Wow--thanks, fodorites! Ira, your walking tour sounds wonderful. I have put it into my "notes" section for Italy. My kids, daughter 17, son 14, will probably want to opt out of the Uffizi, but we will definitely see the Piazza Republica and David.

As to the train--do I book the tickets as two separate trips (Venice to Florence and Florence to Rome), or Venice to Rome? Are departure times flexible leaving Florence on either the Eurostar or Trenitalia?