We have 13 days in Italy with an open jaw from Milan to Rome. We have rearranged due to Cinque Terra rain damage. We also have Labor Day (May 1st) to work around. Does this look reasonable?

4/26/2012 - Thur. - arrive in Milan 8am; Stay in Milan overnight

4/27/2012 - Fri. - "Last Supper"; train to Venice; stay in Venice

4/28/2012 - Sat. - stay in Venice

4/29/2012 - Sun. - train to Bologna; stay in Bologna

4/30/2012 - Mon. - train to Florence; stay in Forence

5/1/2012 - Tues. - stay in Florence; day trip to Pisa and ??

5/2/2012 - Wed. - stay in Florence; sightsee in Florence

5/3/2012 - Thur. - stay in Florence; day trip to Sienna

5/4/2012 - Fri. - train to Rome: stay in Rome

5/5/2012 - Sat. - stay in Rome

5/6/2012 - Sun. - stay in Rome; day trip to pompeii and naples

5/7/2012 - Mon. - stay in Rome;

5/8/2012 - Tues. - stay in Rome;

5/9/2012 - Wed. - fly out from Rome airport

I did a very similar itinerary in 2009, including Genoa and Cinque Terre. IMHO, it is very doable. People here might tell you that you are not spending enough time in Venice, but Venice is very very expensive. I thought April was a fabulous time for Italy, warm, in the 70s in 2009. Have fun.

You might check to see if you'll need to order tickets to see the Last Supper. It seems to me I saw something on TV that said that was a good idea.

I'm not the biggest fan of Venice, but even I think you have too little time there. I would see everything on your Milan list on the day you arrive and head to Venice first thing the next morning. Or do you already have your Last Supper reservation for 4/27?

I probably wouldn't spend one night in Bologna because I really dislike one night stays. I would train early on 4/29 to Bologna Centrale, store the luggage at the train station, explore the town and then take a late train onward to Florence. Or skip Bologna and take an evening train on 4/29 to Florence to give you another partial day in Venice.

You need to research the open days of the things you want to see in Florence and Rome and then plan your day trips around the open days. Some things require reservations, so you should investigate the sights on your list and make any reservations ASAP. That includes the tower in Pisa if it was your reason for day-tripping there.

I disagree with Jean about Bologna. It doesn't have the museums of Florence but it has fabulous food and warmth.

You do need reservations to see the Last Supper, but I presume you know that already.

How can you disagree with what Jean said about Bologna? She didn't say anything about its character one way or the other, nor did she compare it with Florence. She suggested spending a full day there, but leaving before bedtime so as to avoid a one night stay.

Without dissing Bologna, she pointed out that the OP is spending very little time in Venice, perhaps too little. She suggested possibilities for contracting in other several other places, not just Bologna.

Hi N,

I think that you are giving much too short shrift to Venice.

I would take a day from Florence and one from Rome to see Venice.

Do you have to overnight in Bologna? It's only 0:40 hr from Florence by train.

Enjoy your visit.

OK, zeppole, calm down. you are right.

You have one full day in Venice, plus two partial days. I'd be inclined to spend three nights in Venice, to give yourselves two full days.

We travel at least once a year to Italy, and have visited most provences. As some others said, I doubt whether it is worthwhile staying just one night in Bologna, especially since you shall be travelling by train, and not by hired car. That takes more time. I would skip Bologna, and lessen one night in Rome, and spend two nights on the Amalfi coast. The scenary is breath-taking, on the Sorrento peninsula you can see the Vesuvius, but Positano and Praiano have such fascinating scenary. If you would like any hotel suggestions, I am willing to help as we were there last year. We just came back from Umbria which also has some lovely towns, and last year we also had a trip to Tuscany. We always rent a car, so we really do a lot of cities in one holiday, and often stay just one or two nights in each place. San Gimignano is such a lovely ancient town. Yes, it is possible that you go for a day to Pisa. Siena is further south from Florence, so you will be going down and up, but if you prefer to base yourself in Florence and do a lot of travelling by train, then that is fine. I would gladly answer any of your questions. Italy is my favourite country, I love everything about it, the food, the people, the countryside and towns, ooh, I just came back and can't wait to go for another holiday there. Umbria, in my opinion is even nicer than Tuscany, although it does not have the majestic cities like Florence, but Assisi is lovely, and so are many surrounding towns. Enjoy your holiday.

sadly, you can't get a quart out of a pint pot.

I would definitely stay longer in Venice, or not go at all - it's a lot of travelling from Milan to there, and then back to Florence, for the sake of a day and a half.

Either give yourself another night in venice [in 2 1/2 days you can see quite a lot if you plan well] and drop Bologna, or keep Bologna and go straight there from Milan and spend your two nights there.

or add an extra night to both florence and Rome and do a day trip to Bologna from Florence.
but at the moment, i think that you are spreading yourselves just a little thin at the start of the trip.

Thank you all very much for all your info. Definitely will re-think that 1 night in Bologna now, and consider some other options.