Hello,
We are planning a 14-day (13 nights) trip to Italy.
We want to arrive in Milan (my wife is an amateur classical singer and absolutely must visit La Scala; I personally would skip Milan) and depart at the end of the trip from Rome.
Any advice on the itinerary. I would greatly appreciate a day by day schedule.
We plan to use trains and possibly rent a car to explore Tuscany although I am not sure if it makes sense. We are both in mid forties and it is our first trip to Italy. Tentative timing - May 2009.

Thanks in advance.

Dan

Do you want to include Venice?

I can't give you a day by day itinerary but do recommend that you spend a minimum of 5 nights, 4 full days in Rome to enjoy that city without feeling overwhelmed and rushed. More time would be even better.

Since you know you want to start in Milan and spend time there for La Scala (two nights at least) and also explore Tuscany by car, I would not try to add on other destinations. Maybe 3 nights in Florence and 3 nights in another base in Tuscany? I would not have a car in the cities, but it sounds as though you want to spend some time in the country.

If you give a better idea of your interests other than the opera, people will be able to give better feedback.

I would agree that we need to know whether Venice is a must. Since you don't mention it, perhaps you don't mind missing it. A couple of possibilities:

Without Venice, do 2 nights in Milan, train to Florence for 2 nights, then pick up rental car and stay in southern Tuscany (Pienza/Montepulciano area) for 4 nights and visit area towns, drop the car off in Orvieto and see the Duomo there, then take the train to Rome for 5 nights.

If Venice is a must, 2 nights in Milan, train to Venice for 3 nights, pick up a car and drive to Tuscany for 4 nights with a daytrip to Florence, then again drop the car in Orvieto and train to Rome to 4 nights.

Thanks everyone for the response. Yes we want to include Venice.
How about the following plan:
1 night in Milan (we would have an afternoon on the first day and a morning on the next day in Milan), train to Venice for 3 nights, pick up a car and drive to Tuscany for 4 nights with a daytrip to Florence, then drop the car in Orvieto and train to Rome for 4 nights.
I have a few practical questions:
1.What would be a good base in Tuscany?
2. What is the best way to do a day trip to Florence ( I've seen many negative comments about parking and driving in and out of the Florence).
3.Any reasonable 4 -night itinerary in Tuscany?

You seem to agree with my second itinerary given above, except you only show 12 nights, and you said you will have 13. I would still put the extra one in Milan. You will be tired the first day, and if your plane is delayed, you might miss what you had planned for that afternoon.

As mentioned, Pienza or Montepulciano are both in a good area to stay in Tuscany. San Quirico d’Orcia is also a good choice, in the same area. I'm not sure about parking for a daytrip into Florence, others will chime in on that, but the whole idea of having a car in Tuscany is so you can do your daytrips without having to use bus and train.

Don't miss Sant'Antimo, and try to time your visit to hear the Gregorian Chants.

Do a search here for Tuscany itineraries and you'll get loads of information!

If you arrive in Milan from the US and expect to go to the Opera that night, you should expect to fall asleep during the Opera. You will be extremely jet-lagged and wanting desperately to sleep when it starts.

Ah, the dreaded day trip to Florence. Maybe park at the airport and bus in. Drive to Piazzale Michelangelo and park then bus, but I have seen folks wait forever for a spot there. Alternately, pick a town with good train connections (like Signa right outside of Florence), drive there, park and train.

I am not a fan of the daytrip to Florence. Unless you are staying in a part of Tuscany that has easy access, I don't like hassle.

Many people here love Southern Tuscany, and recommend places like the Val d'Orcia, but that is a longish day trip to Florence. You might consider someplace like San Gimignano, Volterra, or Colle Val d'Elsa. A base in this area still provides you with a lot to see and do, but makes for an easier daytrip to Florence.

Other than classical music, what are your likes and dislikes? If you are art lovers, I suggest at least an overnight in Florence.

dimasmel,

If Florence is a must (in addition to Venice), I would just train to Florence and do an overnight there. Pick up your rental car on the way out and enjoy the countryside.

Buon viaggio