Hi all,
We are planed to drive to the area of Rufina in Tuscany next month. Because it is a distance of about 600km, I thought of splitting the drive to two days:
leaving on Friday afternoon, crossing to Italy and staying somewhere on the way for the night, then continuing the drive on Saturday, maybe combining a short day visit somewhere, and arriving to the village early in the evening.
Any ideas regarding route, place to stay or to visit will be appreciated!

Thanks!

Hi,

having lived in Tuscany for a long time and going to Italy (Milan) at least for one week per month I suggest you the following:

• Expect traffic around Milan (expecially on the circonvallazione in the late afternoon /evening) & between Bologna and Florence. There is no many alternative routes so if stuck in trafic just be patient
• Try to stop Friday around/in Parma/ Modena on Friday evening. Both cities are quite nice, historical and not to far from Bologna and along the motorway A1. This will allow you to quickly go back to the mortoway and arrive in Florence on a good time possibly avoiding traffic.There are also in the land of Parmigiano Reggiano and prosciutto di Parma so you can purchase some very nice delicacies

I will need to check my guide and I will be able to provide you with some suggestion for nice restaurants
I normally use this web site to find B&B http://www.bbitalia.it/
Enjoy

Hmmm.. if i were you and were going to the Florence area i would seriously avoid the highway down the centre of Italy, from Milan to Florence, and go via Genova, in this way you totally avoid Milan. The highway from Milan to Florence is through the mountains, is highly trafficked by lorries and is not very wide at all, a nightmare for me anyway. I sweat all the way up to Modena... maybe I'm a bit of a wimp, but the highway down the coast from Genova is straight, and simple.
There's no real need to split the trip over 2 days, you could have a lovely lunch in La Spezia overlooking the Med and then carry on leisurely south...
We do that road at least 3 time a year as my parents live there, never had any issues. Travelling on Sundays is best as trucks are not allowed on the roads...

That indeed was one of my thoughts (without knowing how bad the way in center of Italy could be.) If I choose this way, should I take from Milan the A7 towards Genova?

Shouldn't be too many goods vehicle on the motorway on a Saturday.

Take warm clothes - Tuscany can be VERY cold at this time of year.

Hi,

I regularly drive to Florence from Basel and I must say that in winter the Gotthard is not too bad and from Rotkreuz I would go directly to Milan. Traveling via San Bernardo Tunnel is not only by far more distnt, but also much slower (as the last part in Switzerland is not a motorway). The motorway from Genova to Pisa is not as stright as the other one. Milan to Bologna is straight 3-4 lane motorway, not a big hassle. Bologna to Florence can be a bit busy in the final part, expecially from Roncobilaccio to Florence. But I must admit that in the last year the economic crisis in Italy has cut the lorry traffic drammatically.

We travel with a small kid and we usually stop over, but it is feasible in just one stretch. Parma, Modena and Reggio Emilia are all nice little cities, worth visit to a restaurant for local specialities. Culatello, filled pasta ravioli, etc.

For reliable weather forecasts in the area, you can use this: http://www.lamma.rete.toscana.it/en/meteo

Enjoy Rufina and have fun.

Thank you all for your kind advice.