Hi, <BR>I am going to Italy between June 8th and 22nd. <BR>I will have 12 full days and 1/2 day in Rome where I arrive. I am leaving from Venice. <BR>I was planning on visiting Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan, San Marino and Piza staying nights in Rome 4nights Florence3nights Milan 2nights 3nights in Venice. I was thinking of driving in one day from Rome to San Marino to Piza to Florence? Is this possible at all? <BR>Should I take the car and do this at all or should I travel by train? <BR>Should I do anything different? Should I forget about Milan and have more days in other cities and for day trips? How if anything I should change to visit cities above?

Skip Milan - the city has little to offer other than the Last Supper, which can be seen in an hour. Spend those two days visiting Padua/Vicenza/Verona or the small towns in Tuscany.

Definitely skip Milan and absolutely skip San Marino--there's nothing to see or do there. Take the train from Rome to Florence. Rent a car in Florence for trips to Pisa, San Gemignano, Siena and other towns in Tuscany. Take the train from Florence to Venice. (Each of these train rides takes no more than a couple of hours).

Spend more time in Rome and 2 nights in Venice is more than enough.

I have to disagree with the comment about San Marino, if you're a bit of a romantic, you'll love this place. It's a small village fortress on top of very craggy rock, and offers great views of the surrounding area. I would suggest you stop there for lunch or a coffee break on your way elsewhere. one or two hours is all it takes. I still have vivid memories of San Marino, 8 years later.

Good afternoon, Kostia <BR>As Rosanna states San Marino can bring <BR>some memories back and very clear. <BR>The Hotel Titano which was excellant <BR>and extremely affordable at the time. <BR>Had an excellant kitchen with "straw <BR>& grass" which was out ot this world. <BR>Lots and lots of tourists during the <BR>day but you have the entire town to <BR>yourself in the evening.. <BR>Richard of La Grange Park, IL..

One more vote saying "skip Milan". I too would skip San Marino, Pisa, and shorten Venice to 2 nights. Instead see Siena, Lucca, and Verona on route to Venice. Assuming this is your first trip--if not, I might make other suggestions.

Thanks to everyone who replied. <BR>This is my second trip first was 10 years ago... <BR>The following recommendations were taken: we will stay 5 nights in Rome, 5 nights in Florence with trip to Pisa and possibly Siena or more likely Lucca. Then leave in the morning to Verona stay overnight and then to Venice for 2 nights. I guess San Marino is too out of the way and the time to get there would not be justified... I was there 10 years ago and I think it is worth the trip if you have that one extra day.

Milano is a city interesting about arts, <BR>do you Know Duomo? and Brera with her pinacoteca? And castello Sforzesco? I think that milano is an interesting city <BR>but you have to study esactly where to go. San Marino is a little place, in italy is famous for shopping, fou us is cheap but for you..... <BR>Rome venice and florence is very beatiful but if you can visit Gubbio or siena. The problem is the travel because gubbio is not close florence or milano.Another interesting place is siena. <BR>Driving in the week end is a big problem, there is many many car and the traffic is terrible.You have to stop in the saturday and sunday. Rome/Milano 800 km. Our limits is 130km. In any case you have to stop before for to see <BR>florence. <BR>We have a good train Rome / Florence/ Milano, his name is "pendolino", this train is very fast. I think this is the best solution because in florence you <BR>can't around by car. (and venice is the same, you know). <BR> <BR>

Roby, is the traffic bad on weekends all over, or just in the city? We were planning to drive through Tuscany over the weekend. <BR> <BR>Thanks

Hi bill,the traffic in the city (in particular milan and rome)is very bad during the week (monday to friday). <BR>During the week the traffic is terrible in the "autostrade" beucause ell people move for go to the sea, lakes....(but this when the weather is good -may to sepetember) <BR>Bye <BR>

errata corrige: <BR> <BR>DURING THE WEEK END THE TRASFFIC IS TERRIBLE IN THE AUTOSTRADE <BR> <BR>Roby

I want to thank everyone for their help in planning out trip. We got a late start but have found rooms in all the cities except for our last night. We are undecided on where to spend this night. If anyone has a recommendation we are listening (reading). We are traveling from Venice to Milan to fly out of MXP the following day. The travel day is labor day, so everything seems to be closed - no opera in Milan or Verona. Do we try to go up to lake como area for the evening and if so, how much time train time are we looking at (are we traveling all day just to spend the night and turn around and go back to MXP)? Or do we spend the afternoon and evening in Milan and if so, what do you have any recommendations on what to do? <BR>Thanks

We are staying one night in Milan at the Hotel Villa Malpensa in May - it is supposed to be a great old villa that has been redone and close to the airport. There is a web sight, but I can't come up with the name at the moment. I have read about it several places and sounds just great if you only have one night in Milan before leaving Italy.

You can find the Villa Malpensa at www.malpensa.it/villa.htm. I too have heard this is the way to go if you have an early flight out of Milan.

Malpensa-milano by train is 30 minuts. There is a 2 train for hour. For go to come there are some train but not in the night, and the train isn't very good. Come is an interesting place (romantic). If you want to stay a day in Milano and you are interested in arts you have to see "Certosa di Pavia" . <BR>It is very beatiful, and may is the best month. <BR> <BR>Bye. <BR>

Stop! Don't do it. Stay home! Save yourself the heartache... My husband and I just returned from Italy last week...and we are so homesick (vacation-sick?) for it, we can hardly stand it! <BR>Have fun...

Rather than stay in a hotel in Florence have you thought about enjoying the tuscan countryside by staying on a farm. Our country cottages are only 10 miles outside of Florence and very close to 2 wonderful factory outlets - Gucci & Prada. Look us up on www.fattoria-pagnana.com <BR>bibi <BR>LETIZIA BRESCHI