Steven

Going to Venice and Florence in July. First time in Italy. Have two nights for another city. any suggestions?

Paige

How about Siena? It's close to Florence so you wouldn't waste a lot of time traveling. I love Siena! I think it's a great place to wander around and the food is excellent.

ricahrd j vicek

Good evening, Steven With two nights <BR>would pick one for Siena as Paige mentions and would pick the 2nd in <BR>Assisi. Both can be done eitherby <BR>car or rail. San Gimignano is also <BR>a side trip out of Firenze. <BR>Richard of La Grange Park, Il...

Patrick

I love San Gimignano if you are able to spend two nights there and drive out during the day. But if this is your first trip to Italy, I'd hate to see you pass up Rome. It's only a couple of hours by train from Florence so you'd have basically two full days there. Two days is not enough to fully see Rome, but it will give you a pretty good start and I assure you you will want to go back. Let's face it, the big three in Italy are Florence, Venice, and Rome -- and for good reason.

Shahram

Hi Steven, <BR>I'll have to agree with the other replies here. I personally prefer Siena to Florence (notwithstanding Florence's great sightseeing). So I would spend any extra time in Siena. In fact, I would lodge in Siena and day trip to Florecnce, but that's another story. San Gimignano is good too, but I wouldn't skip Siena for it. I would make it either a day trip, or just spend one of the nights there. <BR>One last piece of advice: The night you spend in Siena, go to piazza del Campo around 10 or so with a blanket, a bottle of wine, and someone you love, and try to catch a glimpse of what life is all about in this pretty little town. <BR>Have fun. <BR> <BR>-Shahram

Amy

I agree that Siena is wonderful. We spent one day there and would have liked another. It really seems to come alive at night so try to spend the night there. I also agree that San Gimignano is great, but I think a half day is probably sufficient. Another idea is to rent a car and just spend a day driving around Tuscany -- its beautiful. Rome might be a stretch considering travel time.

Marilyn Ham

Siena is nice--and if you go there eat at the Cane E Gatto (translation Dog & Cat). It's expensive, but it will be memorable--wonderful food and service and very quaint. However, I like Assisi better than Siena--it's more medieval. If you go there stay at the Umbra Hotel. It's a wonderful 16th century hotel run by very nice people. Marilyn

Carol

I'm with Pat--even 2 nights in Rome is better than none. Go for it!

stephen

<BR>verona!!

Meg

If you love Italian Renaissance art you cannot miss Padua. It's a mere half hour or so by train from Venice. The Scrovegni chapel with the Giotto frescos is a hidden gem; Sant'Antonio is a wonderful church; the Palazzo Ragione is a masterpiece of architecture and the Duomo has a fantastic ceiling painting and wonderful frescos. PLUS it's a University city so very lively and lots of good cheap places to eat. Have fun!

Bill

Just got back from Rome and Italy and did spend one day in Assisi. I wish I would have had more time. If close be sure to by. Seemed like a nice small town to spend a day in.