Hello sagely travelers. My wife and I have 8 full days in northern Italy (arrive 3/29/Depart 4/7). We fly in/out of Pisa. We'll be traveling by train/bus....spending the first 3 days/4 nights in Florence (with a day trip to Siena) and the final 4 nights /3 days in CT/Corniglia (We will likely explore some nearby places while in CT …Portofino, Levanto, Santa Margherita Ligure)…with the final night (4/6) in Pisa with a 12:30 pm flight home the next day. What are your thoughts regarding this itinerary? Suggestions/observations? Thanks so much for any insights.

Superb- would not change a thing - trains are great - they are all or could be regional trains with a dirt-cheap flat fare - really just a few euros a ride for your plans - no need to book, etc - regional trains don't even have reserved seats - always can hop on - they also have first class - not always but most you're taking should and again very cheap so consider paying pittance extra for having more chances finding empty seats - regional trains can get very crowded a times as they are commuter trains. Acquista il biglietto con le nostre offerte - Trenitalia for schedules - eaiest schedules I've seen - www.bahn.de/en - German Railways pan-European rail schedule site - easily spot regional trains. For lots of info on Italian trains check www.seat61.com; BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.

Lucca is a gem IMO (but not everyone's here!) - old medieval walled city known for its many medieval days. Consider staying in Pisa extra day and taking one away from CT and doing Lucca as an easy day trip.

If planning to hike CT check status of trails as not unusually some key ones may be closed and in April wet weather not unusual. Keep plans in flux.

Is CInque Terra really open at the start of April? I don't know but it might be worth checking the latest from the website and watch out for rain.

Thanks for the feedback! Yes, the weather. That's the challenge this time of year. Unfortunately, it will be a game time decision. If the weather looks poor i.e. significant rain in CT, we will need a solid plan B...suggestions?

Ct is always open -I was there one January and it was open.

You have many backup plan options. You could do lots of day trips from Florence, or book a hotel in Venice or Bologna also. If weather holds, cancel that reservation. Within easy access to Florence, via train... Bologna (35 mts), Milan (1 hour 40mts). If you book that backup hotel in Bologna, then you can do Venice (90 mts), Milan (1 hr), Padua (1 hour) or Ravenna (1 hour 20 mts).

Just a consideration.

Buon viaggio!

Bologna is IME one of the most underrated overlooked cities by American tourists - too bad it has to compete with Venice, Florence and Rome for travelers' time or else it would be a star attraction in most countries. and they have good baloney too I hear!

if i were needing a Plan B for northern Italy, it would most definitely include Venice.

It would be my Plan A - but maybe OP has been there but still would be my plan A.

Hmmm....great ideas and different options by the bucketful....this is what I love about travel (not to mention listening to the ideas and past experiences of others). Many, many thanks! I'll start researching....Bologna was never on our radar, but it may need to be...it sounds fantastic.

Other possible day trips from Florence: Arezzo, Montecatini Terme, San Gimignano, a day tour in Chianti... From Bologna, Modena, Parma and Verona.

Sorry P but heavy rains can close individual walks esp during the early spring period. I'll let you google it if you want

bilbo - I was talking about the towns not the trails which at any time of year are subject to being shut for various reasons. I did not hike that time having done it before in summer. Just took trains to each town.

Towns actually close down? Interesting.

You know, you could simply base in Pisa and visit just about all the places you mention by train. Once you get away from the Tower area (don't miss the Duomo inside--amazing art/history), Pisa is a nice place. Fodorites, what say you?

Yup Pisa itself is not over inundated with tourists as Leaning Tower area on northern edge of town is - great base for Siena, Lucca, CT, etc.

So things change. In the spirit of flexibility and spontaneity, we went back to the drawing board and created a new itinerary with a much different pace. What was once a 8 day trip trip to Florence and CT has now been altered. (We’ve traveled to CT once before and we were a bit concerned about the unpredictability of spring time rain on the coast) The Plan as it currently stands: fly into and out of Pisa. Thursday: arrive at noon….train to Florence. Friday: explore Florence. Saturday: depart Florence for Bologna. Sunday: depart Bologna for Venice for three days. Wednesday: Vicenza Thursday: Verona and then Friday: train to Pisa. Saturday return home. We’re using Air BnB for accommodations in both Florence and Venice, still looking at options in Bologna, Verona, and Vicenza. If after reading this, and you have any observations or suggestions worth noting from your own experiences in the area, we welcome them!

Verona is but 50 minutes by train from Verona - suggest day trip perhaps - one less relocating of hotels that take a few hours. Always nice to stay in a place like Verona and maybe you have plans for plays at night but if not eliminate one one-night stand. Similarly Vincenza could be day trip from Venice.