Hello all, first post for me!

I will attending a meeting in Florence for 3 days in late Feb, and my husband will accompany me. We'd like to travel for the next week afterwards in Italy. Any suggestions?

I've been to Florence and Rome already, and my husband has never been to Italy, so he will sightsee in Florence while I'm at work. He does not want to travel through

Hi Y,

I suggest taking an additional day in Florence for you to relax and then the rest of the time in Venice.

Where does DH not want to travel through?

Oops, got cut off by accident -- continuation of above!!

Rome would not be our first choice (would like to avoid a big city vacation) because we are thinking of a mellower setting. We are looking for great food and wine, beautiful country and city scenery, and a decent amount of history and art (but not overload).

Normally, we might think about doing Chianti/Tuscany and/or Amalfi Coast in addition to Florence, but I wonder whether the experience will be limited in the late winter without the great weather and lush vegetation? I have started looking online and it seems that many hotels/villas/restaurants are closed that time of year. I wonder what we could do for sightseeing if it is rainy everyday...

Venice also sounds beautiful (I did stop through for 1 day before) but also wondering whether it will be cold and wet when we're there and if it will put a damper on our trip (pun intended)?

Thanks in advance!!

The weather should be good in Sicily if you don't mind flying there....

We were in Venice in early February. It was warmer than Florence (coastal influences?).

The cold didn't put a damper on our stay at all. Loved our hotel: Foscari Palace. They offer some great winter rates on deluxe doubles with canal view.

Venice is always a good choice. Rent an apt. for a week and act like a local.

I suggest you check into basing yourselves in Bologna, which is very simple to get to from Firenze, has FANTASTIC FOOD and which has many unusual history and art offerings but not an overload at all, plus excellent transportation connections to a multitude of interesting and even stupendous sites (like Ravenna, Dozza or Ferrara, Parma, Modena, Faenza) if you get in the mood to take a day trip. In February, you might appreciate being in a city well equipped with heat and indoor activities -- and lots of warming, delicious food and drink.

You could also check out Verona or Treviso in the Veneto, since good food and wine are a priority there, too. From there you can visit Venice, but not experience the overload and the expense. Verona has lovely musuems and churches and a true Roman arena within its ancient walls. But were you to pick that area, I would suggest renting a car, at least part of the time.

In February, almost everything that is enjoyable about the Amalfi is closed for the season and the weather doesn't favor taking boat rides or enjoy lazing in the sun. I don't think you'll get much out of the Tuscan countryside in winter (and you could get snow). Likewise, the weather in Sicily is likely to be way too chilly to enjoy what most people want to do when they go to Sicily.

I meant to add about Bologna that most of its center is covered walkways, so it makes it a more comfortable destination at times when cold rains are a possibility.

Thanks all for the input!! It's very helpful. Hmm, I'm thinking that the countryside/resort-ish areas may not work so well in Feb... oh well, we'll just have to visit Italy again for those trips!