I have just five days in Italy, should I be staying in the big city with ruins Rome or the city of art Florence? <BR>I enjoy both a big city and art but worry whether I will burn out of art after 3 days in Florence - Is that even possible? <BR>Has anyone every stayed at the Monna Lisa in Florence Or the Fiamma, Forum, Savoy Roma, or D'Inghiterra in Rome? Also, is Tuscany close enough to any of the cities to do a day trip?

Its a tough choice. Personally I would pick Rome, but only because I have a thing for the ancient ruins. Florence is wonderful too. Also, Florence is IN Tuscany, so assuming you meant a daytrip into the Tuscan country side, you could certainly do it from there. You could also get to Tuscany in an hour or so by train from Rome. Or you could do Orvieto as a day trip from Rome, which is in Umbria, but is a charming hill town and might satisfy the same wish. <BR> <BR>I stayed in the Raphael in Rome which is, I think, in the same price category as the hotels you mention, and it was very nice. My friend stayed at the D'Inghilterra on his honeymoon and he said it was also very nice.

Erin-- <BR>I agree with Beth on two counts--tough call and Rome! <BR>If you have never been and you have only 5 days--Rome offers it all;while being a major city, Rome has sections which offer 'moments of quiet' like the Palatine,Villa Borghese as well as tremendous art--the Galleria Borghese and the Vatican Museums--the food and the night life in Rome is varied and suits all tastes and budgets. <BR> <BR>In addition, as Beth suggested you can do a day trip to Pompei or other areas of Lazio. <BR> <BR>Richard (see "All about Rome") put it best--the magic of Rome is in its pulse--I found the people and the effect of antiquity colliding with the modern--strolling down <BR>(I think the Italian word is something like passiegietta(sic?)) <BR>the Via del Corso with the rest of the city to one of the many Piazzas each evening made Rome very different from Florence. <BR> <BR>Florence is a mysteriously beautiful city is revealed first in its stunningly unforgettable gifts of art and architecture and then slowly over many visits of its people and the northern culture. Given the popularity of Tuscany and Florence's reputation of being the best shopping in Italy, Florence is extremely crowded with tourists and as a result some of its charm is lost during the high seasons--spring and early fall. <BR> <BR>As reported by Steven--see "16 days..", I agree Florence is best used as a starting point for seeing the Tuscan countryside during these times. <BR> <BR>Whatever you decide, enjoy, eat lots of gelato, great food and tell us all about your trip when you get back! cheryl

Rome! <BR> <BR>Florence is a wonderful city ... but it really cannot be compared to Rome. <BR> <BR>And I think you underestimate the spectacular amount of art in Rome. Among other minor pieces Michaelangelo's Pieta and Moses. Not to mention the Sistine ceiling and altar. <BR> <BR>Excellent works in the Galleria Borghese and Pinacoteca Vaticana. Some gems in the National Museum of Art. <BR> <BR>Periods covered run from Etruscan to Modern ... there's really nothing else that quite compares with the totality of art available in Rome. <BR> <BR>Mix that with the vibrant city, the religious sites and the historical remains and you really have a destination quite unlike any other in the world. <BR> <BR>With five days in Italy I'd not spend any in the Tuscan countryside. Rome, frankly, can at best only be skimmed in five days. <BR> <BR>You'll find a useful introduction to all aspects of visiting Rome at http://twenj.com/romevisit.htm

Hi Erin: <BR> <BR>Rome without question, ditto the D'Ingliterra. Wonderful location, and really elegant hotel. And yes, you can take the fast train to Florence and be there in two hours. Have a great time.

I agree: Rome. Five days won't be enough, but you can see a lot in that time. You can definitely do a day trip but if I were you I would wait until you get there to decide -- you may find so much to do in Rome that you don't want to leave for a day.

Tough choice I agree, but I would choose Rome. There is sooo much to do their. It has great sights, history, restaurants. You could always going to Florence for a day trip. It is only about 1 1/2 hour train trip. The shopping in Florence is too good to miss. Have fun.

I respectfully disagree with the above posts. <BR> <BR>I came back from an Italian tour a month ago. The Italian people were wonderful everywhere I went. And yes, while the ruins, the Vatican -- St. Peter's itself, as well as Michelangelo's MAGNIFICENT Sistine Chapel and Pieta, cannot be described in words -- I found Rome a little chaotic and dusty. Even though I loved the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain, and am glad I saw the Vatican museaums and ruins -- I really don't think I'll be in Rome for awhile. <BR> <BR>Florence was it for me -- the Uffizi, the Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens, the Academy, the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, Santa Croce, and the Piazza Signoria were absolutely beautiful. I could have easily stayed in Florence for a week and combined it with trips to Siena (medieval and not to be missed), San Gimigiano (stunning and artsy), and other Tuscan hill towns. You can even go to vineyards in the Chianti region from Florence. <BR> <BR>To make a decision, it really depends on what type of person you are. If you like a metropolis and want ruins, or need to see the Vatican, then it's Rome. If you can do art 24 hours a day, love wine, medieval hill towns and the Tuscan countryside, then it's Florence. <BR> <BR>FYI -- I am now planning my comeback trip to Italy and am excluding Rome altogther, unfortunately. I saw what I needed to see there.

Amazing, I thought I was the only one who would suggest Rome over Florence as all my friends rave about Florence. I found it too jammed with tour groups and after four days realized I had not seen a single local person wandering around. It was all tourists and people working for tourists. Rome is really special. Yes, love the Raphael, but my last check found it to be well over $300 per night. In Florence, I love the small Hotel Hermitage right at the end of the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. Charming, right up to its rooftop breakfast terrace with its spectacular view.

Just returned from both and have to put my vote in for Florence. While Rome is truly unique and has more must-see sights, Florence was more romantic and made us feel welcome. The art was so moving, the restaurants were fantastic (try Sasso di Dante near the Duomo), and the shopping the best we encountered. I just couldn't catch my breath in Rome; so many people, crazy traffic, scaffolding everywhere - but undoubtedly priceless in other respects. Florence was quaint even for its size and number of tourists, and with the Tuscan countryside just outside its city walls, it is a real treasure.

To have a reasonable taste of Florence and Tuscany one would need 7/8 days. For Venice, a minimum of 3 days are called for. So, even if your preference is for Renaissance art, if you may visualize a 2nd trip in the near future that will consider a stay of about 12 days, I would recommend you visit Rome this time. <BR> <BR>If a 2nd visit to Italy in the near future is completely ruled out, your decision should be based on what interests you more. <BR> <BR>Florence is Renaissance ... and little else. Rome, besides the ruins, Roman and Etruscan art, and the golden ages of the Church, is Barroque. <BR> <BR>Dining out ... though the Florentine and Tuscan cuisines are quite interesting, and granting that there are many very good restaurants in Florence, the options are limited ... Rome is cosmopolitan. You may taste any Italian regional cuisine and IMO Romans know how to prepare seafood much better than the Florentines. There's no parallel in Florence to Rome's Trastevere. <BR> <BR>Shopping ... no question about it. It's much more fun doing it in Florence. <BR> <BR>Mood ... Italians from the North say (not without reason) the people work from the northern border down to Florence ... and people have fun from Florence south IMO the "atmosphere" in Rome is more relaxed. <BR> <BR>It's your pick In case it's Florence, I agree you shouldn't worry at all about burning it out in 3 days ... you won't. And then there's Siena, Lucca, Pisa, Chianti country, ... <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>