Italy in May.... Need help with itinerary
 

Hi,
I posted before about whether or not we should add a few days to see Amalfi or the Tuscan region. My husband and I decided that we would save Amalfi for another time. I need help with which Tuscan towns to see/stay in. So far we only booked our flight. We are flying into Rome at 8:40 in the morning of May 6th and we are flying out of Venice the morning of May 20th.
We are doing Rome, Florence and Venice. We want to spend the longest in Rome. I really do want to see some of the towns in Tuscan Region but don't know which ones. What is the best itinerary for this?
Obviously we are starting in Rome. Should we train to Florence and just do a few side trips? Or should we rent a car or hire a driver to take us to one of the towns to stay for a few days to tour some of the other towns?
How many days should be spend in Florence, Tuscan region and Venice?
Thanks in advance for all your help. I hope i can get some advise soon since I really want to book all the hotels!

Bea

Good decision about the open jaw as it is a better use of time and money.

I am doing the same in the opposite direction this fall but it is my 16th visit. This time, I am taking 6 people who have never been to Italy.

We are flying into Venice for two nights, training to Florence for 6 and ending with 4 nights in Rome.

We are all wine enthusiasts and have hired a private driver for two full days in Tuscany for wine tours and general exploring. It is my preference to base in Florence as IMO it provides great options for day trips as desired and is a wonderful destination on its own.

If we had more time, I would add two more days in Rome.

Tuscany is about the small towns. I would suggest that you carve out some time in your schedule to stay in at least one small town - San Gimignano, Montepluciano, Chianti, etc. for 3-4 nights.

Do some web research on the names of towns that people suggest and see which ones turn your crank. The look at a map and see if you can place yourself in one of them that allows you to visit some of the other ones you want to see easily.

You have 14 nights - you could allot 11 to the big three 5-3-3 (Rome, Florence, Venice) and use the other three for a Tuscan town that you visit between leaving Florence and Venice - most of them are north of Florence so it is on your way.

Hi, Bumblebee- 14 days in Italy and so little time!

IMO Aramis has got it about right; if the big three are must sees, it makes sense to stay in one of the little towns in southern tuscany before moving onto Florence, which you can use as your base to visit Pisa and lucca.

When worknig out how long to spend in each place, don't forget to allow for jet-lag - that means that 5 nights in Rome is the minimum you should allow.
A small tuscan town will make a nice contrast after that!

Good luck!

Hi B,

How about 4 nights Rome
train to Florence - 5 nights
train to Venice - 4 nights.

From Florence - daytrips to Siena and San Gimignano, and Montepulciano.

I also suggest, if you can do it, flying into Venice and out of Rome - better schedules.

Train schedules are at www.trenitalia.com

I fyou would rather stay in Siena, I suggest taking the bus from Rome
http://www.senabus.it/

It is easier to take the SITA bus to Siena than train.

To San G see /www.sangimignano.net/bus/

Enjoy your visit.

((I))



From Rome - daytrip to Orvieto

>> most of them are north of Florence so it is on your way.<<

Most of the small towns in Tuscany that I love are south of Florence and even south of Siena.

This is what I would do:

May 6-10 Rome for 5 nights

May 11 Take early train to Orvieto, rent car, stash bags at rental office or in car, and visit Orvieto. Return to car rental office before they close for lunch & head to Pienza to explore & stay overnight there.

May 12 Explore the Val d'Orcia countryside. Visit Montepulciano, Sant Antimo Abbey, & Montalcino. Overnight in Pienza.

May 13 (Sunday) Continue to explore the Val d'Orcia. After lunch, head to San Gimignano & stay overnight there.

May 14 Visit Volterra (some shops may be closed), and then head to Florence. I would skip Siena - you won't have time. Overnight in Florence

May 15-16 Florence.

May 17-19 Venice.

I'm not a big fan of painted art, like they have at the Ufizzi. If this was my trip, I would spend and additional night in Pienza for more countryside & small village exploration, and 1 less night in Florence.

Stu Dudley

We really enjoyed Montalcino and Sienna. I would recommend spending a few nights in a small town and doing day trips, either on the way to Florence or on the way to Venice.

I would not recommend seeing the southern Tuscan towns (Siena province) on day trips; day trips are great if you have specific sights in mind, but to really get the flavor of a place you need more time than just an in and out on a bus or train. And many of those small towns are not convenient enough by public transport to make good day trips anyway. I think Stu proposed an excellent plan for you.

Hi, I need some of the same advice. Specifically, what private driver service did kfusco (sp?) engage for his group in Tuscany?
Thanks in advance.

Librarian, I don't know which one she used, but I can highly recommend Luca at www.hillsandroads.com. He is based in Siena. If you know where you want to go and what you want to do, you can just check with him to see if it is feasible. If you don't know, tell him what you're interested in and he will suggest an itinerary.

I enjoyed reading the responses to Bumblebea's question as I am doing pretty much the same itinerary on those same dates! I can't seem to nail down the middle 4 days....stay in Florence for all 4 nights or 2 nights in Florence and 2 nights someplace on Como....
I just can't decide and I love to read everybody's suggestions.