My wife and I would like to drive from Rome to Florence... any suggestions on a day's itinerary?

Question

In addition to having a scenic drive, we would love to stop by a town or two and see some sites or enjoy an activity. And, of course, find a great restaurant and some nice wine.

Thanks for your tips!

Answer 1

That's my area of expertise :-)  I run a tour company right between Rome and Florence, and I have some pages on my site with excursion suggestions for our guests.

There is a great deal to see between Rome and Florence.  Entire books have been written on what to do in the area.  

Here are some links that will help you choose what you may want to see:

http://www.discoversoriano.com/day-trips...

http://www.discoversoriano.com/day-trips...

http://www.discoversoriano.com/day-trips...

Answer 2

Orvieto and Arezzo are both interesting spots along the autostrada between Rome and Florence. If you go to to Arezzo, there are several excellent restaurants in the old town. Ristorante Buca di San Francesco right next to the old church is a good choice. Another is Ristorante Il Cantuccio.

Even better would be to drive through the Chianti region and stop at places like Radda in Chianti and Gaiole in Chianti http://www.bardotti.com/gaiole.htm. There are some good suggestions for places to eat here: http://www.bardotti.com/besteat.htm

Answer 3

Arezzo is a must see.  Cortona is also a great visit.  Both towns are relatively small, in the same general area and can be seen in a day.  On the other side of the A1 is Sienna, one of the best destinations in all Tuscany.  Honestly, spend less time in Firenze (Florence) and more time in Sienna if you really want to get a feel for the area.

Answer 4

Just play it by ear. If your in Italy there's no such thing as a bad restaurant so you can't go wrong. If you see something that interests you stop and take a look.