My wife has always wanted to go to Italy. She is a gourmet cook and a lover of good wines. She loves art and history. I want to plan a trip for her that will be very romantic and stress free. We will have 3 weeks. How does this sound?<BR>Fly into Milan. Spend 2 nights. See the Duomo and the Last Supper.<BR>Take train to Venice. Stay 4 nights. See St. Marks, The Doge Palace and do alot of wandering.<BR>Take train to Florence and stay 3 nights. See David,the Duomo,and the Uffizi and buy her a gold bracelet.<BR>Rent car and go to Tuscany for 4 night. Take day trips to see vineyards and the countryside.<BR>Get rid of car outside of Rome, take train into the city and stay 4 nights. See Piazza Navona, Trevi fountain, Coliseum, Pantheon, and St. Peters.<BR>Rent car and drive to Amalfi. Stay in Sorrento for 4 nights. See Pompeii, Amalfi coast & go into Naples to see "The Veiled Christ.<BR>Does this sound like too much to do? What would you do different?<BR> Thank you all so much. I value your opinions.<BR> Albert <BR><BR>

Minor alteration. I'd suggest that you only spend 1 night in Milan. Likely you'll arrive in Milan early? So you'll have the rest of the day to see the Duomo and the Last Supper (arrange to get tickets ahead of time). After that, dinner, crash into bed and the next day, take the train to Venice. Especially as your wife is interested in cooking/wines, I think she'd appreciate staying in Tuscan countryside for 5 nights (versus 4). Now as I look thru your itinery, I'll toss in another alteration --- only stay 2 nights in Sorrento. For the other 2 nights, choose either Positano or Capri or Ravello (all more romantic than Sorrento).<BR>

Sounds like quite a bit, but not too much since you have three weeks. My only thought is that is alot of ground to cover so maybe consider dropping the Amalfi portion of the trip and end your trip in Rome (could add a day here or there to Tuscany, Venice, etc.). I know that we are more "two week" trip people as we're kind of ready to head home at that point. You might enjoy your three weeks, but may not be up for that many moves. <BR><BR>There are lots of great little towns in Tuscany (Cortona, San G, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, Siena) and Umbria (Spoleto, Montefalco, Orvieto). Personal favorite is Cortona. <BR><BR>Also, there are great cooking classes offered that your wife may enjoy (not sure if this would be relaxing for her or stressful). We took a one day class and learned all sorts of fun things to cook through [email protected] (found her through Anne Robichaud who was booked for the day we had free). Il Falconiere (Relais Chateaux property where we stayed outside of Cortona) also offers cooking classes periodically. Have a great trip.

Albert, I think it sounds incredible and well thought out. I'm a big fan of Sorrento so wouldn't change that (or the two nights in Milan since being from the West coast I always need a couple of days to adjust AND I like Milan, contrary to most of the folks here). I think you'll have a great time. I especially like the gold bracelet part. In Florence, be sure to take a bus to Fiesole (a 20 minute bus ride)

Albert: I visit Italy twice a year. Your trip is perfect for your wife's first Italy trip. Don't change a thing.

I agree. Nearly perfect. Cut one night in Venice and one night in Sorrento. In other words, shorten the trip by two nights.<BR><BR>Now discipline yourself to take that money you saved, and put it in a piggy bank or savings account, and start saving for your second trip to Italy with your wife. Start the plan soon. Include a few more smaller towns on the second trip.<BR><BR>And be prepared to count the days until the third and the fourth and the...<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

I concur---good job !<BR>Be sure to hit Montalcino and the Abbey Mt. Oliveto Maggiore.<BR>Have fun.

Albert - your trip sounds devine! I agree with Tess on the only changes, 1 nt less in Milan & add to Tuscany. Also, I don't think Sorrento is that great - go for a couple nights further south on the Amalfi Coast or Capri.<BR><BR>PS - do you have a single brother?

Albert, looks like you did your homework. Try and squeeze Assisi in if you can. It's not that far from southern Tuscany. I love the part about the gold bracelet too.

Albert,<BR>You are a dear! I wish that my husband would plan a trip for me! I do all the trip planning in the family I hope that you and she will have a wonderful trip!

Sounds like a great plan to me. If you cut a night anywhere, add it to Rome.

Italy is a jewel of a holiday. I would ay cut one night from Milan and Venice and dedicate more time to the small Tuscan villages. Pienza is my favorite and also Siena and San Gimignano. Also, why not visit the north of Italy! Lago di Garda and its surrounding towns are a gem. I go ther every year and Malcesine, Lazise and Sirmione are beautiful but you need at least 3 days to go round this lake. Good food? Head straight to Bologna or Modena .. they are the best - apart from Sicily which is another possibility!!?

Thank you all for the overwhelming response. I knew I could count on all of you. <BR>I dont have a brother. Sorry..<BR>My wife deserves this wonderful trip as she has tirelessly waited on me and our 2 kids for about 20 years now. I just know she will be so excited and I wish all of you could be there to see the look on her face when I tell her.<BR>Life is good. Love someone and you will be rewarded.<BR> Thank you<BR> Albert Johnson

What a lovely post.<BR>

Albert-<BR>My wife & I did almost the exact same trip, with the addition of Bellagio for three nights, for our first trip to Italy in 2000. We went for 3 1/2 weeks.The itinerary is good. My only question is where are you flying home from? If it is Naples you are ok. If not, you may want to alter slightly.

ttt<BR>

Another very good - - and very recent - - thread, currently (as of today, Sep 23, 2002) NOT retrievable by the search function.<BR><BR>A problem with the indexing in some manner.<BR>

Albert is one classy guy!!!<BR>You'll have a great time with this well planned trip. I agree with what a lot of the posters have said, specially to shorten Milan to one night and use that time to spend a night in Assisi.<BR>

up<BR>

Albert's wife is one lucky lady! Agree that a night could be cut from Venice and/or Milan, depending on you interests & whether you may have jet lag that first day. Also consider a day-trip from Venice to Verona. Tuscany area of interest: http://www.montalcinoitaly.com