Your input on the following still very loose itinerary for 19 - 21 days in Italy September 2010 please.
Fly in to Venice – 3 days Venice
Train to Vernazza – 2 days Vernazza
Train to Florence via Pisa
Now this is where my doubt comes in .
We have 2 options Spend 2 days in Florence and move on to Pienza (Casalprato Agriturismo) for 7 days Or 2 Day trips to Florence
Rome 5 days

Spend the 2 days in Florence and then move on to the Pienza area.

+1 for staying in Florence instead of daytrips in.

As an alternative agenda, you might consider staying in Florence for those two days between Venice and Vernazza. It breaks up the long train ride from Venice to the CT. Then train from Florence to Vernazza.

I'm assuming you'll want a car for Pienza since the agriturismo is 1.5 km out of town. From Vernazza you could train to either La Spezia or Pisa and pick the car up.

I agree with both zoecat and notbob: Stay in Florence and put Florence between Venice and Vernazza. If you were planning to stop in Pisa, you can do that either before or after Vernazza. There is baggage storage at Pisa Centrale.

Notbob, Never thought about Florence before CT. Thought it would be backtracking.
& Yes we will be renting a car for 7 days in Pienza
Jean / Zoecat Thanks for input.

Backtracking? Maybe technically if you look at the map, but most of the trains leaving Venice in the morning will route you on a Eurostar to Florence and then switch you to a regional train to La Spezia or Sarzana where you'll pick up another regional to Vernazza. So you'll be going through Florence any way.

Point taken, thanks notbob.

I've been to Florence as a daytripper (on our first trip) and then on our next trip we stayed in Florence in an apartment for 5 days. Definitely the second trip was better, plus Florence in the evening after the daytrippers and tour groups have left is divine! Admittedly we were there in the summer, when the twilight lasts forever.

The very best of Florence IMO and IMEis experienced in the early mornings and then in the evenings. Enjoying a glass of wine from a terrific vantage point before enjoying a leisurely dinner and then a nice walk back to the hotel are some of my favorite aspects of any visit to Florence.

That is not possible in day trips.

Florence is unique. It has a lot of tourists walking around which takes away some of its charm. But as Kfusto says at night, and early in the morning there is an advantage that should not be missed.
I would stay at least two nights in Florence.

I vote for staying in Florence.

Then Florence it will be.
kfusto/Graziella5b I read somewhere on this forum of a wonderful restaurant with a wonderful view over Florence. Ring any bells?
Any referals on budget apartment rentals in Florence?

Could be La Loggia - overpriced and over rated IMO.

Another vote for staying in Florence.