Marta D----We will be going to Italy in May of 2010. We will be in Venice, Florence, Rome and Sorrento. This will be our first time in Italy. We want to take a side trip to Pompeii and Vesuvius (same day) from Sorrento. Do you feel Pompeii is a good side trip? Also, should we also go to Vesuvius? Thank you ahead of time for your help.
Jo

Pompeii is very worthwhile. I'm not sure about trying to combine Vesuvius. Pompeii takes time.

Vttraveler thank you so much for all the great ideas. I am looking into all you have suggested. Gianetta, we are definitely going to see Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano. Where is the market? Anyone know the old church on 3 levels she is recalling?

Sarge, we have been to Florence twice. It's a lovely city. We love Italy and this will be our 5th trip. If we had not already seen many of the widely-touted sights, we probably would be making different plans this time.

MartaD, on my first trip to Italy we were able to rent a car.

I would recommend Subiaco, about 1.5 or 2 hours from Rome. This is where St. Benedict first received his vision to start the Benedictine order..it is an amazing monastery on the side of a cliff. Be sure to ask to see the picture of St. Francis--he came there on retreat centuries after St. Benedict and a picture was painted of him, believed to be painted of him during his life. It is difficult to get there if you don't drive or hire a driver though.

You could also do a Scavi tour to see the tomb of St. Peter.

Enjoy going to the different grocers' or farmers' markets and making dinner together. We rented an apartment on our second trip to Rome and it was an adventure.

The church that goes down 3 levels is San Clemente - between Colosseum and San Giovanni. I have not been, yet, but am reading about it in preparation for my trip this fall. The lower levels were places of pagan worship and the church was built atop. It looks fascinating to me, and is on our A-list.

I am using a great book for most of my planning. "25 Great Walks in Rome" by Frommers. Walking is our number one favorite way to get to know a city...this book is giving me TONS of great ideas and helping me plan walks around great sites. The book is small and portable, and may end up being the only book I take with me.I'll probably just copy a few pertinent pages out of the others.

If you haven't done the Scavi tour, I too highly recommend it. Amazing.

I also don't know if you've ever used any of the tour services, but we loved Context Rome. They have some very unusual and unique tours. You might check into one or two of them.

The Blue Guide is one possibility. Georgina Masson's Companion Guide to Rome is another. I don't know how they compare from the point of view of weight, but amazon.com would tell you.

If you're staying in Trastevere, there is a daily market (except Sunday) in Piazza San Cosimato.

We have been to Rome, my favorite city in the world, many times and 2 weeks sounds perfect.
We were in Rome for 2 weeks this past March and will be once again this October.

Actually, the more we go the more we find to discover.

I like "Rome in Detail" too, and Georgina Masson's "Rome"; "The Secrets of Rome" by Augias, and "City Secrets,Rome" editor, Kahn.

The "Blue Guide" and the Lucentini Pallas Guide "Rome" are both excellent.

For a church lover (not necessarily for religious reasons) I would highly recommend Margaret Visser's "Geometry of Love".

And for some historical and architectural reading, McGregor's "From the Ground Up" and Sullivan's "Not Built in a Day".

And finally, anything by Morton.

For that day trip, I agree with the choice of Orvieto. Every time we are in Rome I intend to take a daytrip there, but just can't tear myself away from Rome.
Florence is an easy 90 minute train ride too.

For tours we have taken Context Rome and RomeWalks, both good tour companies with small groups.