there's nothing like a perfect location to stay and take day trips around in central Italy, because of the mountain range (the Appennini) running north-south just in the middle of it. So if you stay in Umbria you can see some of the Marche region too, but it involves some driving time following narrow valleys or winding mountain roads. Even in Tuscany, going from Montepulciano to Pisa involves some noticeable hill roads. What I really discourage is trying to go north of Florence on day trips, i.e. to Bologna or Parma, because the crossing of Appennini, even on the highway, can be a sour and time-consuming experience. The better option is visit Bologna or Parma on the way to the south.

Bye

Paolo Trieste, Italy