Italian road trip

With a network of well-maintained roads that weave through a landscape of snow-capped peaks, plunging coastlines, lakes and historic towns, Italy offers plenty of epic driving. And while some routes are undeniably challenging, they all make for unforgettable experiences.

Piazza del Campo is the heart of beautiful Siena and famous for the Palio horse races. 

Taking in two of Italy's great medieval cities, the wine treasures of Chianti, and swathes of classic Tuscan scenery, this two-day route leads from Florence to Orvieto in the neighboring region of Umbria. Whet your appetite for the road ahead by feasting on fine art and Renaissance architecture in Florence before striking south to Chianti wine country. 

Stop for a tasting at the Enoteca Falorni in Greve  and to sample the region's celebrated 
bistecca (steak) at L'Antica Macelleria Cecchini in Panzano. From here, follow the backroads to Siena, a stunning medieval city centered on an awe-inspiring Duomo and a 12th-century square, Piazza del Campo. ​

Next morning, head to Montalcino to stock up on Brunello di Montalcino, one of Italy's revered red wines. A short drive to the east, the Val d' Orcia provides quintessential Tuscan landscapes with its billowing green hills, cypress trees and hilltop towns. Lunch in Pienza, then continue, via Montepulciano, to Orvieto, a striking hilltop town famous for its remarkable Gothic Duomo.

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