Wow. Thanks for all of this great information on the small towns and the rental car. Now I just wish the trip was sooner!

Like I said, I have been to Italy twice and therefore visited all the major museums in Rome/Florence twice. I think we are going to focus on small towns in lieu of too much time in Florence (for this trip anyway!).

Inkypot- How many nights/what were the details of your intinerary?

I think you could add 2 days in the cinque terre if you only did 2 nights in Venice and 2 nights in Rome. Tuscany is diffenently a 3 nighter. If you do stay in the Cinque Terre, I would recommend Elisabetta Villano Azzuro in Vernazza.phone 347-451-1834 (95Euro) The view from their terrace over the Ligurian Sea to France is amazing. It is very quaint (small) and inexpensive as most of the villas in Cinque Terre are. Don't arrive till late afternoon (spend your day on the paths or driving along the coast) and stop at the 2 Pirates Bakery and they'll call Elisabetta's husband to come walk you up the long winding path to the little villa. In Tuscany if yo can stay at the Hotel Vecchia Oliviera in Montelcino you will not be disappointed. I would suggest spending the extra money and arriving by private water taxi to Venice. It is very romantic in the early morning without the bustle of the crowds on the water bus. (90Euro)

He won't meet small town italy in Venice, so make sure you have 3 days of must sees. Rome is also hard, but don't stay in the Tourist sections, near the train station and sights. Eat in the residential sections. Train to Florence and rent a car there. Determine what you want see, and look for agritourismos to stay at. then daytrip to your destinations. I'm sure you will enjoy whatever trip you decide on.

Hi reddots,

IMO your instinct NOT to do Venice-Florence-Rome is a good one. there's not better way to put your DH off Italy for good.

with 9-10 nights, I'd do a max of 3 places - 3 nights in Venice [to allow for acclimatisation and jet-lag], 3 nights in Tuscany, 3 nights in Rome. Otherwise, by the time you get to Rome you won't know what day it is let alone which gallery you are in.

Siena is a lovely place to stay - big enough to have enough to explore over 3 days, but small enough to develop a relationship with it.

regards, ann

It sounds as though you are driving from point to point. If that involves driving to Venice, then it is quite a day trip through the mountains. Winding rods make it a bit slow, but very interesting.