If we chose to skip Florence, would there be an area/city you would recommend besides Rome and Venice? (young teen boy with us)

Is there any special annual event in June or July that is so spectacular that we might consider planning a trip around it? (Rome, Venice, ???)

Thanks!
MrsG

How much time will you have to enjoy the additional area/city? Public transport or are you willing to rent a car? Any special interests?

Siena. When's the palio?

In Venice the Festa del Redentore is spectacular although very crowded. It's the third Sunday in July. this year 7/18. Festivities start on Friday and continue through Sunday. there is a spectacular fireworks display over the laggon Saturday night around midnight as I recall.

http://www.veneziamarketingeventi.it...o?idEvento=127

Google venice redentore for more info and photos.

Lots of things going on in July and August throughout Italy.

http://www.italiantouristboard.co.uk/it/docs/122.pdf

http://goitaly.about.com/od/festival.../july_fest.htm

Orvieto is a one hour train ride from Rome if he would like to stomp around some Etruscan tombs and take the Underground Tour.
http://www.orvietounderground.it/

Near to Orvieto is Civita di Bagnoregio which might also interest him.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civita_di_Bagnoregio

Surely the teen is interested in SOMETHING. Italy has music festivals, sports events, horseback riding, white water rafting, amusement parks, beaches hiling, hot springs, birdwatching.... You get the picture. Have you asked him what he wants to do?

When we've taken our kids to Europe, we include some time in rural areas and some time in the cities, because we like both types of areas, and because it gives a broader view of any country.

On our most recent trip, on which we took our 11yo DD to Italy, we spent time in Venice, Florence and Rome, plus almost a week in Le Marche. After Venice and Florence, when we arrived in much-quieter Urbino, then Macerata, I grew concerned that DD would feel the countryside wasn't interesting enough. I offered the suggestion that we could cut short our time in the countryside by a night or two. But no, she liked the quieter areas as well.

So that's what I would suggest - some time in the countryside, any countryside.

Our kids really liked the Ligurian Coast area. We stayed in Lerici for 4 nights and were able to spend time in Cinque Terre and Portovenere, did a drive up to the marble mines in Carrara (very interesting), spent a day at a private (expensive-LOL!) beach, did a fun cooking class and found our favorite gelato in Italy in a little inland town called Sarzana.