I have been invited to travel to Italy and Spain with mother-in-law. I've been asked to make Italy plans..yikes!
I know Rome (Vatican) is a must but what else? Milan? Florence?
Help!
Believe 6 or 8 days in Italy before heading to Spain.

We took a day trip to Assisi from Rome. Also to Tivoli Gardens in a day trip from Rome. Florence would take more than a day, but is a must to see in Italy. We stayed in convents in Rome and Florence and plan on doing that again someday soon. Here's my husband's report on our trip:
http://www.slowtrav.com/tr/triprepor...id=788&index=0

There are more "must sees" in Italy than you can possibly cover in 6-8 days.

Conventional wisdom would suggest one, possibly two bases otherwise you will spend too much time travelling. The next question would be "What interests you?". Do you have particular interests - Art/History/Museums/Churches?

If Rome is a given, consider half your time there and half somewhere else. The two obvious choices would be Florence or Venice, both very different but equally rewarding IMO.

How were you planning to get from Italy to Spain?

We will take a plane from Italy to Spain.

I would be honest I am just excited about the trip and think to just be there would be enough.

I have been considering Rome travel to Tuscany to Milan and fly from Milan to Spain.

I'm feeling overwhelmed to plan Italy. I did buy a book by Rick Steves' to help, but that just seems to make it worse

Thanks ahead of time for suggestions.

Are there things you want to do in Milan? If no, then after Tuscany it might save time in your tight schedule to fly to Spain from Florence or Pisa, which are in Tuscany.

If it were my trip, I'd spend the majority of the time in and around Rome, making a day trip or two by train or bus to places like Tivoli, Orvieto, Ostia Antica, or even Florence. If the weather is especially nice, you could train to Bracciano and ride the ferry around Lake Bracciano or bus to Sperlonga on the coast. Some people even make a day trip to Pompeii from Rome.

http://www.enjoyrome.com/tourist/cit...day-trips.html

More detail required.
What season? VERY important in choosing an itinerary
What city in Spain? (Could make a difference in yr choice of departure city)
What do you like to do and see?

I wonder why the Vatican is a must. Is it for religious reasons?

We go to Italy at least once a year -- in 2010 we went twice -- and spend 2-3 weeks on each trip.

I haven't been into the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel etc) since 1977. Too many people. There are so many other parts of Rome where I face no line-ups and no crowds.

I agree with what has been said, Milan is not worth a trip, unless you want to see the Last Supper by DaVinci and the Duomo. Rome and Florence sound like wonderful destinations for 6-8 days, with a possible excursion into Tuscany from Florence for a day or two.

My co-traveler wants to go back to the Vatican, do the private tour. All other Italy travel is my scheduling.
We are going in Sept 2011.
I have been looking into Florence and a little of Tuscany, so think that will be my goal.
Spain is my co-traveler scheduling.
I'm just happy about the trip.

Thanks again for the input.

Have you been to Italy before? If not, I would spend 5 days in Rome with perhaps a day trip to Orvieto or Ostia Antica and the remaining time in Florence. There is plenty to do in Florence for several days but you can see the highlights in 3 days. Then fly to Spain from Florence.