i just recently posted an inquiry regarding the greek islands..i am also curious about the beautiful country of italy cinque terre,florence, rome, naples, and then taking a ferry out of bari to patras...
rome is a must...is there any place we should knock off the list..or any place we must add...we will be venturing down from nice on the 15th and planning on leaving italy on the 22nd from bari....just looking for feedback..i've never traveled internationally...open to ideas, thanks

with only 7 days including travel through Italy I would narrow it down to only 2 cities maybe 3 tops. Where are you flying out of? How will you be traveling, by train or car?

we are flying into madrid..spending some time in spain, we will be in france after spain, we will be as far north as paris..after paris nice all via train..after nice we were going to take a train to cinque terre, have you been? should be skin cinque terre? as we will have time to relax in greece at the end of our travels? thanks for your reply

I love the cinque terre. If you approach the villages by boat, it is the most amazing site. All the different colored buildings built into the cliffs are just breath taking. I have a pic of one of the villages as my wallpaper on this computer.
So I dream every day.

Hey Sky - I know some people will diss me for this but frankly, I just don't get Florence. Been three times and David is it. After that I want to leave and go anywhere else. And my minor was medieval history so I should really be nuts for Florence - and I appreciate all the history - but the city is great only if all you want to do is shop. I'd substitute Venice if you have time but it depends on how you travel. Venice is to be absorbed - not so much seeing as being. Personally I like the little towns in Tuscany or even the bigger places like Siena - which really isn't that big. Whatever you decide, have fun. Italy is a great destination.

re: Florence and David being "IT"

70% of the world's Renaissance art is in Italy and half of that is in Florence. How can you say that David is all there is?

thanks for all or your input, basic facts...can i see these places in this amount of time, or am i selling myself short? =)

Ive been to all these places and i enjoyed th CT area..I wish I lived there...I love Florence it is a beautiful city in a great area...Rome.. well rome has great sites..Unless you are going to Pompeii for the day and it's your thing I would skip Naples...it's too gritty for me ..I'll go again but thats what Id skip....too much industry..

In 7 days I would do 2 cities only - Venice and Rome. CT is cahrming - but since you'll be in the Greek Island I would do something different - and more Italian in Italy.

That's really all you'll have time for. In fact, IMHO I would reco Rome for the whole trip depending on how you travel - tain or air. Stop in Florence only is you're training. (Rome and Florence are each worth a week - and you still would see only a part of what's there.)

I don't think that Shanna was saying David is "it" for the art. I think she's saying seeing David was "it" for her. Hard as this is for some to believe, others do not live to see art. So the incredible wealth of great Renaissance art may not be what they're looking for. Others do not enjoy seeing dozens of churches or castles. Others put down going to cities for food or for shopping or for sitting on a beach and just reading. We all have different interests in what we see and do when we travel.

While I was overwhelmed with the art in Florence, I too am one who was not charmed at all be the city itself. So if someone went there who really doesn't care about art (and there are a great many of those people in the world), I can certainly see why wouldn't "get" Florence.

Shanna says she liked Venice for the "being" rather than the "seeing". I think there is a lot of information and revelation in that statement. And I don't mean that as a value judgement in any way, shape, or form.

But considering you're traveling down from Nice, presumably to Rome since it is a must and then need to get over to Bari all within a space of 7 days, I'd go a whole different direction. I'd spend four or five nights in Rome and then spend a few days near Bari in the amazing area of Basilicata, the "yet undiscovered" Italy to quote the rapidly increasing number of travel articles (including my new Travel and Leisure that just came yesterday). Spend a couple days on the Adriatic coast of Italy before getting to Bari. You'll be glad you did.

My favorite spot in all of Italy? Polignano a Mare.

"I know some people will diss me for this but frankly, I just don't get Florence. Been three times and David is it. After that I want to leave and go anywhere else."

You might want to read it again Neopolitan.

OK, I've read it again. Now what? She didn't add the "to me" after "David is it", but I'm sure thinking that is what she meant. After all, the only thing anyone can post is his or her opinion, so there's no point to keep repeating "in my opinion" or "to me". But I certainly don't see any indication of "the only ART worth seeing is David" -- is that what you're reading into it? In fact she never even mentioned art.

Maybe I'm just understanding her because I couldn't wait to leave and go anywhere else either.

sky,

Since you are going from Nice to Roma via train, it makes a great deal of sense to take a break at Cinque Terre. From there, if you want to go to Roma, you should do so without stopping anywhere else. Leave Rome and spend a night in Bari before boarding the ferry.

I think for a first time European traveler this is the most you should attempt in Italy. And it gives you time to enjoy both Cinque Terre and Roma.

You don't say when you are traveling. If it's the peak of summer, you might consider staying in a scenic town near the Cinque Terre, not right in it, but still on the train line. Levanto might be the right choice.

i really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their opinions, thanks again...i value your feedback in regards to your experiences...i'm still making decisions...i'll be there in june around june 15th-22nd..not much time, but i'm pretty enthusiastic