I'm leaving for Italy in two days (first time), I'll stay two days each at Rome, Florence and Venice. I'm wondering should I make time for Borghese Gallery in Rome, Accademia Gallery in Venice, and if I have to choose one between Uffizi and Accademia in Florence, which one should I choose. <BR>I'd like to visit the best, must-do museums, and also have sometime just to wander around.<BR>Thank you for any advise.<BR><BR>manqing

With just two days, if I had to do it all over again (and I hope I do!), I would skip the Accademia in Venice and go instead to the Church of the Frari to see the Titians and to the Scuola Grande di San Rocco (behind I Frari) to see the Tintorettos. In Florence, you can easily visit both the Accademia and the Uffizi. Enjoy.

Hi manqing,<BR><BR> I don't think that there really are any &quot;best, must-do&quot; museums in those places. There is just so much.<BR><BR> The Accademia in Florence has &quot;David&quot;, the Uffizi has lots of stuff.<BR><BR> I suggest a search for &quot;museum&quot; and &quot;city name&quot; for lots more info. The Borgello museum, for example, is a sculpture gallery.<BR><BR> Also http://www.mega.it/eng/egui/hogui.htm<BR> has a guide to all of the Florence museums.<BR><BR> Have a great trip.

With two days in Florence, I think you should be able to see both the Uffizi and Accademia, and I would fit both in. The Accademia doesn't really take that long, as I think you can skip the rooms beyond Michelangelo's David and the slaves. As for the others, it really depends on how much weight you personally put on art relative to the other sites. I spent 4 days in Rome and didn't make it to the Borghese. But the Accademia in Venice was high on my list and I went there. thse are just my opinions, only you can really decide what matters most to you.<BR><BR>

The borghese gallery is great and requires reservation. At most you will spend 2 hours there. It is worth it, it's a stunning place. I enjoyed touring Doges Palace in Venice. Sounds like you'll be quite busy, enjoy.

With only two days in Rome, I think the advice about whether to make time for the Galleria Borghese depends upon what you would be giving up. I recently spent five days in Rome and found the Borghese very worthwhile, but I wouldn't have wanted to miss the colosseum, the forum or the Vatican museums for it.

Good advice from previous posters. You can easily do both Uffizi and Accademia in Florence, but would suggest you make reservations at both (either ask your hotel to arrange for you, or do it online) so you won't have to stand in long, time consuming lines. I reserved Uffizi for about 10:00 and Accademia for about 2:00. We leisurely toured the Uffizi, had lunch and then went to the Accademia. I suppose it depends on whether or not you wish to spend one of your two days for these two museums. It was important to us and we loved our visits to both.<BR><BR>We have never been to the Borghese on our many trips to Rome, but those who have speak of it in very glowing terms.<BR><BR>I think Ira's advice about doing some research on the various museums and tailoring your plans to your interests is excellent.<BR><BR>

I would highly recommend the Borghese, as it is limited to 2 hours, and I feel would not be an unreasonable chunk of your time. You may want to go to the Vatican Museum, but be forewarned that this will take probably half a day, to be realistic.<BR><BR>The Academia &amp; the Scuola San Rocco in Venice are really great. Again, much depends on how much you like museums.<BR><BR>And everyone is quite right about Florence; you should not have a problem seeing what you like in both museums in the time you're there.<BR><BR>Buon Viaggio,<BR>BC

It's not only the museums that house great works of art. I've enjoyed wandering through churches like the Church of the Frari in Venice. One of my favorites in Florence is Santa Croce.

If you go to the Borghese Museum (and I highly recommend it) then arrive about 30 minutes before your reservation time. You'll need time to pickup your tickets and check your coats/backpacks, etc. I learned this lesson the hard way. Also, the Borghese doesn't allow even medium-sized pocketbooks. They make you check these also. I was allowed to carry mine since it was quite small and I had it slung around my body, rather than hanging from my shoulder.<BR><BR>adrienne<BR><BR>

Yes, try to make time for the Borghese Gallery in Rome. The ceilings alone are a work of art worth the visit.

The Forum, etc., etc you can see in a few hours and there isn't much to look at in terms of great detail. The Borghese on the other hand is an absolute MUST..you are limited to TWO hours inside MAX and it will be some of the BEST two hours you'll ever spend in Rome I can assure you.

My picks, given your limited time<BR>Rome<BR>Vatican museums--allow 1/2 day, and also see St Peter's Basilica<BR>Borghese Gallery I also highly recommend, but it would be a tough choice between that and seeing the Forum with a guide or an audio guide.<BR><BR>Venice<BR>I'd also skip the Accademia.<BR>I'd say the Frari Church (30-45 minutes), the Doge's Palace (2-3 hours at least), and if you want another one, choose between the small Correr museum across the Piazza from the Doge's Palace, or else the Peggy Guggenheim collection if you like 20th century art.<BR><BR>Florence<BR><BR>Accademia wins, hands down, because of &quot;David.&quot; The Uffizi has many masterpieces and is not especially user-friendly imo, but I could hardly say don't go. More than the Uffizi, I was thrilled with the Bargello museum ( Michelangelo sculptures, and remarkable Della Robbia terracottas) and also the Museo del Duomo, a small but unusual choice. For the Uffizi and the Accademia, advance timed ticket reservations are recommended to avoid the long entrance lines (your hotel can arrange). For the others, no advance ticketing needed.

hi! florence in two days... well, if your problem is just to choose between accademia and uffizi, well, i would go for the uffizi (book it in advance, u'll skip a terrible queue!). in the accademia u can see the original David, of course, but if u go in P.zza della Signoria or in P.zzale Michelangiolo u can see two very good copies of it. and in the accademia i really prefer &quot;the prigioni&quot; than David, but that's my personal opinion. Anyway, uffizi is a huge and interesting musuem.<BR>anyway,I am from florence, if u need more info or suggestion, just ask.u can mail me at [email protected].<BR>good luck &amp; enjoy my coountry!