time4travel4less

I would try to spend an additional day in Cinque Terre region. It is really so beautiful and a great change from the cities. It really captures the flavour of Italian villages. If you like check out my blog describing three dreamy days in CT. My blog - time4travel4less.com. I think your son will love this area. Great sea, hikes, food and atmosphere.
Enjoy

HappyTrvlr

One of our favorite travel memories is being with our teenage grandchildren in Florence. They all loved it including the 14 year old boy.

PalenQ

Many think teens would be bored - glad to hear they were so enthralled.

bvlenci

Florence also greatly appealed to my adolescent nieces. We actually stopped off there on our way to Rome, so we were there for only about six hours. I didn't take them to any museums. We visited the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, which has an extraordinary concentration of great Renaissance art, and also a beautiful cloister. We saw the Duomo, just from the outside, and went into the Battistero, which is filled with golden medieval mosaics. Then we walked around, to Piazza della Signoria, the Ponte, and a bit of the Oltrarno. They got a bit of background in medieval and Renaissance art, loved the Arno, and enjoyed the gelato. I also gave them a brief rundown of the history of Florence.

bvlenci

Getting back to Milan, there are now gondolas on the main canal, the Grande Naviglio. They cost half of the official rate for a gondola ride in Venice.

mark_drinkwater1987

you shouldn't miss this three charming towns, bracciano, trevignano and anguillara.., it is set on the shores of lake bracciano. you can stay there for a full day or a relaxing weekend away from rome. All three are different, but all are equally attractive.

bvlenci

The castle in Bracciano is one of the nicest I've seen in Italy. It's privately owned and rented out for conferences and eventi. (I attended a conference there.) Tom Cruise and whatsername were married there. It's in a beautiful spot overlooking the lake.

I wouldn't call the town itself charming; it was actually a disappointment. Anguillara is a nice lake town, but nothing special. I haven't been to Trevignano.

Lake Bracciano is a good stopover for people driving between Rome and points north. It's also a nice day trip from Rome, with good train and bus connections.

I certainly wouldn't recommend Lake Bracciano on a short first trip to Italy.

5alive

Well--unless you have kids who specifically request a castle on their first trip to Rome. Which is what we did. The town was cute at Christmas with lights. But not a stunner.

But you're right. So many regions to see. And even if you want to stay near Rome, Orvieto would be a better option.

Rasputin1

Going to the CT. Contact PA; Forloney - An American who lives there and does fantastic off the beaten track treks. We did the full trek our selves and then stayed at an apartment Pal organised for us and then we did a off the beaten track trek with him, crossing his own vineyard and coming out into someone's home in a another town! Far better than the busy normal trek. Google him or if you cant find him, PM me.