I just spent two Christmases in a row in Europe and really enjoyed it. Not planning any European trips this year but am now thinking to see Tuscany (base in Florence) and Dubrovnik for ten days next spring. I'm wondering if the week right before Easter (Holy Week) would be a good time to go? I would like to see some of the holiday festivities but don't want to be in the middle of the tourist crowd who are taking advantage of the long weekend. Easter is late next year (April 16), so I am assuming that will be warm enough to take a boat cruise around Dubrovnik. The Dubrovnik Easter Fair appears to happen "after" Easter. Or should I try going at least two weeks before Easter, or a week after (in order to avoid the long Easter weekend there)?

April is a tad early for Dubrovnik, although I'm sure it could be quite lovely then. Even in other times of year, 2 or 3 days can be enough for Dubrovnik, so are you thinking of going elsewhere in Croatia? It seems to me to be a LONG way for just Dubrovnik, lovely as that city can be. YMMV.

By way of contrast, I could very easily imagine spending 2 full weeks in Florence, Tuscany, and maybe some nearby parts of Italy. Just a thought.

I'm thinking five nights and four days based in Florence, and three days and four nights based in Dubrovnik. And do day trips from each place. Right now it is showing mid 50 to mid 60 degrees F in Dubrovnik; is that the typical April temperature? I've been to Nice for a week in February and thought was perfect.
Do you know how far in advance or late they will have the special Easter food and decorations (if any) in Florence? Thanks.

For typical temperatures and other climate information anywhere, check wunderground.com and accuweather.com -- or any decent guidebook.

Be prapared for crowds in April in Florence, even before Easter. I spent 5 days in early March this year (cold!) and there were crowds, absoulutely. I still absolutely enjoyed myself and almost never felt uncomfortable (I needed to wait a bit before I could enter the Botticelli room), will certainly return for an even longer stay, but I would expect larger crowds in April.

And be sure to make a reservation for the Uffizi, if interested in going there. Again, I had one, for early March at 8:15, as dozens of others. There were also many who arrived with no reservation and needed to wait even longer than I did. Still, worth every penny. It'a a fantastic town.

I just did a search on cruise port schedule and it looks like in April 2017, Dubrovnik already has ship arrivals almost everyday of the month.

I ended up having to reserve time next year for a family vacation and decided to go to the Dubrovnik/Tuscany trip two weeks ago. Everything was perfect except for the rain. Thanks everybody for your help in planning the trip.

Thanks for letting us know!