Table of Contents
Enjoying Italy in a motorhome is an unforgettable experience. In this post we will tell you a summary of a fascinating trip touring the 'boot' in two parts... although... the second could not be.
We start the first part from the north, disembarking in Genoa. Then, traveling south on its western side overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, we enter Tuscany and continue through Umbria and Lazio.
On our motorhome tour of Italy we have been to Portofino, Cinque Terre, Florence, Lucca, Arezzo, San Gimignano, Pienza, Montepulciano and Orvieto until finally arriving in Rome.
The idea of the second part was to join the Lost Planet Travel group, which would lead us to the south of the Italian peninsula, and cross to Sicily through the Strait of Messina. But due to circumstances we interrupted it here, Rome being the last stop.
Can you come with us?
First thing: we take the ferry in Barcelona
Our trip through Italy by motorhome begins in the port of Barcelona where we arrived from Alcalá coinciding with the week of the Caravanning Show. Here we meet Tere and Emilio, our fellow travelers.
The day to board finally arrives, and we do it with CNG. The ferry comes from Tangier to the Moroccan flag. Some light shishas in the ship's lounges without being noticed by the ship's staff. The ticket cost us €345. twenty hour cruise and we arrived in Genoa.
Our route through Italy in a motorhome is about to begin!
Italy by motorhome: some tips to start
We tell you several aspects that you must take into account so that your trip to Italy in a motorhome goes well for you.
- CAMPING: in most campsites, they charge a tourist tax per person that can vary depending on the location, it is usually around €1
- ZTL, Zone di Traffico Limitato: Be careful not to enter, they can fine you.
- PETROL STATIONS: they usually have two prices, the Self Service, (you serve it to yourself) and it is the one advertised, and the attended service (they serve it to you) with an extra cost of more than 20 cents per liter. Be careful, they are different pumps at the same gas station.
Consultation websites
caramaps (Personally, we think it's the best)
CampingCard ACSI Access to the camping map with discounts
Movistar Roaming (we have with Movistar 50 Gb/month in the EU, beware it changes by operator)
Genoa: the landing
Genoa is only a landing point and not an object of visit because parking is very complicated, and there are many thefts, even in the motorhome area. It is important to mark the exit from Genoa by toll motorway, since the other option is by a road with a limitation of 2,5 tons, which could later complicate the issue of gauge.
Toll highways in Italy are very cheap, It must also be said that they have nothing to do with those of Spain. The normal thing is that you have a lane cut off by works and the hard shoulder or median simply does not exist.
Rapallo and Portofino: beautiful beaches and luxury hotels
GPS: 44°21’27.7″N 9°12’34.5″E
(44.357688, 9.209585)
Price Plans: €12,50/AC, €7/person, €3 electricity, €1 tourist tax.
Services: All (dog, wifi, swimming pool and showers, free).
Rapallo It is the oldest urban nucleus in these parts. Dating back to 700 BC Port city said to be one of Italy's secret gems with beautiful beaches, mild weather, luxury hotels and historic architecture.
You can circle the Gulf of Tigullio in the direction of Rapallo, walk along the calm waters and the cliffs to see the castles and country houses that are located in front of its beautiful port. Take the cable car to the sanctuary on the mountain, or enjoy the beautiful view and go down the ancient Ponte di Annibale. You can see two castles on the water like the Rapallo Castle.
Portofino 10 km from the campsite. You can go by bus or boat. With AC or Camper forget it, directly the municipal police make you turn around. By bus from Rapallo you have to change at Santa Margherita Ligure, which is a small and ancient town that has remained unchanged over the years. Nucleus of multicolored houses, tall and narrow, arranged along the bay near the famous "Piazzetta", surrounded by the exuberant vegetation of the
We tell you that Portofino Park is a place that has become over the years a renowned vacation center, a destination for characters from the world of entertainment, politics and celebrities.
Without a doubt, a destination full of charm during your trip through Italy in a motorhome!
Cinque Terre: five colorful villages
AC area in La Spezia La Spezia
GPS: 44º 6'14” N 9º 51'34” E
Rate: €6/AC and €6 light
Services: water change
The Cinque Terre is a coastal area of Italy made up of five villages, hence its name which means The Five Towns/Lands. You can discover more about this destination in National Geographic.
We traveled it by train. Each of these towns have their own charm. We covered them from the farthest Monterosso to the closest Riomaggiore.
Monterosso is the largest and flattest town of the five. The first thing you find when leaving the station is a long beach with perfect sand for a day at the beach. Vernazza has a set of colorful houses that are typical of the region, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Reggio, vineyards and olive groves.
Corniglia is a place that to get to it you have to climb many stairs from the train station, but the bus that leaves you in the town is included with the train ticket. Already in the town, although there is no beach, you can enjoy the views of the coast.
Manarola has a pure stone beach linked to a natural pool. The water is deep, only suitable for those who know how to swim. There are risk takers who jump from the stones. All of Manarola is itself a tourist attraction. We were lucky to be there at sunset. Hard to forget on our tour of Italy by motorhome.
Riomaggiore has a historic center very picturesque. From the station to the town you have to go through a tunnel where the via dell'Amore (the path of love) begins. This is a pedestrian path with sea views.
Lucca, Tuscan charm
GPS: 43° 51′ 0″ N 10° 29′ 9″ E
43.85006 10.48584
Rate: 25 € / day
Services: all, including light (dogs allowed).
Lucca is a wonder of the Middle Ages in the heart of the Tuscany region. Giacomo Puccini is the favorite son of Lucca, in a city with a special sensitivity for music. There are several ways to deal with Lucca's visit. Itineraries of the tourist office where you can visit some important points in the life of Puccini as well as the House Museum, let yourself be carried away by the tide of people through the shopping streets, or get lost in the alleys and walls. Traveling is not only seeing it, you also have to savor what you have seen and experienced.
Touring Italy in a motorhome is an experience full of pleasant surprises!
Italy by motorhome: the wonderful Florence
GPS: 43°45’55.4″N 11°18’54.6″E
(43.765404, 11.315134)
Price Plans: €35 AC, €6 light
Services: Everyone
Florence It was the capital of Italy between 1865 and 1871 and was the cradle of the Renaissance. As you know, it is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world for its architecture. Here you can visit its historic center, declared a World Heritage Site, where medieval and Renaissance works stand out, such as the dome of Santa María del Fiore, the Ponte Vecchio, the Basilica of Santa Cruz (Santa Croce), the Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti and museums such as the Uffizi, the Bargello or the Accademia Gallery, which houses Michelangelo's David.
On your trip through Italy by motorhome, you will soon discover that the heart of Florence is the Piazza del Duomo, with a monumental complex that includes the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore with the majestic dome by Brunelleschi, the Baptistery of Saint John, a magnificent example of Florentine Romanesque, and Giotto's Campanile, a masterpiece of Florentine Gothic architecture.
Behind the cathedral is the Santa Maria del Fiore Opera Museum, where it is possible to admire a precious collection of works from the Cathedral, Baptistery and Bell Tower. Other unmissable destinations are the Lordship Square, the Palazzo Vecchio or the majestic Uffizi Gallery, home to one of the most important museums in the world, which has works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and many other great artists.
Between the Plaza del Duomo and the Plaza de la Signoria there are some architectural treasures such as the Orsanmichele church and Bargello Palace. Do not miss visiting the Loggia of the New Market and the grandiose Strozzi Palace.
Through the oldest stone bridge in Europe, a symbol of romanticism, The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), originally occupied by butchers and butchers, later replaced by goldsmiths' workshops, we reach the Oltrarno district, where we find the large square that houses the Pitti Palace, the imposing and sumptuous palace that was the residence of the Medici. In Oltrarno it is worth going up and paying a visit to the Piazzale Michelangelo, from which you have the best view of Florence and the surrounding hills.
To say that Florence is a beautiful city is an understatement.
Useful links
On your trip through Italy by motorhome, when you visit Florence, do not forget these links that can be very useful:
Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore
Opera of Santa Maria del Fiore Florence
San Gimignano: recognized by Unesco
Parcheggio per Camper Saint Lucia
GPS: 43º27´7” N 11º3´20” E
Rate: €11/day (rest €1/h)
(43.451944, 11.055556)
Services: parking only
Rate and service: loading and unloading outside the area.
San Gimignano It is famous today for its medieval architecture, especially its towers in whose urban center up to thirteen are concentrated. The historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As a curiosity, note that in Tuscan walled towns of medieval times, wealthy families competed with each other to build higher towers, which symbolized more power and wealth, and at the same time the towers served as hostels and fortress. In medieval and Renaissance times it was a stopping point on the march of Catholic pilgrims to Rome. This and other things, you will learn on your trip through Italy in a motorhome.
Arezzo: life is beautiful
Duccio di Buoninsegna Parking Area
GPS: 43° 27′ 13″ N 11° 52′ 44″ E
(43.45353 11.87894)
Rates: €8/day (for hours €0,8/h)
Services: Black and gray discharge, light included. The load at 10 cents/liter
Arezzo It is the cradle of distinguished citizens such as the poet Petrarca. To advance in history, Arezzo suffered great damage during World War II, and today its main industry is the production of gold jewelry.
La Cathedral of Arezzo, dedicated to Saints Peter and Donato, is located at the top of a hill on which the city sits. Another artistic example is the Piazza Grande with architectural elements from all periods, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque. Famous for having shot scenes here de Life is Beautiful'by Roberto Begnini. This is one of the curious discoveries that you will make on your tour of Italy in a motorhome.
If we stand in the center of Piazza Grande and look around, we will see the beautiful Romanesque apse of Santa Maria de la Pieve, with the Baroque Court Palace; the Palace of the laity fraternity, Gothic downstairs and Renaissance upstairs, and the arcades of the Logge Vasari, XNUMXth century.
Piece: from film
GPS 43° 4′ 42″ N 11° 40′ 52″ E (43.07832 11.68101)
Fair: Blue zone from 8 a.m. to 22 p.m. €1,7/h with the possibility of €5 6 h. or €14/day
Services: all except light
Pienza It is another of the beautiful destinations of our trip through Italy in a motorhome. Renaissance historic center motivated to be declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Much of the important historical and artistic heritage of Pienza is concentrated in the evocative square dedicated to Pope Pius II. The Co-Cathedral of Santa María de la Asunción is the most striking of space. With the facade in the purest Renaissance style, inside we will find Gothic forms.
El Piccolomini Palace It was the residence of Pope Pius II and his family. We continue: Corso Rossellino It is the main street. Go through it all, from the Gate to the Murello to It leads to the Ciglio, and do not miss any of its palaces: Salomone Piccolomini Palace, Ammannati Palace, Jouffroy Palace, Gonzaga Palace, Cardinal Atrebatense Palace. Many of them were built to accommodate the cardinals of the Pope's court who wanted to make Pienza his summer residence.
Pienza was also the setting for movies, such as Gladiator. The English Patient it was also shot in Piazza Pio II, it appears at the ball at the end of the war. The sum of a summer night, with Kevin Klain, Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Everett, has many views of the countryside around Pienza and also under the Tuscan sun.
The gastronomy of Tuscany is highly regarded. don't forget the cheese Pecorino from Pienza and a good plate of small, the typical pasta here. recommend eating at The mouth of fate, in the Corso Rossellino.
One of the great charms of your trip through Italy in a motorhome is gastronomy.
Montepulciano: perched on the hill
GPS: 43º 5'47” N 11º 47'13” E
43.096389, 11.786944
Fair: €10/day
Services: all except light
Montepulciano it is perched on a hilltop, has the characteristics of a medieval village in the shape of an 'S' and is surrounded by three rings of walls, all built around the XNUMXth century. Of Etruscan origin and residence of vampires... but of cinema, since scenes from the saga were recorded here Twilight, specifically from the movie "New Moon" in which its characters run wildly through the historic center of the city.
For the visit we go up by bus to the highest part, the Medicea fortress. From there it's all downhill to get to the area. We start with the Piazza Grande, the heart of Montepulciano. The square is a monumental complex with the fountain of griffins and lions (1520) who guard the cathedral. We also have the Communal Palace. The beautiful palaces and sumptuous residences that capture our gaze at every step. That's how beautiful our trip through Italy in a motorhome is!
Orvieto: volcanic origin
Area Renzo Battistelli
GPS: 42º 43´ 32” N 12º 7´38” E
(42.725556, 12.127222)
Rate: €18/day (increased to €20 in 2022)
Services: All
Orvieto it stands on a rock that dominates the plain, through which the Paglia and Chiani rivers run shortly before they join the Tiber. This huge platform in volcanic tuff, which rises fifty meters above the surrounding terrain, was created by the action of several volcanoes.
It was an important Etruscan city and is an example of a fascinating destination. The entire rock of Orvieto is pierced by more than a thousand man-made shafts, galleries and caverns on various levels, some of which are accessible to tourists.
You can not lose yourself Il Duomo, the city's cathedral and surely its best-known monument, as it is one of the masterpieces of Gothic architecture that you will discover on your trip through Italy by motorhome. The interior of the Cathedral is richly decorated and features an incredible variety of colors in the paintings in the chapels and in the large stained glass windows. Other attractions are Patrick's Well, the Albornoz Fortress,to Moorish Tower, Etruscan necropolis y the underground city.
Rome, the capital
GPS: 41°52’09.0″N 12°30’08.2″E
41.869155, 12.502268
Rate: € 25 / day
Services: all
Here in Rome we meet with the motorhomes that travel guided by Lost Planet Travel through the south of the Italian peninsula and Sicily, coming from Genoa, others come from touring Greece and Turkey, and some more from Barcelona. We shared these days in Rome with them and then headed for Spain.
Roma As the capital of the Republic and the Roman Empire, it became the first great metropolis of humanity, the center of one of the most important ancient civilizations. It influenced the society, culture, language, literature, music, art, architecture, philosophy, gastronomy, religion, law and morality of the following centuries. In the course of its history, which spans three millennia, it came to extend its domains over the entire Mediterranean basin and much of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Currently, it is the city with the highest concentration of historical and architectural assets in the world. We were in Rome a few years ago, a very touristy express visit where we visited the Vatican, the Trevi Fountain and a little more. Enough to know that Rome existed. This time in our trip through Italy in a motorhome with a little more calm and more cultured we have visited the complex formed by the Colosseum, the Forum and Palatine Hill. Guided by Tere and Emilio, the most seasoned in this city, I walked through Trastevere, visiting the Church of Jesus (Gesù), Piazza Navona, Hadrian's Temple, Agrippa's Pantheon,... It is clear that we must return. Touring Italy in a motorhome is a must.
You cannot miss the Colosseum, the forum, the hill of Palatine, the temple of Hadrian and la Church of Jesus (Chiesa del Gesu).
The trip through Italy in a motorhome is over
The trip through Italy in a motorhome comes to an end, we head to Civitavecchia to take the ferry to Barcelona with the Grimaldi shipping company, a better ship and organization than GNV. It cost us €350.
Which site did we like the most?
Removing Florence, we are left with Orvieto. As for the overnight points, we have prioritized that they be monitored and have a light point, to spend less gas, since in Italy the issue of LPG is complicated, not for lack of gas stations that offer it, but they only serve it to vehicles use it as fuel for the engine.
What change would you make on the trip?
At the overnight point to Visit Cinque Terre, instead of parking in La Spezia (south of Cinque Terre), I would do it in the north, parking in a campsite in Levanto, and spend a few more days.
A good trip. Better to see it once, that they tell you a thousand times.
Good,
what was the duration of the trip?
Thank you
Hello, this information is very useful, how long did the trip take you?
Thank you
3 weeks Isaac, thanks to you!