My boyfriend and I are going to Italy for 10 days in December. It is the first time for both of us. We have decided to fly into Rome and spend 3-4 days. Next, we would like to travel to Florence and Tuscany area for 3 days. I am in the early stages of planning, so any and all suggestions are welcome!

You don't seem to ask any actual questions, but here are some resources you might find useful:<BR><BR>www.venere.com for lodging<BR>www.trenitalia.com for train info<BR>www.christusrex.org for various Vatican info (no relation by the way... wink)<BR>www.twenj.net for tons of everything about Rome.<BR><BR>A word about the latter - - getting to be about a year-plus without being updated, but it's an extraordinary labor-of-love creation by a former "regular" here - - the late Edward Gehrlein, 1937-2001. Gone but not forgotten.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Rex-<BR><BR>Thank you for the website info. I will look at them all. <BR><BR>KIm

You're very welcome.<BR>

Visit Rome and Vienna. Although both are "typical" tourist places, they are very different from each other. Vienna is soothing and relaxing, Rome is historical and just plain big. Florence is nice, but not especially interesting. Being quite small, Pisa is surprisingly pleasant. I've heard from many people that hiking in the Italian Alps is marvelous also.

I think the previous poster meant Venice, not Vienna.<BR>Here are a couple additional excellent websites, each containing tons of helpful info:<BR>http://www.initaly.com<BR>http://www.slowtrav.com

my suggestion: <BR>Rome 3 days you'll need every bit of that if not more, so much to see.<BR>Rent car head to Florence by way of Tuscany for 3 days, Siena's great,but then ALL of Tuscany is wonderful. Florence 2 days. Turn car in Florence and take express bus back to Rome. If you haven't already booked air, consider flying into Rome and leaving from Florence. We paid about $100 extra and was worth it. You would save a day in traveling back to Rome. You could use the Xtr day in Tuscany. You will love Italy just don't try to do it all on one trip.

Kim,<BR>We are traveling to Italy for the first time Nov. 1-13. We are going to Rome for 3 nights, Siena (Tuscany) villa for 4 nights, Bologna (Emilia-Reggiano) for 3 nights, then back to Rome. If you want to e-mail me in a couple weeks I'll tell you everything I've found. If you have any suggestions for me, they'll be appreciated.

Not sure of your and what sort of things you like to do. We went to Lucca, wonderful walled city in Tuscany. Close to Pisa and Florence. Was fabulous and would go there again in a heartbeat. Quite town, but lovely. Great market area, wine shops, etc. We stayed in a small home and walked to the markets each day to buy fresh fruit, bread, wine, cheese. Julio's to eat is highly rated by Conde Naste. Inexpensive and great food.