I need help with this itinerary - we are flying to London next July for my fiance's daughter's wedding (she is getting married July 4 in London). We will land in London June 30 and then will fly to Pisa on July 6 to spend time in Italy. This is where I need help - we are thinking of landing in Pisa 7/6 and going to Florence and then spending time somewhere in Tuscany from July 8-11 and then driving (or take train) to Rome on July 12 and we would fly out of Rome back to U.S. on July 14. Should we plan on spending more time in Florence or does that look okay. Any help is appreciated. Thx.

Personally, in mid-July I would skip Florence altogether and just spend the time in the beautiful Tuscany countryside. Florence is shoulder-to-shoulder people most months in the year - I imagine that mid July would be the most crowded (although I've never been there in July).

After London & before Rome, I would welcome some quiet times in small villages & the countryside.

That's not much time in Rome. Have you been there before?

Stu Dudley

No I have never been there. I guess I should have mentioned too that hopefully we will be on our "honeymoon" (hope to get married in the spring before we go). So do you think we should spend more time in Rome and forget Florece? We are still trying to figure out which airline to fly out of London (Easy Jet was suggested) and we can fly into Pisa (which I believe is close to Tuscany). What about a rental car - any suggestions there? Thanks.

You can fly from London to either Florence or Pisa on various airlines---check it out at www.kayak.com or www.whichbudget.com If you fly into Florence then I would plan 2 days there before getting your car for Tuscany. Let the air connections dictate your sequence of destinations.

So far it looks like:

-6 days in London (1st day will be somewhat wasted, and wedding will consume another day). That's 4 days to explore London. That's about the minimum.

-1 1/2 day in Florence (you loose 1/2 days in travel)

-4 days in the Tuscany countryside

-1 3/4 days in Rome (you loose 1/4 day in travel - plus 1 of those days is a Sunday when not as much stuff is open)

I still say that's too much city in July when it will be hot in Italy.

Like I mentioned earlier, Florence can get unbearable with the crowds if you don't particularily enjoy large crowded places.

I would do this:

Fly to Florence/Pisa and stay in the lovely Val d'Orcia near Pienza. If this is your honeymoon - I can't think of a more romantic place (except maybe Venice). If you're on a splurge, stay at la Saracina in the Malvaso room
http://www.lasaracina.it/home.en.php

Or for less $$ stay in San Quirico (just west of Pienza) at La Capitano in one of their suites
http://www.palazzodelcapitano.com/index_eng.htm

Spend 4 nights there, and one day visit Siena for a Florence substitution. If you don't mind staying in 2 hotels while in Tuscany, stay the first night in San Gimignano & the rest in the Val d'Orcia.

Drive to Orvieto on 7/10 (1 hr drive), dump the car, visit Oriveto, and then take one of the many train departures for Rome (1 hr trip).

Spend 4 nights/3 1/2 days in Rome.

Stu Dudley

Stu gives very good advice!

I also agree with Stu, although I love Florence so I wouldn't discourage you if you picked Florence over Rome. Rome will be hot and crowded too.

Hi - sorry I didn't respond to all of you earlier - thanks for the input. That is really helpful. I do know that we want to go to Florence to see the statute of David - everyone I have talked to says it's something not to miss.

Does anyone have any recommendations for London on where to stay. The wedding is in Westminster Chapel so we would like to stay in that area.

Thank you.

Florence is one of the hottest cities in Italy in July. Humidity is often bad as well because of inversions--get air conditioned rooms.

If you want to see David and not a room filled with hundred of people, make a reservation (I think you can do that) and get there 30 mins before they open in the AM. We were there at opening time in late March, David was still being "renovated", and it was a zoo inside within 45 mins, with a long waiting line outside.

Stu Dudley

Thank you for the info. We definitely will make a reservation early in the a.m. to see "David". Florence doesn't sound that appealing now - I am from Arizona and it's hot enough in the summer - hate to know we are going somewhere hot as well!