I would spend 3 nights in Florence and 4 nights in Rome...Rome has so much to see.

It's not that it's a hassle to get to Rome from the Amalfi Coast, but it will take you more time than you think.

I think it would be best if you could fly into Florence and home from Naples. It shouldn't be a problem.

Go to this site: http://www.flycheapabroad.com/default.aspx
and click on "multiple destinations". Put in Lax to Florence...Naples to LAX.

Good luck.

OK! Help! Is it easier to take a train from Rome (airport) to Florence, or From Milan (airport) to Florence?? Want to start in Florence, and not sure the best place to fly into??

Pezlie...please bear in mind that it's not that simple to get from Malpensa(Milano airport) to the train station for Florence. If I recall, there's an airport bus and it takes about half hour to 40 minutes into central Milano..I don't remember how close the train station is to where the bus drops off. AA has flights to Milano, and you might be able to book an open jaw so you can return to L.A. via Rome. If that's the case, you will not be backtracking much....Milano to Florence to Rome to AC, then back to Rome for flight home.

In October, we are flying Air Tahiti Nua (an AA partner) from L.A. to Paris, and flying home about 23 days (open jaw)later from Milan (AA). Just a thought..not many people know about this Air Tahiti flight...very competitive rates although we are going freq. flyer. You can get a good connecton from Paris to Rome, Milan, Florence or Venice in that case. See what you can do, but don't wait too long...time is short for September.(another possibility that we've used before is Air New Zealand from LAX to London and connect from there..or Lufhthansa to Frankfurt and connect..plenty of options...but NOW.

Stu Tower

It's easier from Rome. It takes over an hour by bus to get from Milan airport to Milan train station and then you would still have over a 2 hour train ride (fastest train). From FCO to Rome is 30 minutes by train (Leonardo Express) and a little over 90 minutes for Rome/Florence.

Actually, and hello Stu!, it is quite simple to get from the Malpensa Airport to the Centrale (Central) train station in Milan. Here is the website for review.

http://www.malpensashuttle.it/e-default.htm

The Malpensa bus is modern, clean and quite comfortable. Personally I think it is a toss up either way regarding getting to Florence from either Malpensa or FCO. Italian friends in Italy that live in Florence always choose to fly into Malpensa, the Malpensa shuttle bus and than the train to Florence versus flying into Rome and taking the train to the Termini Station in Rome and the train to Florence.

Hi N.T....happy that you've increased your posting herein.
I just couldn't recall if the bus was direct to train station or not. As it is, Pelzie should have no problems doing it that way. We, too, have always felt that Milan was a better place to fly into and out of, from and to LAX.
stu

Thanks again for all the amazing advice. Now it's looking like we're going to sacrifice getting all the way down to the Amalfi Coast for traveling thru Tuscany instead. Personally, I'm relieved! I feel that Florence, Rome and Tuscany seems to make more sense time-wise. And then, what I've heard about the countryside, wineries, etc. seems more my speed...We're thinking of starting in Florence, traveling thru Tuscany down to Rome (renting a car to do this) and then ending in Rome and flying out of there. And, yes! Time is getting ridiculously short! We are booking flights tomorrow. Then booking hotels, b&b's, etc....

good choice, Pezlie...you're in for a great journey.
stu