Opinions on my Italy Itinerary?
 

This is my first time going to Italy (I'm travelling with my sister. She's in her early 30's, I'm in my mid-20's)... I just thought I'd see what people think about this:

Day 1 - Arrive in Rome... maybe walk around a bit and rest (we find we are EXTREMELY jetlagged when we land, so we leave the first day pretty relaxed)

Day 2 - Visit Colosseum and Roman Forum

Day 3 - Vatican City area, St. Peter's Basillica, Sistine Chapel, Castell Sant'Angelo

Day 4 - Basilica of San Clemente, Baths of Caracalla

Day 5 - daytrip to Ostia Antica

Day 6 - Travel to Florence. Visit Uffizi Gallery, Galeria de la academia, Pitti Palace (<--I realize that's a little ambitious... something might have to be axed). Spend night in Florence

Day 7 - Spend whole day in Florence. Visit the duomo, Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, the Baptistery. Return to Rome at day's end.

Day 8 - Back in Rome, visit the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, maybe some other small churches (<--suggestions welcome)

Day 9 - MAYBE Tivoli if we're not too tired. This day is sort of "open" at the moment, so I'll take suggestions.

Let me know what you guys think! Thanks!

I think this is very 'doable'. If I had one slight qualm, it might be that your Florence portion is too short. The distance from Roma to Firenza is small in terms of time to get there, but they are so gloriously different!

IMHO, you might be able to spend 2-3 days in Florence and still have time to do most of the things you have in mind in Rome.

If I can express it this way, your time in Florence (unlike your pace in Rome) is SO packed with things-to-see, you are in danger of not seeing Florence.

Hi NH,

It's a good plan.

I favor Florence over Rome, so I would add a night there.

On your first night, I suggest that you take the no. 7 bus up to Fiesole to watch the sunset over the city from the terrace of the Bar Bleu. You can get the bus from the RH side of the SMN train station.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

Call me crazy, but why have two hotel stays in Rome. I would land and train to Florence on day one--it is only 1:40 longer and you can sleep on the train. I hate hotel changes. I would do 4 nites in Florence, since day one is a loss, and one day take the bnus to Siena for the day.

Ira's absolutely right about the views (and mood) from Fiesole.

But do arrive early enough to take in the ruins and visit the Etruscan museum. It will be very different from anything else you see on the rest of your trip-and all for the cost of a city bus ride (and an interesting one at that!)

Actually, my sister and I were planning to do what we did on our very first trip to the UK, which is to leave most of our stuff in our base hotel (in this case, Rome) and take a very light (and liberating) day bag to our 2nd destination (Florence). Yes, I know it's a waste of money to leave the Rome hotel behind, but it saves us the stress of hauling a large bag and checking into another Rome hotel.

On our LAST trip to the UK (which was to North Wales) we landed in Gatwick, took the Gatwick Express to Victoria, took a cab to Euston, then took a train to Shrewsbury! It was soooooo exhausting. In other words, I couldn't imagine going straight from the plane, to a train, to Florence.

I appreciate the suggestions though. Keep them coming! :)

I love Florence, too. You might want to peruse this website for info on just the state museums in Florence. You've left a lot of Florence's treasures off your itinerary.

http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/en...usei/musei.asp

<<Actually, my sister and I were planning to do what we did on our very first trip to the UK, which is to leave most of our stuff in our base hotel (in this case, Rome) and take a very light (and liberating) day bag to our 2nd destination (Florence). Yes, I know it's a waste of money to leave the Rome hotel behind, but it saves us the stress of hauling a large bag and checking into another Rome hotel.>>

The hotel will hold the bag at no cost. Bob's point is a good one: Why waste any time changing hotels? Go to Florence as soon as you arrive. Stay for the time you want. Then go to Rome and have all the Rome days in a row without interruption.

What a pleasant surprise to see someone who isn't trying to do 7 cities in 7 days. Mrs. K and I were 7 days in Florence and in retrospect, it sounds like we missed something special with the Fiesole bus.

Ah well, next time. :D