Umbria to Emilia-Romagna itinerary

[wco81]

I have 5 nights in Assisi booked in early June.

The plan is to spend 2-3 more nights somewhere between Assisi and probably Bologna.

I had thought of Urbino but I learned that the quickest route between Assisi and Bologna is to go west and go by Florence, because from Urbino, you can't go directly north because of mountains, so you would have to go NE and reach the coast before turning westwards.

So first thing, I'm trying to weigh where to stay for those 2-3 nights, whether to go stay in Urbino or somewhere around there versus staying in Florence or Siena or somewhere in between those cities.

Urbino would be completely new to me and I'd be able to visit nearby Gubbio and maybe also visit San Marino. Maybe also hit the Le Marche coast within an hour's drive. I've never been to any part of Le Marche and I wasn't really planning to visit it on this trip.

Florence I've been to a few times and I even stayed once in Siena on Il Campo. So Tuscany wouldn't be new but there is always something to see, even if you've seen many of these places before.

But staying in Florence or Siena with a car is a hassle and an expense. Have to deal with ZTL though apparently there are now several garages near the centro which will get you ZTL permits to drive to their garages but it's €35 and more a day.

I'm sure parking in Urbino is difficult as well. I'm wondering if you would have to park outside the centro and then lug heavy suitcases up a lot of steps or if there's taxi service like there is in Siena.

Has anyone stayed in Urbino or around that area?

Has anyone stayed in Florence or Siena with a car recently?

Also played with the idea of staying in San Gmignano, which I've only visited as day trips. But similar issue, park outside and have to get luggage to some accommodation in side the walls.

 

[Giulia da Urbino]

Assisi to Urbino is less than 2 hours drive and same Urbino to Bologna.
You will cross the mountains in any case if you go through Tuscany (between Tuscany and Bologna), and the distances are very very similar, probably slightly less through Urbino.
Some hotels in the centre of Urbino will arrange a permit for you to drive to their place with your luggage and also the parking outside the city walls for the duration of your stay.
Urbino is tiny and there are two elevators from the parking spots up to the centre, so it's easy to walk (once you left your luggage).
The other possibility, mainly if you are interested in discovering the area a bit (there's much more than just Gubbio and San Marino and you'll be driving through Gubbio on the way from Assisi), is staying outside Urbino.
I'll be glad to answer more questions if you decide to go ahead with visiting Urbino area.

 

[wco81]

Thank you. I was going by Google Maps which indicated a faster drive going by Florence.

I will search accommodations in Urbino and see how it compares.

It would be only 3 nights so besides seeing Urbino, maybe time for one day trip so it might have to be San Marino.

I believe Gradara and Rimini are also in that direction as well though it might be stretching it to day trip to San Marino and maybe one other town.

 

[Giulia da Urbino]

Check Mondavio, Barchi, Cagli, Furlo George, Urbania.
You can visit San Marino (it's very touristy) and San Leo on your way to Bologna.

 

[Ian Sutton]

FWIW we once stayed in a small apartment complex west of San Prospero district of Siena. It was very much walkable to the centre (from memory 30 mins), but with a bus service and cheap taxi ride as options. Plenty of car parking on-site. The place we stayed not really recommendable (better suited to younger families IMO), but it can be worth exploring around the fringes, if you don't mind a walk or short bus ride.

 

[NoSpin]

I haven't stayed in Siena, but I have done multiple day trips there by car. I always park in the garage at 72 Via Esterna di Fontebranda. After you walk a short distance through the gate, to your right there are a series of escalators to take you up to the top. The first couple times we visited I didn't even see the escalators and we walked all the way up. Oh well, we needed to burn off the pasta anyway!

In Florence we stayed in an apartment near the Pitti Palace. There is a parking garage on Borgo Tegolaio. From there it is only a short walk to Ponte Vecchio.

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[wco81]

Well I booked a stay in Urbino.

Looking forward to it.