Hi, I do this drive almost weekly and it's a doddle. Someone else, I'm sure, will post details of road signs but so far as rules are concerned I'd just say keep your wits about you. It's an easy drive, it's a very, very beautiful drive too, Saturday's a goodish day in that you don't have manic Rome commuters or too many trucks but depending upon the time of year there'll be day trip Romans/weekenders. It's a pretty fast road, possibly (tho' I stand corrected) faster than you're used to in the US. (I was overtaking at 160 the other day and someone suddenly appeared behind me flashing his headlights like crazy wanting me to get out of the way, though I had nowhere to go...)

It's 3 lanes most of the way, 2 for a longish bit through Umbria and southern Tuscany. There are some very tight bends, certainly far tighter than we'd ever have on a highway in Britain, and ever changing roadworks too in places, but there are warnings for these well in advance. Saturday morning it'll be busy heading north on the first stretch out of Rome up to toll gate at Roma Nord. And it's quite often slow on the final approach to Florence from around Firenze Sud onwards, especially mid-afternoon. Lots of gas stations stations/cafes along the way, rarely more than 20km apart. Be v careful please at these when you get out, don't leave any valuables inside, make sure all bags if possible at hidden in the trunk as theft is rife.

There are many charming towns and villages along the route - literally hanging over the route in some places - but the obvious stop is the city of Orvieto high on a hill with it's magnificent cathedral, obvious because it's only 10 mins off the main road. Plenty for everyone to see, great gelato stalls and many good restaurants for lunch.

Take everything Catie says and square it - or maybe raise it by the power of 10.

There is no driving anywhere in the Western Hemisphere that I am aware of that is remotely like driving on the A-1 Autostrada. It makes the 405 look like your grandmother's sleep sofa.

I don't mean to scare anybody (I really don't!), but we know of an American who was driving on the A-1 like a typical American - sitting in the left-hand lane, toodling along at about 60 miles an hour, when something hit him from behind, and, in his words, "just disintegrated". The American was indicted for vehicular manslaughter.

The highway is gorgeous, and it is beautifully designed, constructed, and maintained - far better than any Interstate I know in the States.

It also has hairpin turns inside tunnels. No joke! In some places, you have a hairpin turn inside a tunnel - with a really important exit right after the tunnel - so people are changing lanes like crazy on a hairpin turn inside a tunnel so they can slam on their breaks to exit the highway. Believe it or not, that is what they have at the main exit for Florence when you are coming from Rome.

In America, we have absolutely no lane discipline – people drive fast in the right hand lane and slow in the passing lane. In Europe, there is virtually no speed discipline. There are no minimum speed limits, and the maximum speed limits are - shall we say - not always strictly observed. The result is that you will have trucks, or little cars towing great big caravans, going about 25 miles per hour in the right-hand lane, and you will have lunatics from Milan (They’re always from Milan.) in Ferraris going 140 miles an hour in the left hand lane. They simply do not tolerate people going slow in the left-hand lane. They will sit six inches behind you flashing their high beams. For much of the time, there are only two lanes. Take your pick.

The bottom line: It seems to me that the vast majority of Americans get into cars, get on the highways, and fall asleep. If you do that in Europe, the odds are incredibly good that you will wind up as a nasty statistic – or under indictment for vehicular manslaughter.

Pay attention. Every second. Don't even think about driving if you are not prepared to pay attention every single second while you are driving. Don't drive and eat. Don't drive and read maps. Don't fuss with the radio. Just drive.

Finally, I agree with Catie that Orvieto is gorgeous. Its cathedral is one of the great miracles of Italian art and architecture. I also love Arezzo, Chiusi, Montalcino, and Cortona, which are also near the highway. Get a good guidebook – I would strongly recommend the Blue Guide to Northern Italy – and pick out one or at most two to stop at on the way. If having a good meal is a criterion, read up on Il Falconiere near Cortona.

All the above to the contrary notwithstanding, I love driving that road. I did a little piece of it today, and it was a whole lot of fun.

We just spent a couple of weeks driving around Tuscany. A car is necessary if you would like to see the small hill towns and/or visit out of the way places. On the other hand, just getting from Rome to Florence is something I would use the train for. Besides the fact that driving in both cities is almost impossible unless you are a local and own some sort of a sticker.

I would say try it if you had a few days where you can stop inbetween and enjoy some sites, but I would take the train just to get from those two large cities if I were you. Sit back and enjoy the scenery, and go back another time to enjoy the hilltowns if you really don't have time. And....if you are that pressed for time, don't make a wrong turn.....lol

Believe me, I enjoy driving. But Italy was a test of my patience to say the least!!!! I'm still waiting for the tickets from Pisa to arrive as I'm quite sure that I drove into the no drive zone more than once. And you don't just get off of the autostrata and turn around at the next exit like you can here or let's say ..in Switzerland. Nope..you pay to get on and you're stuck there for quite awhile. Watch the parking zones and the no driving zones.

Oh for Pete's sake! Just good luck!!!! LOL!

Just talking about driving there makes me nervous. OK..I did enjoy the drive on 222. And I love all of the Chianti hill towns. They are very easy to get to from 222, and the road signs in that particular area made more sense to me than anywhere else. :)

George, sorry, I'd forgotten about the hairpin bends INSIDE the tunnels. There are currently roadworks too on one of the first tunnels as you climb up out of the Tevere Valley just after picking up your toll ticket at Fiano Romano (Roma Nord). I know they're there so ensure I'm in the inside lane but my husband reckons you do not get adequate warning of the outside lane inside the tunnel being blocked off. Be careful.

And the important exits appearing yards after the tunnel, George, you're talking in particular about Firenze Certosa, I'm sure, approaching it from the south? And going the opposite way, prospective guests of ours often end up having to drive on and do a U turn at Fabro as the Chuisi/Chianciano exit comes up, again, seconds after you exit a tunnel and if you are not in the inside lane, you've missed it!

In addition to the horrors though, nice things happen on the A1. If you get held up in a jam due to an accident ahead, do as the Italians do, turn off the engine, get out, walk around, chat, have a cigarette. You're bound to meet other tourists, you can swap notes. You also see plenty of seriously smart cars, so you could always get the kids to play "count the Ferraris/the Lamborghinis" to while away the ride.

AGH.... I don't know if I should laugh, cry or say the hail mary!!!

Thank you so much for your feedback - and if you haven't responded - please do so!!!

We are drving from Rome (Termini train station) to Pian de Sco (I think I may have misspelled that) which is outside of Florence. So we will not be IN Rome or Florence other than just to get through the city.

And THANK GOD... I will NOT be behind the wheel. I'll leave the driving to my husband & brother-in-law. Thank you for giving me a head's up and a point of referance. We drive the 405 in Washington DC when visiting family - the 405 gives me a headache (East, West, North and South... way to confusing for me, I'll leave it up to the husband).

I'll check into some more books about some of those cities you all mentioned.

Thank you so much!!!

One good thing we have found about highway driving in both France and Italy - drivers absolutely use lane change directional lights and they use the left lane (for the most part) only while passing. If you are passing a slower moving vehicle, indicate your intent, keep the left blinking light on while you are passing and then use the right one when you are getting back into the right lane.

jhg

I have driven the route between Rome and the Pain de Sco area several times, the last time being October 07. In fact, I have been staying at a Agrituisimo near Pulcciano in that area and will be again staying there next June. That area is just far enough south of Florence that it is not crowded, but close enough to park your rental car at Figline Valdarno and take the train into Florence. It's a easy drive to Greve for their great Saturday market or a visit any other day with little crowds.

The drive between Rome and Pain de Sco on the A1 highway is very similar to driving Highway 99 through the Cental Valley of California in that it is a two lane road in each direction with a lot of heavy semi trucks. The entrances and exit are usually about five miles apart, but there are numerous rest areas with autogrills with easy auto exits and return to the highway. The highway is relative straight and easy to navigate in that it is going in one direction, north/south.

You are not making a mistake. Just take your time

Oh boy, maybe I ought to rethink the whole idea of car rental next spring!

However, I can relate to fatjack's comparison with Hwy 99. Just drove a long stretch of that a few months ago, whilst towing a large travel trailer. Not too bad, actually.

Okay, so do folks drive like mad on the rural roads too?

We don't yet know our itinerary, but will be spending all of our time (18 days) in the areas of Le Marche, Umbria, a bit of Tuscany and then up to Chinque Terre. But must get from and to a major airport, of course.

Is it better to use lesser roads around metropolitan areas? I have maps and guides on order; should arrive in a few days!

Are there any websites with more driving tips and information?

Chelini:

Laughing, crying, and Hail Marys are all appropriate when driving in Italy. Most appropriate is relaxing (while paying attention!) and enjoying it.

We did a lot of driving yesterday both on highways and on small hilly roads, and it was great. . . . Well, there was that fellow in the Lamborghini, followed by the three galoots on motorcycles, who zoomed past us on a very tight turn at something in the neighborhood of 140 mph - and I do mean miles not KM. We were doing a very stately 80 or so (That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.), and they went by so fast we just heard and felt them, we really could not see them. Other than that, it was great. . . Well, there were those signage problems - with the detour around the tram work west of the center of Florence and the total lack thereof at the Fi-Pi-Li exit onto the A-12 south, and there is that little problem finding the way out of Cecina but, well, nevermind. Sometimes you have to roll with the punches.

I am not familiar with any I-405 in or near Washington. I am much too familiar with I-95 and with the infamous I-495, the dreadful Washington Beltway. The I-405 I was referring to is what I think is the sometime parking lot sometimes referred to as the San Diego Freeway.

Finally, in all seriousness, getting out of Rome can be a real challenge. I have frequently felt like Winnie the Poo that that sandpit or temple or "EUR" (look it up) was following us. Study the maps. Note one-way streets. Do not be surprised if some of them have changed - or if a street is blocked off by some work being done. Don't be surprised if people give you directions that do not pan out.

AGH.... I don't know if I should laugh, cry or say the hail mary!!!!Thank you so much for your feedback - and if you haven't responded - please do so!!!

We are drving from Rome (Termini train station) to Pian de Sco (I think I may have misspelled that) which is outside of Florence. So we will not be IN Rome or Florence other than just to get through the city.

And THANK GOD... I will NOT be behind the wheel. I'll leave the driving to my husband & brother-in-law. Thank you for giving me a head's up and a point of referance. We drive the 405 in Washington DC when visiting family - the 405 gives me a headache (East, West, North and South... way to confusing for me, I'll leave it up to the husband).

I'll check into some more books about some of those cities you all mentioned.

Thank you so much!!!

Hahahaha!!!!! The Cinque Terre!

We drove down to Cinque terre in a van! What idiots! I thought we were going to all die that day!

Steep cliffs..hair pin turns...not enough room for two cars much less a van and a truck!!!!

Oh God..don't remind me!!!!