My husband and I are leaving on July 19th for a 10 day trip to Italy to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We have our hotels booked, but they are still somewhat changeable at this point without penalty. Right now, I'm feeling like we are missing out on an area of Italy that sounds gorgeous, which is the Pienza, Montepulciano, Siena area.

I'm considering changing Day 4 to stay in Siena so we'd have time to explore southern Tuscany that day, and then staying in Florence only 2 nights instead of 3. Or should I reduce our time in Venice? I'd appreciate any input. So much to see, so little time! Just worried that this is a lot of moving around, and 4 different hotels during this 10 day trip is a lot! But I have no idea when we'll get to return to Italy, so I'm reluctant to give up the opportunity to see as much as I can.

Day 1: arrive in Pisa, pickup up rental car, drive to Lucca, stay at Palazzo Alexander
Day 2: explore Lucca
Day 3: day trip to Cinque Terre
Day 4: leave Lucca--drop off rental car in evening at Florence airport, taxi or train to the Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni in Florence (this was going to be our day for scenic tuscan driving and exploring)
Day 5: saturday, explore Florence
Day 6: sunday, uffizi reservation, explore Florence
Day 7: monday, leave Florence, 4:30 pm high speed train to Venice, stay at Locanda Orseolo
Day 8: Explore venice
Day 9: perhaps day trip to Verona
Day 10: fly home

My two cents -- having spent 2 nights in Florence and 3 nights in Venice a few years ago, I feel like the highlights of Florence can easily be seen in a day and a half, with proper planning, so you would be able to spend that extra day exploring Tuscany. The Uffizi doesn't take a lot of time -- it's small, and Florence is really a very compact city. We took a walking tour of Florence the morning before our train left and it was outstanding...we learned so much of the city's history and saw the main sites.

Stayed at the Locando Orseolo in Oct. 08....y'all will love it. I would just stay in Venice and enjoy and relax. Happy Anniversary!

The area of Southern Tuscany is indeed, IMHO, one of the most beautiful in Italy that I have seen. However, your feeling that you are trying to do too much in too little a space of time, is probably correct. Is this your first trip to Italy? If so, you probably then don't realize that most people (all people?) return to this beautiful and captivating land, and you should indeed try to save some of your travels for next time. People don't always factor in travel time, possible traffic jams, parking availability, settling into a new hotel/B&B, when they try to figure out that one day or a half day is enough for....... whatever.

Personally, I would opt for the southern Tuscany area INSTEAD of Lucca and C.T. And depending of course on your interests and preferences, Florence CAN be done in a day and can also NOT be done in a week!! It is all a matter of taste.

Will you have a car?

If you cannot extend your trip to include more days, I would

I wonder why you are second guessing your itinerary at this late date?

You have planned a perfectly wonderful anniversary trip to Italy! It feels unhurried & relaxed. You will be staying in a charming walled town, seeing beautiful coastal scenery, driving through amazing Tuscan countryside & visiting two wonderful cities! It can't get any better than that!

Have a wonderful trip!

2010, I'm a second guesser...I can't help it! Thanks to all the fabulous stuff I keep reading on this forum, I keep wondering if I've made the right decisions!

I have no idea why Socalesq thinks the Uffizi is small, but the real question is: How interested are you in Italian painting, the Renaissance and museums and history in general, and how much time do you want to be in the Italian countryside in beautiful nature?

Also, how much will you and your husband be undone by sightseeing in humid, hot weather. It is reaching the 90s in northern and central Italy this week, with real humidity. Places like Siena and le Cinque Terre are nothing but hill climbing, and Venice is marching up and down stairs.

If you are thinking of driving your car into le Cinque Terre in July, I think you may find yourself stuck in a traffic jam.

You've booked yourself for a pretty jammed trip, and if you add hotel switches, lugging your luggage around, it could get pretty grim.

How about this:

Day 1 -- Fly to Pisa, pick up rental car. Head to Lerici by the sea.

Day 2- Day trip to le Cinque Terre by boat.

Day 3 -- Day trip to Lucca.

Day 4 -- Drive to Montalcino/Montepulciano

Day 5 -- explore area

Day 6 -- drive to Florence via Siena (perhaps drop off car in Siena and take bus to Florence)

Day 7 -- Florence

Day 8 -- Florence through lunch, train to Venice by sunset

Day 9 -- Venice

Fly home

I'd drop cinque terre, use time for Lucca, Pisa and montopoli

Florence 2 days max, Siena if you can stand the strain as a long day trip

Verona might drop and Soave

Where is "montopoli"?

If bilboburger meant Montepulciano, it is not practical as a day trip from Lucca or Pisa (or even Florence for that matter).

I would not add humid Soave to this trip.

lacohn,

I just want to generally add that, as others have posted, you shouldn't drive yourself crazy ripping up a trip at the last minute unless you really believe you'll regret your original plan. Even your original plan is AWFULLY busy for the heat of July, with a lot of hopping around. The destinations in your original plan are all high points of Italy. You will see beautiful things everywhere you go.

But if you already know cultural sightseeing is unlikely to thrill you as much as being in nature, some reworking is in order. I also think dropping le Cinque Terre may be one way to buy yourself time for southern Tuscany -- unless seascapes and evening sea breezes mean the world to you.

It is always hard to plan a trip to Italy. Everyone has to make hard choices, and it is better not to dash about trying to 'see' things. It is better to leave yourself lots of breathing room to enjoy what you came to enjoy.

I'm not sure I'd go all the way to Venice for just one or two days there. There is a lot to see and experience.

Certainly if you do decide to go to Venice on this schedule, you won't have time for a day trip anywhere. "Explore Venice" or "Explore Rome" or "Explore Paris" or "Explore London" in one day is possible to say, but what do you have to leave out of the exploration?

I agree with 2010 and think your trip sounds great. Enjoy it! I wouldn't drop Cinque Terre for ONE day in Southern Tuscany. I also agree with Flame123 that you will return to Italy. Our first was in 2000 and we are now planning our 5th trip for next spring.

Montopoli, not big, but pretty and near Lucca. Gives you a real idea of how these tiny cities grew up in the tuscan hills. I'd try for a meal here the 4 fleur de lys has a slow food restaurant

In addition to reservations at the Uffizi, you should make them at the Accademia. The lines to see the David are very long. We'll be in Florence at the same time you are there - maybe we'll see you in line!

Thanks bilbo!

I would just leave your itinerary as it is. Frankly, for that itinerary you don't even need a car. It will just eat into your time as far as parking, picking it up, returning, etc. You can do all those transfers via public transport or taxi.

I am a Lucca lover, so would not recommend cutting that. Day trip to CT from there is fine, but I would do it via train.
While in Venice, just stay there. With just three nights there you'll have plenty to keep you occupied.

Just 'cause I like the place so much

Montopoli in Val d'Arno. What I love is the name "Monto Poli" literally means Hill City and like some other towns it is such a great description. the hotel is run by aged owners (80+) and you have to take lugage off them if they try to carry it. However the hotel has a pool and is built into the city walls overhanging a great curve of cliff looking towars Pisa. Fab,

Thanks again, bilboburgler!

PS: Is the fleur de lys the name of the hotel as well as restaurant?

Lots of good advice here. My only caveat is you, like so many, try and cover so much of Italy in too short a time.