I'd like to throw a related question in here. We are traveling Venice-Florence RT by train, in addition to using train to Pisa. We'd like to stop at Bologna for a quick look and a meal (I've heard it's a great place to eat, yes?). When you buy your train ticket, are you allowed to make stops along the way or do you have to buy Florence to Bologna, and then Bologna to Venice? Thanks in advance.

If you are traveling on the faster all-reserved trains (ICplus, ES, AV) you must buy two separate tickets since your ticket comes with an assigned seat on a particular train, like on an airplane.

If you are traveling on slower trains (R, IC), these don't have assigned seats--just get on any train of that type between your starting point and your destination, so you can actually get off along the way. HOWEVER, just before you first board the first train, you must "validate" (time punch) your ticket in the yellow box on the train platform. You must complete your trip within 6 hours of validation.

Ellenem, you seem so knowledgeable about Italy: would you take a bus or train to Pisa, and I was planning on going to Lucca, as was previously suggested. Does that make sense to you and would it take up a day? Also, is Sienna an entire day trip? If we stop at Bologna, will we pay more than we would non-stop?

From Florence I like trips to Lucca & Siena ...nearer Venice, I loved Padua and would also love to see Vicenza some time. I loved Ravenna but not sure it works with your itinerary.

And I've done many of these trips via train and would endorse the suggestions to use train/bus between Florence and Venice and whatever towns you end up seeing.

Hi gif,

You can take the train to Pisa S. Rossore station, which is closer to the Tower than Centrale, and then another to Lucca from either S. Rossore or Centrale to Lucca.

There are direct trains between Lucca or Pisa and Florence, so you can do the visit in either direction.
See www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

It costs almost the same to take a train from "A to B to C" as it does for "A to C via B", so buying two tickets allows you to visit the intermediate town for as long as you wish.

Siena can be as short as 1/2 day, or as long as two days. Depends on your interests.

I would take the SITA bus from the Via Santa Caterina da Siena (near the SMN train station) to Siena. The bus takes you right into town. The train doesn't.
See http://tinyurl.com/aps5yt

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

I agree that if you are looking for a drive through scenic small-town italy, then go to Siena and south of Florence, then turn in the car and take the train to Venice.

But if you like food, it is hard to not recommend a night or two in Bologna. Italy is full of great food, but Bologna is really a notch above. Food you will daydream about for the rest of your life. Its the town we want to go back to the most.

So I think either option would be great.

I have visited Pisa, Lucca, and Siena. I think Pisa and Lucca work well by train, and could even work on the same day, precisely for the reason ira described--they are on the same train line. Each could also make a full day, depending on your interests. I don't like to rush, so I'v done them on separate day trips.

Siena as a daytrip is better by bus, since the train station is somewhat outside the city while the bus stops right in the center.

Yes, the costs to buy two tickets to break your route is slightly more, but not appreciably so. I did this when traveling with a niece, breaking our trip from Venice to Rome with 8 hours in Florence. I preferred having two tickets because it meant that we had reserved seats on the fastest trains, and we could spend a good amount of time in Florence without watching the clock. One can see a surprising amount in 8 hours--and have time for a great lunch.

ellen, ira, cap and ann, thank you so much. I think you've solved that part. Now I just need to sit with a calendar and plan the four days. While I'm working on Florence, are there any tours, walking or otherwise to recommend? I believe one of you mentioned elsewhere tours out of Florence, easily available, but I'd really like to have my arrangements made before we leave. again, many thanks.