I will be in Italy for three weeks from June 5-25. I am a teacher and I received a grant to study (translation: look at and photograph) the Cosmati floors mainly located in Rome. The grant is for a set amount, and I can expand my trip as I like, and I am. I want to have a few base locations and travel out from each. I don't like the idea of constantly changing lodging every three days. I have booked an apartment in Rome for 10 nights assuming that I would see Rome and include some day trips. I also want to go to Venice for three nights and then Tuscany for 6-7 nights. I have not been to Venice before and would like to see it but don't feel the need to make it the focus of my trip - I realize that everyone has a different opinion on this issue. I may feel differently once I am there and so will just have to plan a return visit. I realize that I should have booked an open jaw flight but it is too late now. I will be flying into and out of Rome. We are still trying to decide on a place to stay in Tuscany and would like to have access to a train. We are looking at Siena, or a smaller town between Florence and Siena. We, also, intend to have a car for a few days. Would you recommend going to Venice first - it would be Sunday through Tues.- and then travel to Tuscany or vice versa? What would you suggest as the best way to get back to Rome for an eary morning flight (9:30) Staying near the airport sounds like the easiest but not a very appealing way to end our vacation. Can we get a train from Orvieto to the airport really early without going into Rome Termini?

My recommendation might violate your tenet of not wanting to change lodging excessively, but I would recommend leaving Rome and going to Verona by train. It's a nice destionation in its own right, and it gives you a short transit to get to Venice the next day (you might even consider two nights in Verona). Since Venice lodging is considerably more high priced than Tuscany (or even nearby Verona), you might feel content to spend three days and two nights in Venice - - given that your first day can be a very full one. And of course, depending on where you head after Venice, so could your last day, if you choose.

I have never stayed in Siena, so I will hope you get others' advice on staying there as your base. The train does _not_ take you "up into" Siena (Siena sits up on top of a hill); it leaves you at the bottom of the hill needing a taxi or an arduous trek to get up into the city proper. Bus from Florence _doess_ go up into Siena, but that is a transfer, if you are not staying in Florence to start with.

So maybe staying somewhere in the Chianti... getting your car at the Florence train station is a good alternative.

As for a morning flight out of Rome, I would simply return to Rome itself. Rome, from 4p to midnight is better than most destinations in the world for an entire day. Why not enjoy it your last night? Taxis make the trip to the airport effortlessly early in the morning, and you have nothing better to do than sleep on the plane the next day if you didn't get enough sleep on your last night.

Best wishes,

Rex

Hi sewitall,

I prefer to stay in the really small towns/ villages in the countryside. Makes a bigger change from the major cities.

Check out the price differences for car rentals. Last time I checked, the price for a weeks rental is pretty much the same as for 5 days, so you might as well have the car for your entire time in Tuscany.

I'ved stayed in San Sano (Chianti), Montalcino (southern Tuscany) and Spello (Umbria) and loved them all. A week will be lovely!

I think I need a grant....

I'm not sure why you have the opinion of Venice you do, but with so much time overall, I'd surely encourage you to give Venice at least 5 nights (I've been there twice for this amount of time).

Oh, and I'd definitely return to Rome the day before your flight, but not necessarily pick a hotel at the airport.

Suze-
I don't really have a low opinion of Venice at all. It is just that I want to spend time in Tuscany and am forced to make some choices. Since I have never seen Venice, it was on my "have to see" list but didn't want to short myself in Tuscany. I just need to spend more time but my grant money, although very generous, will only stretch so far. I want to investigate taking a train from Rome to Venice in the evening and sleeping on the train so we can have a little extra time in Venice but I don't know if it is possible.

Thanks Rex - I will check it out. Everyone is so generous with information on this list.

I'm glad you don't feel shame for not wanting to spend more time in Venice...or, for that matter any particular location. No two of us is alike in our travel needs, and no one of us should buy into the pressure of someone elses opinion. I've had several wonderful trips to Europe, and believe it or not, Venice has been my least enjoyable experience.

Hi S,

> I want to investigate taking a train from Rome to Venice in the evening and sleeping on the train ...

Train schedules are at www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

It's only 6 hr to Venice.

If you want to gget some rest, take the 22:50 to Trieste, you can have bkfst, see a little of Trieste and then take the train to Venice - 3 hr.