Italy - Rome, Venice & Florence
 

My husband and I are planning a last minute trip to Italy. We don't have as much time as I would like so want to the most of it. This is what I'm planning:
4 nights in Rome
Train to Venice - 2 nights
Train to Florence - 2 nights

Questions:

1) I thought I read in another post that you cannot take luggage on the train. Is that true?
2) What area of Venice would be best to stay?
3) Is it possible to leave Florence and make a 12:25 flight out of FCO?

1) Not true.
2) Venice is fairly small so all of the sestieri are walking distance to things you might want to see. Some people prefer not to stay to close to Piazza San Marco, which can get busy with tourists.
3) I would not recommend it. I would fly into Venice and depart Rome. If you have to book RT to Rome, then train to Venice after landing in Rome, do Florence, and then back to Rome.

You are squeezing in a lot. Perhaps consider seeing just two of these towns instead. Or, stop in Florence for the day enroute between Venice and Rome (not ideal, but...)

If your flights are already booked, I would train to Venice on arrival day since you will be jetlagged anyway. Spend two nights Venice (that only gives you one sightseeing day), train to Florence two nights and end your trip in Rome.

Another option would be train to Florence on arrival, then Venice and end in Rome.

Yes, end where your return flight originates.

Concur with the above--train straight to Venice when you land then back-track to Rome.

Also concur with the thought that you're trying to see too many places with too little time. I think I'd go to Florence for four nites and take a day trip or two to surrounding parts.

Yes, with a fast train, you could possibly visit Venice for a day trip.

If at all possible, can you schedule just a couple of more days? Your trip would be much more enjoyable with more--or to cut out one of your three cities from your itinerary.

Italy just has an overabundance of art, architecture, history, culture and food.

Thanks for the advice. I like the idea of ending in Rome where flights are in and out of. I'm just so excited to see Rome! My husband thinks we are spending too long in Rome...I disagree. If I were to cut out one of the cities, as suggested, Venice or Florence? I can't imagine missing Venice, but willing to listen to all of you experts.

Well, if you can't imagine missing Venice, then go there. It is unique and romantic.

If you are intrigued by Renaissance art and architecture and want to see some of the pieces that are essential to understanding the developments in those areas (the cathedral dome, "David", Giotto's Madonna, etc.), then Florence is an important stop.

Check out a guidebook or look at the destination guides on the website to get an idea of what each city has to offer.

You did not say just when the trip would be--that might influence suggestions.

It depends on what you want to see. Venice and Florence are pretty compact, but how many sites are on your "must do" list?

Florence historical center is only a 20-30 minute walk side-to-side. You could spend one night there before Rome and see several things by taking a later train to Rome. Some people take an early train from Venice to Florence (2 hours), store their luggage at the Florence train station, spend the day in Florence and then catch a late train to Rome (90 minutes).

Four nights in Rome will only give you three sightseeing days.

Florence is full of Renaissance art, in museums and churches. If you want to see more than a small taste of this art, you need to stay there for several nights, maybe even a week. If you're not particularly enthusiastic about Renaissance art, as kybourbon say, you could "see" Florence in a few hours.

You could even stop in Florence for a few hours en route from Venice to Rome. You could leave your luggage at the left luggage facility at the train station. This is what we did when I took my young nieces on a quick tour of Florence on our way to Rome from my home in Le Marche.

If you want to see a small but high-powered collection of Renaissance art in Florence, you can pop into the church of Santa Maria Novella, right by the train station, which takes its name from the church. There's also plenty of Renaissance art in Venice and Rome, of course.

4 nights/3 days in Rome is definitely not too long. I agree with others you will probably enjoy the trip more if you add Venice or Florence but not both. You really can't go wrong with either. Personally I would pick Florence.

I agree that, with your short visit, you would enjoy two of the three cities more than trying to fit in all three. I personally would choose Rome and Florence but Venice is a romantic and totally unique city and you may prefer it. In any case, whatever you decide, you will love it. Visit Rome last.