Hi again,
I've been looking at the Mappy.com options with and without toll for our drive between these 2 points in mid-May, and I'm wondering whether the slower (toll-free)route along the coast to Ravenna before turning inland along the E45, E78, and SS223 toward Siena would be picturesque and interesting enough to justify the additional 1 3/4 hours. This will be a travelling day for us as we head toward a 5-day rental near Siena, but we'd feel that a beautiful, varied drive with a couple of (brief)stops at points of interest would make a nice day. Am I just assuming that the more back-road route is a nicer drive when it isn't necessarily so? And what recommendations do you all have about curiosities along the way, either along this secondary route or along the shorter route, A13, A14, A1 past Padua and Bologna towards Florence? We won't want to make significant detours, but we would like a couple of memorable stops to enjoy landscape, art, oddities, or beauty of whatever sort. And maybe panini. . . Your thoughts? Thanks!

I would always opt for avoiding the Autostrada, so go the toll free way. Always more interesting. I'll look at your proposed routes, but you might want to consider coming through the Metauro Valley from Pesaro on the coast and over the Alpe della Luna descending from the Apennines into Tuscany(very windey road with stunning views). You could stop in the incomparable Urbino on the way.

Along the E45, I'd recommend Sansepolcro as a stopping point. There's the museum with the Piero della Francesca paintings, and I've long liked the restaurant at the Albergo Fiorentino.

Thanks for your thoughts, Joanna and Andrew. Do you know what the coast is like between Venice and Ravenna--a pretty drive, or just ok? is there much variety in the landscape? (wondering how to judge time saved by the Padua/Ferrara/Bologna route straight towards Florence against time spent on perhaps a more rewarding drive. . . ).

Or perhaps you have some clever ideas about some way to combine the best of both aims, saving driving time for part of the trip but still getting some spectacular views like the Alpe della Luna road would offer? Previous advice has suggested staying on the autostrada till Florence; is there a worthwhile compromise?

Thanks so much!

The drive between Venice and Ravenna is actually one of the uglier stretches of highway you are likely to find in Italy. The lack of scenery is compounded by the heavy traffic (lots of trucks) and the fact that it is mostly two lanes. It will take a long 2.5 hours to make that part of the trip.

Having said that, the limited access highway (E45) from Cesena south quite lovely....four lanes, no tolls, somewhat narrow....but a very nice and quick drive.

quote:

the coast and over the Alpe della Luna descending from the Apennines into Tuscany(very windey road with stunning views).

Really windy.......we have driven it and there are continuous turns for almost the entire trip.

Thanks, Jim. Perhaps that windy route would be better for a non-travelling day rather than one on which we have to get ourselves from Venice to south of Siena. . .

It's going to take much longer than the mapping programs say to travel country roads.I would say it's better to take the Autostrada and make a stop if you like but get to your destination.
that way you have a few more hours there.RR

quote:

Originally posted by lauram:
Thanks, Jim. Perhaps that windy route would be better for a non-travelling day rather than one on which we have to get ourselves from Venice to south of Siena. . .

One of my "suggestions" to clients is to--for the most part--avoid meandering and stopping for big lunches when driving between two bases that are more than 4 hours apart. The drive and the lunch stops usually double or even triple the transit time and I find it preferable to do my meandering once ensconced in my new digs.

Oh, so the mapping programs assume some kind of theoretically perfect conditions, I guess. Thanks, RR : I have been convinced--autostrada it is.

Any recommendations for a picnic stop about half-way between Venice and Siena?

Thanks to you too, Jim: I think this sounds very sensible. There are so many appealing diversions, but at the end of the day, we would no doubt be pretty close to wits' end too if we allowed a lot of meandering before properly arriving!!

You might consider just eating at one of the Autogrills on the autostrada. Although I must admit to getting a little tired of them after 12 years experience, they have pretty tasty sandwiches and the restaurants are quite palatable--certainly many levels above the fare found on US highways.

They also have a huge inventory of foodstuffs--both fresh and packaged--if you want to put together a picnic and eat it at one of the rest stops or parking areas along the way. Some of them even have picnic tables.

Hi again Jim,
I recall reading somewhere here that eating at an Autogrill has its own kind of appeal as an "authentic Italian experience"--lots of actual Italians there, not just tourists!--and I gather they're pretty common (I mean the Autogrills!!) so I think this would be an easy solution: thanks for reminding me about it.