help with Italy itinerary

Old Feb 20th, 2017, 02:33 AM
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help with Italy itinerary

Hi all! I'm traveling in early April with my husband and 24- year-old son to Italy for 10 days. We are flying into Rome and spending 3 nights there (2-1/2 days - we've been before) and then taking the train to Florence to see our other son who's studying there. this is where my question comes in. We plan on taking an early train to Florence and staying there 2 nights. After that the boys wanted to travel so we thought Venice for 3 nights and then back to florence for a night where we fly out early the next day. For our short time in Florence where will we get the most bang for our buck? i was thinking bus to the countryside Pisa? Sienna? Originally wanted Cinque Terre but seems too much travel for just a day trip. With our two 20-somethings we can do just about anything. In Venice what are the must sees? i don't like being tied to a "tour" schedule per se - would much rather map our own itinerary and find new places. In the past these forums have been amazing - i particularly love the secret gems I've learned from the locals on these boards (restaurants etc.). thanks in advance for your help!!
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 04:27 AM
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Pisa and Lucca are both easy to reach by train, the local commute. Lucca is probably more interesting than Pisa but you can go to them both in a day and catch a bus between the two.

Since it is a commute you buy the ticket for the train on the day. There is a train to get you from Pisa to Lucca.

Florence to Siena (one n) can be done by train or bus, about 1.5 hours, the railway station is not in the best place (use google maps) but is easy to do. Other places are harder to get to without a car.
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 04:35 AM
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CT would be too far for a day trip from Florence. There's an express bus to/from Siena, so that's probably your best bet for a day trip, unless you want to hire a driver/guide for a Tuscany tour.

Here's my short Venice itinerary:

The "secrets" tour of the Doges is popular with a lot of people. It's typically conducted by a local guide for small groups (+/- 10).

A day trip to Murano/Burano is nice, but you'll have to decide if it's worth a day when you only have three.

Spend one night in San Marco sipping prosecco and listening to the orchestras under the stars.

We like Da Fiore as a little out-of-the way place that serves cicchetti. (Not to be confused with the much more expensive Trattoria Da Fiore.)

Take the vaporetto to Giudecca and have lunch at one of the waterside restaurants that looks out on Venice proper, and then wander around Giudecca a bit.
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 05:36 AM
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Pisa is a trivial day trip from Florence unless you are visiting things other than at the Field of Miracles. If you have eyes on climbing the tower, you must prebook a time slot. If you arrive there without one, there might not be any time slot left or you have to wait many hours if there are slots left later in the day.

Doges Palace secret itineraries is by tour only. If you want to do this and in English, you must pre-book to assure a slot.

If you are a photographer, the colorful canals of Burano are delight. However, this is a major cruise boat/big bus day excursion destination and you will be hardly alone nor find streets without a mass of people if you visit during the day.

I see that you have air tickets already. I don't know if you had to do this. You might have been able to get more time out depending on your circumstances.

You current routing:
Rome-Florence-Venice-Florence
Staying at least 4 different times. Rome(1),Florence(2),Venice(1)

If you could have done other ways, you would have reduced the number of accommodation moving around to 3 and add the last single night before flight home to an existing longer stay usually ending up with more usable time.

For example, here are just a few of many alternatives:
* Venice (have your son meet you in Venice)-Florence-Rome
* Venice (have your son meet you in Venice)-Rome-Florence
* Rome-Venice (pick up your son at Florence then move onto Venice) - Florence
* Rome-Florence-Venice (have your son return to Florence on his own)
* Florence-Venice-Rome(drop off your son at Florence)
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 07:51 AM
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greg - thanks for all the great info. our flight are booked --just worked because of time constraints. I'm hoping to catch early trains to florence from rome and florence to venice to make the most of the time. i love the idea of Burano as i am a photographer but not crazy about the crowds is doges palace a must see?

vincenzo - thank you for your great info as well! so maybe a full day tuscany tour to cover all the basics? in your opinion is it best to go it on our own or book a tour? love all of the other little ideas you threw in as well..many thanks!
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 08:05 AM
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Nothing is a must-see. If you understand the history of Venice, I'd say it would be a shame to go there and not see the doges' palace, but if you just want to relish the magic of the place it's not essential. Nor is anything else. For me the Rialto market and Canarregio are must-sees, but I wouldn't expect others to shre my view.

Burano was a mob scene over Christmas. I can only imagine what it's like when the cruise ships are trawling around, but maybe April is early for that. At any rate, be prepared for a mob, or go very early or very late.
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 08:33 AM
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I would echo greg's suggestions. It would have been nice to go from Rome directly to Venice and then end your time with a few days in Florence before flying out.

In April two years ago we went to Florence (with side trip to Siena), Bologna and Venice and loved it! In addition to the fact it's a looong day trip from FLR, it's also a dicey time of year for CT weather wise-so I don't recommend it. In Venice by 10am people are packed like sardines around San Marco and the bridge of sighs. Get as early a start as you can with the 20-somethings in order to get some good pictures. We did the secret Doge's Palace tour and enjoyed it. As stated you must pre-book. Otherwise in Venice we enjoyed the museums and just the general atmosphere. Loved exploring and then trying cicchetti and drinks. Did not side trip to Murano/Burano, but did take a quick boat ride to San Giorgio Maggiore. Great views from the clock tower. As for Florence, Siena is a wondeful day trip by bus (bus station near train station). So many highly recommended "must sees" in Florence, but I'm sure your son is well aware and can navigate you around? Enjoy your trip. We are going again in June and I can't wait!
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 08:42 AM
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For trains book as early as possible to nab limited in number discounted tickets- lots cheaper than walk-up fares - book your own on www.trenitalia.com - for lots of general info on Italian trains check www.seat61.com - great tips on discounted ticketing; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

regional trains go Florence to Pisa - for those just buy tickets at station as they have a dirt-cheap flat fare with no discounts available I believe.
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 09:25 AM
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thank you again everyone for all of your helpful hints. theres a reason to the order of this trip. my son is in class the first half of the week so he isn't available to travel until thursday which is why i was thinking Venice thurs - sunday. tuesday and wednesday would be our days to discover a little bit of Florence and maybe some of Tuscany. i like the idea of Siena for the day. i will have my son take us around Florence as much as he can. Is Venice a good pick for a few days or is there somewhere else all of you experienced folks suggest that would appeal to 20-somethings? keep in mind they're guys so museum overload isn't their thing...
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 09:26 AM
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What is this bizarre idea that "guys" are museum averse?? Do please explain.
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 09:51 AM
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What is this bizarre idea that "guys" are museum averse??>

OP did not say that - overloading on museums ain't their bag as they obviously want something more action-oriented along with a few museums.

Even old geezers like me can tire of museums -I rarely go to museums anymore (I've been to many before) and would much rather walk around - have a drink in a local cafe, etc. I can walk for hours outside but inside a museum my legs tire quickly with all the standing and shuffling around.

That said yes the major museums like Uffizi and Accademia should be on their list out of hand but others and a slew of churches up to them.
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 10:15 AM
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She maybe didn't say that guys were museum-averse, but suggested that museum overload wouldn't work for them. But why guys? Every guy I know loves museums. And no one I know enjoys "museum overload." I had to practically drag my DH out of the International Art Museum's Oriental Art Exhibit in December in Venice. That said, Florence of all places can induce museum overload...for anyone.
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 10:33 AM
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For a lot of 20 year old guys, a trip to Torino would be a lot of fun, quite a change of place from Florence, and the museums and sights are incredibly varied. FIrst of all, there is a legendary "aperitivo" scene, the long pre-dinner hour celebrated in bars overflowing buffets, drinking craft beers or red wines or cocktails (Torino invented dozens of modern cocktails made with vermouth in particular). Torino is also the home of chocolate and cheese shopsand delicious buttery pastas + the mega food store Eataly. The museums run in the direction of car museums (home of Fiat), Italy's national movie museum (an extraordinary place that is impossible to describe), a world class Egyptian museum, plus quirky things like the Shroud of Turin, an unusual underground museum (the city's military defense system). It's the home of the Italian Job.

Another thought is heading to Bologna, 45 minutes from Florence. The city itself is very different and fun (it's Europe's oldest university town, lots of nightlife). It can serve as a base for a trip to Modena + the nearby Ferrari factory or Ducati factory. Also a trip to Ravenna, where there are Europe's most staggeringly beautiful mosaics and a beach. Ferrara is 20 minutes away if the family likes to bike ride.

I'd be a little concerned that Venice, which is wall to wall tourist attractions, with very little in the way of nightlife for the young, will inevitably turn into a cultural tour, and you'll feel guilty if you all don't go to the Doge's Palace. I still do. ;(
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 10:37 AM
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I didn't say all guys - just mine! it's not to say they won't go but they're more akin to being immersed in local culture than spending the time inside museums and churches. their sister is an artist - they get more than their fair share of art exposure just looking for some different things to do...
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 10:41 AM
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frencharmoire - THANK YOU for your great post. I am going to run that by the guys but I think that sounds more like their speed and something I would enjoy as well!
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 10:48 AM
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My male traveling companion for Venice was a huge museum (and architecture) lover, I am not. We just split up and did different things at those times. Everyone in any group doesn't have to have an identical daily itinerary.
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 11:48 AM
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So true, suze. My DH and I are almost always on the same page about what to do and what to see, but where we diverge, we are happy to go off alone and meet up later (though that's always dicey given his navigational skills - we have to be in close contact by cell phone).
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 02:51 PM
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lisasw,

Glad you were intrigued the ideas. For both Turin and Bologna you can easily find a lot of information online about what's fun and trendy when it comes to nightlife and cafes on the internet, plus the variety of museums (some of which are fun and trendy themselves). Food is great in both places, but different. - but both very different from Florence, and easy to get to by train.
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Old Feb 20th, 2017, 06:06 PM
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I think that Vincenzo has got his Da Fiore's mized up, the trattoria is the one with cicchetti bar, and the Osteria is the fine dining. We enjoyed Trattoria Da Fiore, and would recommend as well.
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Old Feb 21st, 2017, 12:36 AM
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sun: You may be right. Working from memory is a dangerous thing, for me anyway. I think I meant to write "Osteria" to indicated the more expensive one, but fingers and brain didn't connect.

lisa: You have learned the dangers of a slip-up, re "guys," on Fodor's. People lie in wait for this stuff and generate several posts on the topic.

Re Tuscany tour: Sometimes it depends on how much planning you're willing to do on your own or how much you're willing to spend for the convenience of a tour. Factor in the expense of a vehicle when you're making a decision about it. Lots of people here, including me, have used Luca at hillsandroads.com. Very good guide/driver. Speaks excellent English.
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