PalenQ

Yes Ostia Antica was so so neat - liked it as much as Pompeii as it had a fraction of tourists mobs that site has.

and even an ancient public toilet.>

Is that WC still in use?

massimop

"history and food" covers a lot of centuries and wildly different cuisines in Italy. Are there some aspects of history that interest you more than others? Italy has the remnants of more than a few empires and epochs, and WW2 sites. Do some kinds of foods interest you more than others? (Don't expect brilliant pasta or pizza in Venice, for instance).

Neither Rome or Venice ranks high with many foodies -- however, summertime is a difficult time to enjoy the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna. I think it is next to impossible to have fun eating in Venice if you (a) don't spend money and (b) don't prefer fish over meat, although you can snack and eat sweets and have some fun. You don't need to spend money in Rome to eat tasty and interesting unique food, but you do need to do research and usually make reservations as well.

For a great food experience in summertime, I would go to the Ligurian or Tuscan coast if you like seafood and vegetable centered meals.

massimop

I meant to add Napoli as a food and history destination of the highest order.

shelemm

There is a ton of art in Rome and Venice, so if you are not that into it, I recommend Siena over Florence. But it's best to read up about Siena and its 17 contrada.

PalenQ

Bologna is an acclaimed gastronomic center.

bvlenci

Siena is a little more off the beaten track than Florence, and it also takes a good deal longer to get to from Rome or Venice. I think a short visit to Florence is rewarding for even the non art lover, just for its physical beauty.

PalenQ

Siena is about an hour by bus from Florence and Florence less than 2 hours from Rome - a bit longer but a 'good deal'? Now if you took trains from Siena to Rome via Chiusi they would take much longer since they are not high-speed trains.

But if chosing Siena or Florence and never been Florence IMO.