My DH & I will be going to Italy for the first time in October 2011 for my 30th birthday. We have been to Europe once which was our trip to Paris in October 2008. I have recently posted on this board about Florence/Tuscany & Cinque Terre but now I would like more information about Southern Italy which to me would have us going to Rome/Amalfi Coast.

The time: October 1-10, 2011 (not including travel dates) so 10 full Italy days!

Your VOTE & WHY:
1) Florence/Tuscan hilltowns & Cinque Terre
OR
2) Rome & Amalfi Coast
What else would consider seeing in Southern Italy w/ the 10 days we have?

*Sidenote: When I post on this board many people reply back wanting to know my likes such as art/architecture. Well to put it simply, I just LOVE traveling and I want to experience the "typical" sights and take in my destination. For this particular post, I'm more curious as to which you, Fodorites, would choose and why. For this post, let's leave what I like out of it. Thanks in advance!

I'll apologise right up front. My vote is for Venice, so I'm not really answering your question. Besides which, I'm ignorant of southern Italy.

Here's why Venice does it for me:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...st-verbose.cfm

Um, Rome isn't really southern and Florence is by no means northern. But of the two at that time of year, I'd vote Florence and the hilltowns and definitely visit Siena. For warmer months (mid/late May to mid-September), I'd pick Rome and vegetating on the AC.

As BigRuss said, both Rome and Florence are central Italy, so you have no northern and no southern regions on your shortlist. And as Peter said, Venice is for many people the best thing Italy has to offer, and with a short exploration of the Veneto region, this could make a gorgeous 10 days holiday. (Venice in October is also a good choice since the big crowds are gone, and the Venetians are beginning to reconquer their city at that time of the year.) If southern Italy, Sicily is certainly the richest of all regions, but there's no way of combining it, in just 10 days, with anything else.

Siena (near Florence) and the Cinque Terre were my favorites on my first trip to Italy; I didn't do Amalfi (which I imagine is amazing) but did do Rome and Sorrento (near Amalfi) in the "south" of Italy. I'd recommend the Cinque Terre more to "active" people who like to hike rather than people looking for lazy vacation where they can relax and just "see sites." Venice (only place I've visited in Italy on two separate trips) is in a class all by itself, but you didn't mention it, so I won't recommend it - but it is one-of-a-kind.

I didn't really like Rome or Florence that much, but I'm not into museums at all. The Roman Forum and stuff around the Coliseum in Rome was outstanding and unforgettable, but otherwise Rome didn't do much for me, though I know some people love it and could spend weeks there. Naples is the one city where I wish I'd spent more than an afternoon.

With only ten days, I doubt you can go wrong doing either Rome/Amalfi or Florence/Cinque Terre, actually.

Well, first Rome and Amalfi Cost is not southern italy - sicily is southern italy.

In October weather should be good in all areas and the worst of the tourist mobs gone.

So - I think it comes down to what you want to see/do.

To me Rome is THE one must see in italy - and I like cities - so I would pair it with Florence,
Rome because it ruled a large part of the world for the best part of a millennium, it's the center of one of the world's great religions, it has a host of renaissance art and architecture - and the city has a truly unique, vibrant atmosphere. Florence because it's small, eminently explorable on foot, has a wealth of art treasures, shopping and is a great center for day trips into the countryside/hill towns.

If you want a mix you could pair rome with Pompeii/Naples and Amalfi Coast.

But I would decide based on what YOUR must sees are.

I vote for Venice & Cinque Terre. Florence is beautiful - but unless you enjoy museums, you may not enjoy it as much. For example, my husband has no desire to return to Florence. Venice & Cinque Terre are my FAVORITE places in Italy. Love, love, love Venice. And I love Cinque Terre. We rented a small apartment in Manarola that was up high on a hill in town - had a huge deck with a drop dead gorgeous view of the water. Incredible. Loved Manarola. All the CT towns are fun. We love hiking too - so that made CT a good fit. My parents were with us and they relaxed and read a lot on the deck. It was perfect.

I've only been to Rome once and I'm not sure I want to return. In fairness, it was at the end of a 2.5 week trip to Greece/Venice/Rome, so I may have just been too tired at that point. However St Peter's Basilica & the Coliseum are definitely worth a visit.

I'm not sure you can go too wrong though - Italy is a pretty amazing place!

My first trip in Italy, I visited Rome and the Amalfi Coast (stayed in Sorrento and Positano) and it couldn't have been more fun. Positano is stunning and I fell in love with it.

On my 2nd trip I visited Rome and Tuscany (staying near Monticchiello) and Rome was even more exciting and Tuscany was amazing.

Both of those trips were also made in October and I had great weather in both locations. Ask yourself if you'll be happier to see dramatic cliffs and the Mediterranean, or if you want to see hills of vineyards?

My next trip will be to Venice and the lakes and I know I'll love that too.

Tuscany in October---harvest season.
Plan 3 trips to Italy in advance. This will be your " centro trip". Plan Rome and the AC next time and save Venice and the lakes for your third.

Many of you replied that Florence is not "north" and Rome is not "south". I do understand that Florence & Rome are both considered central Italy. I should have worded my original post differently. What I meant to imply is: should we head in a northern direction or southern direction. Thanks for all your votes and insight on the different regions.

I am thinking for my first trip to Italy I would like to see Florence/Tuscan hilltowns & Cinque Terre. I like what 'bobthenavigator' stated: "plan 3 trips to Italy in advance".

For many people, Italy has a strangely addictive effect in that you begin to plan your next trip on the plane home. My first ever trip to Italy was Florence, and it was love at first sight.

I disagree with the sentiment that Rome and Florence = Museums. In contrast, Venice (which I really like) is almost a museum. I don't like the Disneyland comparisons, but its almost sole purpose is tourism.

FLorence and Rome are both Vibrant, Living Cities, and that tourists like them is an addition, not the reason for their existance.

Take Florence as an example - The views from the Piazzale Michelangelo, or from Fiesole; shopping at the central food market or if you prefer, the designer shops or the San Lorenzo Market; eating at one of the many superb resturants; visiting the Boboli gardens.

On a tangent, My Roamn friend considers Rome to be Central Italy, My Milanese friend thinks it is South.