminia Nuova 234 Rome, Italy Hours of Operation: Mo-Fr 0800-1900, Sa 0800-1300,Su closed
This location is north of downtown Rome. From here you can drive 3 miles north on the Via Flaminia Nuova to the GRA and then 2 miles on the GRA to the Autostrada to Florence. However, you would need a cab, or a bus, to get there from downtown Rome.
Since you are picking the car up on Saturday morning when the ZTL is not active, you have the option of getting the car at Termini or Via Sardegna and going back to the hotel for your luggage....but watch out for the bus lanes and the one way streets.
We are from New Jersey and are used to driving in Manhattan, but have never driven in Europe.
You will think that the Italian drivers are more agressive than drivers in the US. Motorcycles will pass you in traffic on both sides (between cars) and cars will tailgate you more than you are accustomed to. Cars coming into your street from a side street will seem as though they are not stopping...but they do. (This can be very disconcerting).
In all my driving in Italy, I've never experience any discourteous drivers or road rage, but there is plenty of "competition" for the road and any opening in traffic.
I would add that lanes are only a "suggestion", and Italian drivers will make an additional lane even where you think there is no more space on the road.
Posts: 355 | Location: La Canada, California | Registered: 08 July 2004
Can I ask is driving better say if we wanted to drive from our villa in Vinci up to Venice so that we can see the sights? I understand we will have to park the car somewhere and water taxi over.
The drive from Vinci (or Florence) to Venice is doable but hard to do in 1 day. You do not say if you plan to stay over. You can drive across the causeway from the mainland to Piazzale Roma, where there is a large parking garage, then take a vaporetto into Venice. Plan B might be to park in Mestre and take a bus into Venice (cheap and short trip), which would leave you off at Piazzale Roma anyway but would be less stressful. Get a map of Venice and look for Piazzale Roma to orient yourself.
It's a 3.5 hour drive from Vinci to Venice. Driving for the most part would not be much different than on US interstate highways, except there is very tight adherence to not driving in the left-hand lane except when passing. (You can be ticketed for driving staying the left-hand lane and not passing)
You'll do fine as long as you are cautious about where you drive in the larger cities. If you are also planning on driving into Florence, you should plan your route ahead of time and know where you plan to park.
You can download some very detailed Florence maps from the ATAF website.
If you want some good maps of Rome, ATAC (the Rome Transportation system) has some downloadable ones at the Metrebus website
