Need help finalizing my itinerary between Rome and Venice
 

Hi all,

My husband and I will be traveling to Italy (flying into Rome) in late June. We are then flying out of Venice 12 days later. We need some help trying to finalize our itinerary. We want to visit as many places as possible but still enjoy each town we visit.
Here's what we had in mind:
Day 1 - Arrive; Rome
Day 2 - Rome
Day 3 - Rome
Day 4 - leave Rome early morning; Florence
Day 5 - Florence
Day 6 -
Day 7 -
Day 8 -
Day 9 -
Day 10 - Siena (il Palio) - Is this worth it?
Day 11 -
Day 12 - Venice
Day 13 - leave Venice in the evening

So in between, we're confused - here's a few places that were recommended by friends who recently visited Italy:
Pisa, Cinque Terre, Verona, Lake Garda, Montepulciano, San Gimignano....are any of these worth the day trip or does anyone have any other must-have spots? We plan on taking trains/buses everywhere. My husband is open to driving if it makes sense.
Also, we plan on using airbnb for most of our stay but also not sure if we should stay in one place for about a week or so and just make day trips or actually stay in these places and drag our luggage everywhere. Help please?!?!?!
TY!

Re the Palio: do you have viewing stand tickets? The thing lasts just a couple of minutes. IME Siena very much is worth it; the Palio not so much.

With your 12 days I suggest you see 4 destinations, but you are selling both Rome and Venice short. Here is a better time allocation:

Rome--4 nights[ day one is a loss]
Train to Florence--2 nights
Get car---see rural Tuscany hill towns--3 nights
Drive to Venice---drop car--3 nights

Meanwhile, start to plan your next two trips back to Italy since you will return.

And allow me to add that Venice is worth at LEAST two full days if not more. Yes, Florence has "all that art" and Venice has a lot, also

Dukey1 - we do not have tickets. Is it not worth it in that case? I just thought since we were in Italy during that time we should take advantage and experience it.
Thanks all for the suggestions - we will take these into consideration.