Great news Ms Pickle! About time. If you need to go to loo do at tourist office unless Orvieto has modernized their Roman-era squat and aim toilets which were incredibly filthy with others leavings who could not hit the mark. Assume they may have nicer modern toilets by now (this was in men's toilet).

That's nice to know about Orvieto, although it's a shame the hours don't allow for dinner in the town.

Alright. I think you've all convinced me to stick to 2 cities! I see by alandavid's awesome itinerary that it's doable, but I think it would be too hectic and crazy... and not relaxing at all.

SO! With that decision made... here's the next. I definitely want to go to Rome, so what other city should I do? Venice or Florence? Another detail... I'm going to have to go in November (and pray for good weather!). My mom loves art and history and I'm all about the food, wine and scenery!

Also... if I stick to 2 cities, what day trips would you recommend?

I CANT THANK ALL OF YOU ENOUGH!!

I agree your itinerary should not be crazy, but with that much time, I also think you could still comfortably include Florence. You will not be going out of your way to get there. Central Florence is so small, you will need just a few minutes to get to a centrally located hotel.

Florence is so beautiful and so different from Venice and Rome. Your Mom loves Art and Florence is a city that is all about art. The center is very, very small and easily walkable. Many things are very close together. The Duomo and Baptistery are in the same piazza. Santa Croce is a five minute walk from the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio is another five minutes. Just don't try to see every sight. You can't, so pick two or three and enjoy strolling around.

If you have 8 days, you could

Day 1, Arrive Venice. Walk to Piazza San Marco and Rialto Bridge. If you are not too tired and it is not too late, go inside San Marco including the rooftop for great views. Take a late night trip down the Grand Canal. If too tired, do it on day 2

Day 2, Venice, walking tour, Doge's Palace, etc. (whatever 2 or 3 things you choose.

Day 3, Venice/Florence - morning to mid afternoon in Venice, anything you couldn't fit it on day 2. Late afternoon, catch train to Florence in time to check in and have a leisurely walk across Ponte Vecchio for dinner.

Day 4, Florence, sightsee.

Day 5, very early train to Rome, sight see Rome
Day 6, Rome
Day 7, Rome

Day 8, Home

If you have nine days, add one anyplace you prefer.

Also... if I stick to 2 cities, what day trips would you recommend?>

Rome to Florence for a day? Just over an hour by train -choice between Venice and Florence for me hands-down Venice - November will be cool but not cold and fewer other tourists.

Day trips -Venice to Padua, Veronad or Vincenza

Rome - Ostia Antica - ancient Rome's port - lots of remains -some say as good as Pompeii sans all the mob scene - short metro ride from Rome.

I like sassafrass' itinerary including Florence.

If Rome is for sure, and only two cities, then Venice is most definitely what I would add. It is the most unique and different.

Venice to me is the most physically sublimely beautiful city in Europe if not the world and in November again no big mob scene -there could be periods of high water however where San Marco and other parts get flooded and they bring out raised wooden walkways over the water - most often happens in late autumn I believe - not likely but possible and many parts are not flooded.

Alright. I think you've all convinced me to stick to 2 cities! I see by alandavid's awesome itinerary that it's doable, but I think it would be too hectic and crazy... and not relaxing at all.>

Less can indeed be more. With a week on the ground and a half day travel between Rome and Venice you could squeeze one day in Florence and see the main sights (David copy statue outside- Uffizi - Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo - all nicely grouped together.

3 full days Rome
1 day Florence
3 days Venice

or put 4-5 days in Rome and 2-3 in Venice.

In Venice it is nice to do a boat ride to the outer islands -like Burano and Torcello- letting you see the visage of Venice from far across the lagoon-quite a sublime spectacle hovering in the distance.

Murano is another island just off mainland Venice but is more a tourist trap with its glass factories and hoards of tour groups and visitors.

For art & history + food/wine/scenery, I think Florence offers you more treats. If this trip is really mostly for your mother, and she wants to go to Venice, fine. Go. But if it's a shared adventure, there's the possibility for a day trip out of Florence for some some beautiful scenery and wine, or stop for lunch in Orvieto enroute to Florence.

I take it all back if you reveal that your favorite food is seafood or risotto & you prefer white to red wine. Then go to Venice. But for autumnal eats and red wine, Florence has a lot to offer, and of course it is overflowing with art and key moments in European history.

http://curiousappetitetravel.com/tra...cz3iz3pg2ivbak

https://italyxp.com/en/blog/florence/best-florence-food

(I would take ribollita off these lists and instead urge you to track down white onion soup & pumpkin dishes in Florence in November.)

Something else it would be good to think about in weighing Venice vs Florence is whether your idea of sightseeing in Venice is mainly about outdoor sightseeing. Venice has many wonderful interiors & museums, but for a lot of tourists, the big priority is outdoor activity -- walking, eating outdoors, gondola rides, trips to other islands etc.

November is often Italy's rainiest month, when a lot of rain comes down at once during the day. You could get gloriously dry weather in Venice -- it doesn't rain every day -- but rain can makes it difficult to be a tourist in Venice (especially if parts of the city flood). Sightseeing in Florence is only slightly affected negatively by rain.

I agree that just two cities is your best bet.

this will give you time to stop and stare, and feel you are on holiday, rather than on a route march.

Flying into Venice and out of Rome would make a wonderful trip.

Here's your other thread with some more information.