ekc

I would simply do a day trip to Siena (via bus) from Florence. You lose so much time packing/unpacking/checking in-out of hotels. Traveling via bus to Siena is easier than the train from Florence. Train from Florence to Padua will also be easier.

JC98

Thank you, all! Siena by bus seems to be the best option. Thank you, PalenQ, for being so helpful!

Some additional questions:

1) What if it rains in CT? Should we just skip it since probably not pleasant to hike in the rain? I've been monitoring the weather and it's been raining there.

2) Friends of Uffizi Pass where you'll get admission to a list of museums for a full calendar year (not restricted to 3 days as for the Firenze card). Has anyone used it? Can you actually skip the line with the pass? That's our main objective, plus you can have multiple entries to the same museum and it's good for a longer period of time. Total price for 2 adults is $100 eu (vs 72 eu pp for the Firenze Card).

Thanks!

ekc

IMO, it would be wise to skip CT if it is raining.

PalenQ

Traveling via bus to Siena is easier than the train from Florence>

Thanks for the thanks - and yes by all means Siena is a tremendous day trip from Florence - the one I would recommend above all others unless someone is bent on experiencing the Leaning Tower of Pisa - it is awesome so I can understand that

But Pisa is for Italy a so-so city - really nice but Siena is exceptional - literally draped over a hill - awesome main plazza with ubiqutious old ladies selling pigeon feed - trains take a much longer round-about route via Empoli so bus is quicker and cheaper - dirt cheap and they literally go all the time.

In Florence if you have time take the bus up to Fiesole for a bird'eye view of Florence all laid out lovingly below - Fiesole also some some neat Roman ruins (or are the Etruscan?)

amyb

JC98, I did the hike along the coast from Monterosso to Vernazza on a clear sunny day in late March. It was not an easy feat even in somewhat dry (still muddy from earlier rains) conditions. I would think it could be close to trecherous in spots with rain. I wouldn't bother. I also think the views could be very limited with overcast and rainy skies. Just my two cents, but I wouldn't bother in significant weather.

PalenQ

Monterosso to Vernaza is perhaps the toughest hike anyway in any conditions.

JC98

Thanks, all, for your responses.

A big storm is hitting Europe, including Switzerland and Italy with heavy rains and floodings, so I've cancelled Cinque Terre.

Probably need to bring a general Italy guidebook (instead of the specific cities) and take the train to wherever the weather is better? We might end up way south.

ekc

PalenQ, Fiesole has both Roman and Etruscan ruins.

JC, yes a general Italy guidebook will be helpful. But don't think you can go somewhere south (like the Amalfi Coast) and find lodging at the last minute.

PalenQ

Bologna would be a sweet city in the rain as in its historic cengter - said to have more classified medieval buildings in it than any other Italian city - its center has a lot of covered walkways!

To me Bologna is often overlooked by Venice and Florence, two cities that to get to each other by train you must pass thru Bolgona but that's the most anyone sees of this incredible ancient looking city - a large university adds a little pizzaz - consider Bologna in the rain!

Cheers, and keep dry!

JC98

Thanks, PalenQ, for the suggestion on Bologna. I'll read up on it during the flight.

Grazie, all!