If you are asking question of taste, then there is really not much to be gained by asking the question to others. You follow your taste.

40 years is a long time. Many places I used to like have profoundly changed to I-don't-care-to-visit places in less time period than your case. The transformations are quite noticeable at destinations that turned into a major tour stop or a cruise port. While other destinations have improved experiences for visitors.

Many people around me don't travel to certain destinations based on observations from even longer time ago. I am surrounded by people who would not travel to France because their parents had bad experiences traveling to France in the 60's. That is making decisions based on info from more than 50 years ago!

I would never go to the Cinque Terre on a day trip, unless from very close by, and not with a tour group. The towns are wall-to-wall day trippers about 7 months of the year. There might be some point in going there for several nights, so you could enjoy the towns after the hordes depart, and so you could do some hiking on the full day you're there.

Several of the more popular trails were closed after a big flood in 2011, and some of them have never re-opened because of a high risk of landslides. The higher trails are more likely to be open.

Regarding CT tour, if the boat ride is an integral part of your trip, the package is risky depending on the terms and conditions. The CT ports are not protected and the boats only run on calm water days. During 3 days we stayed there, the boat ran only one day. What happens to the tour if the boat is out? They probably have a right to substitute something else. Is it acceptable to you? If you do it on your own, you can choose the day you know the boats are running. It is tough if you are starting your trip from so far away.

Also, CT is another major cruise shore excursion destination. There seemed to be no end of people wearing this and that cruise name tags streaming into Riomaggiore.

Our first trip to Italy was in late April - early May to Venice (4 nights), FLorence (5 nights) and Cinque Terre (4 nights). It was fabulous, and we did not miss Rome at all.

We finally visited Rome this year, and spent 8 nights. And loved it.

What I'm trying to say is, do whatever you feel like it, and ignore what others say. There is no right or wrong, no "must see", it's all good. Florence for art, CT for hiking and Venice for Venice is a great combo. But for your short(er) visit, I second the idea of skipping CT and maybe add one day to Venice. Have a great trip!

Thanks to all. We, of course, will make the decision that's right for us, but I do like to hear people's opinions and the personal experiences behind the opinions. Hearing what people had to say about CT has dissuaded me from that idea, unless we can add some time to our trip.

Jumping in a bit late here, but I agree that it makes sense to wait for the Cinque Terre until you can spend a night or two there.

And FWIW, I spent 5.5 full and very busy days in Florence -- without any day trips -- and did not see everything I wanted to see. If you want a break, you've got lots of options for day trips.

Whatever you decide, you'll have a wonderful time. Enjoy!

>>> Any suggestions as to the area of [Florence} to stay in? I am thinking of city center for convenience, but hear it can be quite noisy.<<<

You simply need an apartment with windows that have double glazing. Read apartment reviews. If you want fewer tourists right at your doorstep, you can consider booking across the Arno in the Oltrarno. But if you stay near the Duomo or Santa Croce or anywhere in the core of Florence, you won't hear noise if you have double glazing.

The people who are warning you that Florence is more crowded than it was 40 years are just Rome cheerleaders. Rome is more crowded than it was 40 years ago. Florence has lost none of its thrilling qualities, and it is presently better (for visitors) than it was even 5 years ago due to pedestrianizing many streets to make them very stroll friendly. People who don't thrill to Florence the first time are likely to tell you it is "isn't as good as Rome," but so what?

I happen to thrill to both cities for different reasons, because they are different places. But I am glad to see you are resisting the snarky arm-twisting where by people pretend Rome has unique sights but Florence doesn't. It simply is NOT TRUE. Florence has an overload of unique sights -- not the least of which is that it happens to be Florence, not Rome (or Siena, or Verona or Pisa).

Have a great trip!

Fra Diavolo -- not Ghibellines? Too bad. I am definitely a Guelph.

The people who are warning you that Florence is more crowded than it was 40 years are just Rome cheerleaders>>

I hope you're not including me in that, Sandralist. I simply said that there were more traffic and more people 7 or so years ago than there had been 25 years or so before that, for which I felt the OP ought to be prepared, given that HER last visit to Florence was 40 years ago.

in fact though many posters mentioned the increase in crowds in Florence [and Rome come to that] only 2 suggested that Rome was an essential part of any trip to Italy.