We will be going on our 1st Italy trip in April of 2010. This is what we are thinking as far as days in each city.
5 days in Rome
1 day in Orvieto
5 days in Florence
3 days in Venice

Are we spending too little or too much time in any city? Do you have any suggestions for Florence day trips? Please help.
Thank you

Not bad, but I would spend more time in Venice than Florence unless you plan multiple day trips from Florence. I think that Siena is your first option, but Lucca can also be a good day. If you want to hire a driver for the smaller hill towns one day then that is also possible. Have fun--you have a good start.

Just a personal preference, but I would add one day to Venice and cut Florence to four days. You could take a day trip to one of the islands around Venice (for example, Murano for glass trinkets). You could also take the train from Florence to Pisa. Depending on the train, you will be passing Lucca and may be able to see both places. (I always feel that I should see the iconic places in the countries that I visit. For example, I would want to see the Leaning Tower in Pisa, St. Peter's in Rome, the Tower of London, the Eiffel Tower, etc. because when you get back home people will invariably ask where you've been and what you've seen and it helps to give them names of places that they'll easily recognize.)

I agree with Bob, add at least a day onto Venice. Now, as far as day trips out of Florence go, Lucca and Pisa are starts. You may want to consider Poggio a Caiano and Artimino, both in the provence of Prato, both villas of the Medici family.

Buon Viaggio,
BC

While you are in Florence I would recommend going to Fiesole one day. It is really more a suburb--reached by bus from the center of the city.
San Gimignano is another popular day trip I don't think others have mentioned.

If you are really a fan of Renaissance art and architecture I would keep your 5 nights in Florence, 3 in Venice schedule.

Venice also has some great day trips--Padova, Vicenza. My favorite of the lagoon islands is Torcello

5 days in Rome is reasonable, although you could easily spend much, much longer.

Another vote for Bob's suggestion re. adding an extra day to Venice, unless you're doing day trips from Florence. Personally, I could happily spend all 5 days right in Florence, but Venice will demand as much of your attention as you can spare. Five days in Rome is great. Buon viaggio!

jojuice, what are your actual interests on this vacation? What do you hope to see in every city? What kind of vacation do you enjoy? I think that may determine where you spend the most time. Avid hikers for example might wish to detour up to the Cinque Terre for a few days and add another dimension to their trip.

I did the day trips from Florence to Fiesole, Pisa, and Siena - yes, all were very worthwhile, especially beautiful Siena (where I wish now I'd have had an overnight).

I think 4 days in Florence is good, and use the extra day either for Siena or for Venice. Venice is my favorite, but three days can be a fine introduction. If I were to say spend the fourth day in Venice, it wouldn't be to go to Murano or Burano. Torcello, now there's a special place.

Andrew took the words right out of my keyboard! What do you like to see & do? Do you want to trek ancient cities & see all (or as many as your feet will allow) of the historic sites? Do you want to experience as much art as possible? Do you want to see beautiful country scenery? Do you want to spend all or part of your days sitting on a terrace overlooking vineyards while wine tasting?

We love Venice & Rome & love to spend 2 weeks in each city - and we still have so much to see & do in each city! However, one day in Florence was enough for us. I've seen completely opposite posts on this board - so to each his/her own.

My advice, don't take generalized suggestions from us. To develop your proposed trip, I'm sure you have studied & researched what each city offers. So, let us know what sites/activities appeal to you, & then we can give you other suggestions for each city & comments on what you give us.

Happy planning, Julie

A third person asking what your interests are... No one can tell you whether you should spend more time in one place or another without that information. Venice fans always push for more time in Venice. I'm a Florence fan and would rather spend more time in Florence than Venice.

Our interests are art (all except modern), history, cuisine, literature and just taking in the sights. People watching, having a good glass of wine, hills, beautiful views and water.Taking the time to learn about a city and how it developed into what it is today.
Thank you

We want to go to museums but not get museumitis. The same is true of churches. Thank you again.

Sorry I forgot, we are not into hiking.

Art: IMO, Florence over Venice
History: Everywhere in Italy
Cuisine: IMO, Florence over Venice
Literature: Not sure what you mean; going to settings of books you've read?
Taking in the sights: Everywhere in Italy
People watching: Everywhere in Italy, but, depending on when you go, the proportion of tourists to locals may be higher in Venice (I'm not sure)
Good glass of wine: Available everywhere in Italy
Hills: Florence/Tuscany over Venice/Veneto
Beautiful views: Everywhere in Italy; those in Venice are probably more unique and in Tuscany more postcard-y
Water: Obviously, Venice
History/development of a city: Both Florence and Venice, with entirely different and interesting stories.

If you have no interest at all in modern art, you could drop the Peggy Guggenheim Collection to the bottom of your priority list. Her house is still interesting (and unique for Venice), but all the art on display is 20th C.

Just goes to show how we find different pleasures in the same places.
I don't appreciate the art much in the Guggenheim Collection, but the view from that terrace over the Grand Canal is, to me, alone worth the visit. That, and the joyful and adult-themed equestrian sculpture on the terrace that I have named The Happiest Man in Venice. If you see it, you'll know why.

sorry for the poor syntax, it's the sculpture that I have nicknamed, not the terrace.

Another piece of information that would help - who are the "we" going on your trip? Family? Spouse? SO?

Hi JJ,

Good plan, except that I would start in Venice and go home from Rome.

Why are you overnighting in Orvieto? You can do it as a daytrip from Rome.

From Florence, you can visit Siena and/or San Gimignano, Lucca and/or Pisa, Bologna - all by train or bus.

Enjoy your visit.

I am going with my husband. We are both in our middle 50's.

I think your itinerary looks great. Unlike so many that want to cram in 14 cities in 1 week, you are spending a reasonable amount of time in each location.

Good Job, you get the "happy chair" (sorry, my wife is an elementary school teacher)



dave

Daveesl====I was an elementary special needs teacher for 34 years. Thanks for the happy chair.