URBANTALK1

I'm a mature woman, traveling alone planing my trip to Italy around a 3-weeks working on a vineyard (Gotta give me props for that at 55+!)

I'm planned out the itinerary below to sandwich these 3-weeks hard work at the vineyard with stays in a number of cities. I have no idea if i've allotted too much time in any one place, or if I'm including too many towns + cities.

Could really use the benefit of an experienced traveller of Italy insights and input about this schedule:

NYC-Venice - Sept 1
Venice - Sept 1- 6
- Allowing day for jet lag, Sep 2nd is annual Regatta + the Film Festival is that week)

Florence - Sept 6-9
- it's on my way to Vineyard - no lag + only short train - 1 less day?)

Siena - Sept 9-30 (3-wks vineyard in Siena reg)
- Have weekends off - Planning day + overnight trips to Siena + other towns in Tuscany

Rome - Sept 30- Oct 6
-Could 6-nights possibly bee too much? So much to see!

Amalfi - Oct 6-11
- Is a week too long or is Amalfi? Or is it good home-base for bus to other towns?

Naple - Oct 11- 15
- Flying out of +exhausting to travel from Amalfi and get on international flight same - Is 5 Days in Naples too much?

SHOULD I CUT SOME STOPS, CONSOLIDATE STAY, SPREAD OUT? DOES THE ORDER MAKE SENSE. Surprise it's sill in mid 70's in Oct - though is would be cooler...is that a factor to consider?

As always, thanks for you help

PalenQ

Totally splendid itinerary - but yes for me five days in dirty littered crumbling Napales may be a tad too much - even if you do day trips to places like Caserta - the Italian Versailles or the astounding Roman ruins at oh forget name but just on rail line south of Salerno.

Do not get me wrong - I loved my few days in Naples but at least when I was there the place looked like a hurridcane had hit it - incredible litter everywhere - borken cobblestones and constant alerts about street crime.

But Naples is also the most old-world looking city I have been in in Europe. Period. laundry still strung between windows on unfathomably narrow alleys - lots of little shops - very little modern - an unGodly number of churches that are actually used...

uhoh_busted

I like your timing right up to Amalfi -- that's probably a bit long there. In fact, you might want to stay a bit longer in Rome so you can take your time and enjoy yourself in the big city. Or you may want to do a night or two in Orvieto (one of our favorite towns) before heading into Rome. We found 3 nights on the Amalfi Coast was enough. My friend Bookchick likes to chill out on Capri, which might be a great contrast to busy cities of Rome and Naples. I assume you'll do Pompeii at some point, which will likely take up a full day. I've never been to Naples, so I can't offer suggestions there.

DRJ

If it were my trip, I would spend:

at least a week in Venice. IMO, a singular experience.

two days in Florence.

at least ten days in Rome. (Orvieto is an hour by train.)

and a week on the Amalfi Coast.

IMO, Naples is a "0".

Approach_Guides

Great itinerary -- I think the timing is perfect. And I love that you're visiting Napoli! It's often overlooked by tourists, but is one of my favorite cities in Italy. Its charming and alive, and there is so much to do and see.
Enjoy your trip!

ekscrunchy

That would fit my personal travel style....longer periods of time in fewer places than most. I thought Amalfi was a great base for a week of exploring but if you want to add more time to the more northern cities, you could cut Amalfi down to 5 or 6 nights and spend 2-3 nights in Naples. If you are squeamish at all about Naples, stay in the Chiaia district; it is not raffish like the central historic district, and you can walk to the center. There are plenty of hotels there. I would not hesitate about staying n the historic center, either.

You definitely need 6 days minimum for Rome, so do not change that part.

URBANTALK1

Thank you all - I NEED To book my trip TODAY or my voucher will expire - and after seeing your suggestions - I'm thinking of cutting the Amalfi Coast and just staying 2 weeks in Rome - and maybe going south on a day trip.

Before I had the work at the vineyard lined up I was going to spend a month in Rome.
If I leave from Rome rather than Naples I can also get a direct flight.

I've been to Florence - but longing to go to Venice for decades - so since I can talk a morning train to Florence from Venice and be there in 2-hours, perhaps I should extend time in Venice as DRJ suggested - 1 night in Florence will give me a day and half before I need to take train to vineyard.

Thinking of leaving Amalfi Coast and Naples for another trip - dedicated to the south of Italy.
Thoughts/

I'm going to be really obnoxious about this - and put this on a new blog - since I must book Delta today - and I'm anxious to get your input.

Thanks again!