7 full days in Italy : what would you do?
 

You're a family of 5, landing in Rome on Friday, leaving Italy by car for France the Saturday after.<BR><BR>What would you do in those 7 days.<BR><BR>We're big on sight-seeing but except for a few sites (eg. Sistine Chapel, Colloseum, Roman Forum, Academia to see Michelangelo’s David, etc.), we won't be spending any considerable time in any one site as the children will not want to be dragged into every Duomo, Museum &amp; &quot;old building&quot;.<BR><BR>Walking around and looking is enough for them.<BR><BR>TIA

I see you are trying again to get a good answer. You neglect to mention when. I assume &quot; summer&quot; from your previous post. Also, you do not mention the car lease--a big factor. You do not want a car in Rome or Florence. So, here is what I would do:<BR>Rome--3 nites<BR>Train to Florence--3 nites to include a day trip to Siena.<BR>Get car as you leave Florence and drive to the Cinque Terre--enroute to France.<BR>Try to get 2 nites here. The kids will love this location.<BR>That will be tight but &quot; doable&quot;.

Bob-the-Navigator,<BR>As always, your excellent suggestions are the voice of reason.

Explore Tuscany with bicycles, rent apt in a farmhouse with pool. Hike Cinque Terre.

My family will be staying in Montefollonico in April(thanks to recommendation of Bob the Navigator!) Can someone tell me if there are bicycle rentals in that area?

&lt;&lt;You're a family of 5, landing in Rome on Friday, leaving Italy by car for France the Saturday after.&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>First off, I would not rent a car in Italy to leave the country to take to France, unless you plan to return to Italy - - and even then, I probably would not. Take the train to Nice and rent there. This could save you hundreds of dollars.<BR><BR>You mention going to the Accademia - - located in Florence - - (as opposed to the other great attractions you mention in Rome) and Florence might be an excellent choice of your first two days in Italy and then backtrack to Rome. In fact, you might be able to simply fly onward directly TO Florence. It's much less intense and overwhelming than starting with Rome, but it depends on how much you are big city, urban-type people. On the other hand, Florence is in the direction of France, so it makes sense to go there on your way out of Italy.<BR><BR>You'll no doubt get a lot of opinions that you should simply plan on the full seven days in Rome. The alternative view is that two (or more) nights in Venice makes the perfect complement to a &quot;short&quot; visit to Rome (which might or might not carve out one day trip or a 24 hour overnighter to Florence, in transit). That will cost you a half day (a little over 4 hours) to get to Venice, and then the same to get from Venice to France - - but it still could be considered a sound plan.<BR><BR>I hope you'll plan in some small-town or countryside time in one country or the other. A trip of all &quot;major cities&quot; of Europe misses (the best?) half of what your trip can offer you.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>[email protected]<BR>

Thank you for the suggestions. They'll go a long way in planning this trip.

Does this mean that you have totally abandoned that itinerary that you offered on another thread? If so, you made a smart move!<BR><BR>

Rex, you have the patience of a saint.