Since the general consensus seems to be that our original itinerary was too ambitious, can I ask how ya'll would arrange an Italy trip to include these cities? We have not booked anything, and could probably arrange for more time than we had originally planned. What we really want to see is:

Florence - Really only care about David, and some time to wander and explore
Volterra
San G
Greve - We were planning on doing a tour of the Verrazano Winery, because I have read good reviews of the experience, we're open to suggestions on other wineries though.
Parma - Definately want to tour a parmigiano-reggiano factory
Bologna
Ravenna - One of the few things Peter has said he cared about was seeing the mosaics
Rome - Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel hopefully the Scavi tour

Thanks!

Do you think you could bear to drop Volterra? I know many people like it; I found it grey and forbidding.

Day 1: Pick up a car at Florence airport, drive to San Gimignano and spend the night there, so that you get to enjoy the charm of the town after the day-trippers have left.

Day 2: Drive to Greve for the Verrazzano wine tour, continue on to Florence, return the car. Night in Florence.

Day 3: Florence (night in Florence).

Day 4: Half a day in Florence; take a train at about noon to Bologna (1 hour); half a day in Bologna (night in Bologna).

Day 5: Take the train to Parma (1 hour; you may have to take a very early train; see the Web site below) and do a tour (half day) with Parma Golosa:

http://www.deliciousitaly.com/parmagolosa.htm

Return to Bologna; another half day in Bologna (night in Bologna).

Day 6: Take the train to Ravenna (about 1.5 hours); most of the day in Ravenna (night in Ravenna).

Day 7: If the mosaics are what really interests your fiance, spend a good part of the day in Ravenna.

For a full list of the mosaics in Ravenna, see

http://www.turismo.ravenna.it/index.php?lang=2

Day 7 (afternoon): Take a train to Bologna, take a Eurostar train from Bologna to Rome. From Ravenna to Rome will take about 4.5 hours. Night in Rome. (Make sure you have a hotel reservation.)

Days 8 and 9: Rome. Nights in Rome.

Two days are the absolute minimum in Rome. Try to add Day 10 (and night) in Rome.

You're still staying in five places in 10 days, which is madness to my mind, but with the exception of Volterra, you will have seen what you want to see.

Thanks Eloise! My parents were in Italy 2 years ago and thought that Peter and I would both really enjoy Volterra, so maybe we'll try to add another day onto our trip to fit that in without making ourselves too crazy.

What are the advantages of doing the parmigiano tour through Parma Golosa rather than arranging it ourselves through the Consorzio? Is it easier to get a tour in English?

I highly recommend you reconsider Volterra. We spent a couple of hours there and couldn't wait to get back to San Gimignano. As for Florence, there is a reason why the first trip to Italy often includes the "Big 3" - Venice, Florence and Rome.

You may be right. The Consorzio's guided visits are free; I believe Parma Golosa (which several posters have praised) charges.

The question is, as you say, one of language. Here is a quote from the Consorizio Rules and Regulations (which you should look at fairly carefully, as they are somewhat bureaucratic):

"Visits are held in Italian, but visits may (at discretion of the individual provincial offices concerned) be guided by specialized interpreters."

P.S. I'm pleased that Mamc agrees with me about Volterra. Have a look at their tourism Web site before you decide:

http://www.comune.volterra.pi.it/english/

And believe me, the hundreds of Etruscan sarcophagi in the museum grow stale very quickly. There is one work in the museum that is quite fascinating, a bronze statue called "Ombra della Sera" (Evening Shadow), but I really don't think a wonderful single work is worth the time and effort.