We are planning our first trip to Italy for my 30th birthday in end of April 2004. We have rented a villa near Lucca for 7 days with our dearest friends. However, my dh and i would like to make a side trip. Venice? Rome? We love history; architecture; food; wine; shops; spas; and meeting people from all over. We're having such a hard time making up our minds on which city to go! I want the side trip to be very romantic so I am leading towards Venice for that? Any recommendations whether to do the side trip before or after our stay at the villa in the Tuscany area? Thank you so much for your feedback!

Definitely Venice! It *is* incredibly romantic and (especially for a 1st trip to Italy it is much) easier to manage. Venice is quite small and since there is no vehicle traffic, relatively peaceful. Rome is MUCH bigger and more hectic and challenging to negotiate.

Personally I like both and they're both very different cities. Rome is bigger and hectic but it has alot more to see. But I guess if you're looking for a romantic trip then Venice would be better.

No doubt, Venice. It's so unique and magical!

Hi Sarah,

I suggest visiting Venice before you meet up with your friends.

Rome is my favorite city of all I've visited in Europe so far, but Venice is a close second, and the one I would choose for you, based on your criteria, especially for romance.

I'd definitely make Venice my first stop. That's what we did on our trip last September, and there are not words adequate to express our emotions when we turned a corner and suddenly faced San Marco! I knew then that no matter what followed on the rest of our trip, or for the rest of my life, it would have been worth it!

To Suze, Francophile, Statia, Ira, and Mary Fran--THANK YOU so much for your helpful feedback! We really appreciated them. Venice, here we come! We've been researching the boards today for the hotels--did read rants and raves. Very helpful as well. Thanks again! I will check back with you about the best transporation method to arrive and which hotels, grin.

BTW, Statia, LOVED your detailed report!Will definitely use some of your tips

Dear Sarah98,

I've got 20 years of Italy as a second home and I would suggest you forget about Rome and Venice for this trip unless you can dedicate at least 3 nights to one. Plus, I always tell good friends, if Tuscany is part of your Italy visit, leave it till the end. The Tuscan experience is unlike anything else in Italy. It's too soothing to spoil the magic by ending your visit with a quick visit to a major city. If you decide to side trip before Lucca, keep in mind that April is a rainy month and Easter's a big deal in Rome and Venice. If I were you, I'd spend all my time exploring Tuscany, from Lucca down to Montepulciano and back. Even with the rain, Tuscany can be breathtaking in April. Lucca is a stone's throw from Florence. Get your history, architecture, wine, and shopping from there. Then go back to Lucca and relax.

Hi NYC,

A lovely paean to a lovely countryside.

However, this is Sarah's first trip to Italy. Can you remember the first time you saw Venice?

My first visit to Venice was April, 1979. It rained the entire two days I was there, I drove in after a week in Umbria and from Venice I drove to Florence and did Tuscany for my first time, ending my trip in Rome. I still remember the hassles and the feeling of culture shock.

In those two miserably wet days of schlepping luggage to-and-from Venice's carpark (cameras) and over its bridges, I still managed to fall in love with the place. Yes, Venice captured my soaking wet soul and I return as often as I can.

I fully understand the temptation to always do "more" of Italy, when opportunity arises. But, I've learned by doing...and this is one New Yorker who lives by "less is more." My visits to Italy, especially those in the last ten years, have changed my life dramatically because I made the decision to stop and stand still for a minute. When you visit a lovely place and stay for 7 nights or more, you can afford to soak in more at a pace that's closer to human. You retain more as well. A concentrated visit also gives you the opportunity to develop local relationships, a gift beyond compare.

There's no denying it folks, Italy is a country one must visit over and over again. You just have to find a way. But, my advice, even for first-timers, is go slow and plan wisely!

I agree,

That's why I suggested that Sarah go to Venice before meeting up with friends in Lucca.

Sarah, you've gotten some very thoughtful advice. For my 2 cents, I'd do the romantic side trip AFTER being with your friends. No matter how close you are with them, having some quiet time together before returning home sounds better to me. However I agree I wouldn't want to be in either Rome or Venice for Easter hols (don't know when they fall next year).

Venice! And you can stop in Florence on your way there.
Tuscany was our favorite area of our Honeymoon in June. San Gimignano is not too far from Lucca, try to see it! We also loved Southern TUscany: Montalcino, Siena, MOntepulciano, Pienza. But Venice is surreal and worth the trip. Rome is a big city and a trip in and of itself some day (with a side jaunt to the Amalfi coast).

Neither...

You only have 7 nights, and will spend at minimum 6 hours RT to either destination. Also, you've already paid for you're lodging.

Spend the days lounging and travelling around Tuscany, maybe go to Bologna if you want.

Do the cities next time.

Coachboy

Thank you for your 2 cents' worth about whether we should make a side trip to Venice before or after our villa stay in Tuscany. You each have brought up a good point for us to consider. I do think it's so true about staying in one place and soak up the aura and beauty of the area and leave with wonderful memories. I better check on the Easter holiday dates--thanks for the warning! Hmmmm...now we're going to have to discuss if we should concentrate in Tuscany alone or go to Venice beforehand/afterwards. Read 1,000 days in Venice by deBlasi. Loved it!

Hi Sarah,

There shouldn't be anything to discuss other than going to Venice before or after - except maybe 3 days or 4.

I can't imagine being in Italy for the first time and deciding not to see Venice! You have the time and Lucca is just a nice train ride away (last winter we flew to Venice, then took the train to Lucca, through Florence).

Sure--you'll probably go back to Italy, but then again, who knows? Don't put it off--go to Venice!

Byrd

Look for a report from 'Lina' - do a text search. She had a terrific report on their trip recently, including Rome and Venice. I have never been to Italy, but she made me want to pack my bag and GO ! She had great advice and good suggestions. It may help you.

Thanks! I just read Lina's report. It was great! We have decided we will go to Venice first for few days before we head out to our rental villa in Tuscany! We have secured a room at the Pensione Accademia in Venice. The plan is to take a train ride to Tuscany from Venice. Any tips about that? I am continuing to research all of the forums here. You Fodorites are great!