My husband and I are in the process of planning a return trip to Italy in September 2013 for our 14th wedding anniversary. By then, it will have been 4 years since we’ve been to Europe, so we're more than ready! (our last trip was Greece in 2009, and we’re going on a cruise to Alaska this year.)

I frequent the Europe forum for ideas and trip reports, and I know I’ve asked this before, but I’m having a terrible time trying to come up with the “perfect itinerary” for us this time around. We can spend 13 nights in Italy (not including travel days). Every thread I read gives me a new idea, and something else sounds incredible! I need to get a grip!

It’s our 2nd trip to Italy. In October 2003, we visited Rome for 6 nights, San Gimignano, Castellina in Chianti, Assisi and Orvieto. I don’t think I want to visit the same destinations this time, since there is still so much to see (although I’m not opposed to staying a night or two in Rome again at our favorite hotel if need be).

We're open to either trains or driving, or a combination. We like museums and Renaissance art, wine and food, and staying at smaller, romantic inns or B&B’s. We often spend our days just walking around a place, soaking in the atmosphere.

Here’s where we’re at right now: Venice is an absolute must for this trip. Cinque Terre is also somewhere we’ve wanted to go for years, so I’m thinking of trying to build a trip that incorporates both CT and Venice (preferably ending in Venice.)

We are considering an “all train travel” trip, such as Rome-CT-Florence-Venice, or Nice-CT-Florence-Venice (husband would love to go back to Villefranche-sur-mer for a couple of days.) However, every time I think of this scenario, I feel like I’d be missing out on a few days just leisurely driving around the Val D’Orcia area of Tuscany, or touring the hills of Piedmont. We usually have incorporated hilltowns into most of our Europe trips, because we like the quaint villages and driving around at our own pace, at least for a few days of the trip. But, maybe adding something like Lucca or Verona would complement the trip and still give us more atmospheric, romantic Italian towns to enjoy without heading to Tuscany? .

Lake Como, Piedmont, Lucca, Verona and Bologna have all peaked my interest, so I'm definitely open to considering them as well. Honestly, the only place that isn’t on my list as a possibility at this time is the Amalfi Coast, because I know that is a probably a separate trip at another time for us.

Can anyone help me focus on what may be a good combination for this trip? I'm not trying to make this the "end all, only time we'll ever go to Italy again" trip, but I just want to find the right mix and pace for us. Thanks so much!

If you want the art, go to Florence.

I've stayed in Ravenna on the lake. You can take a simple commuter train from Milan.

Get on the ferry and cross the lakes to other towns such as Bellagio.

Not a lot do see in Bologna, but the best food in Italy is there. Easy trips to Parma and Modena. There's always the 'museum' next to the Ferrari factory, about 10-12km down from Modena on a bus.

Looking for simple places to stay, check out Venere.

http://www.venere.com/hotels/italy/ Besides hotels there are B&Bs and Inns. Always read their reviews to make sure you like the place.

It's not "Ravenna on the lake." Most likely it's Varenna. Just a switch of consonants.

Since you haven't been to Venice or Florence, I would make those the bookends of your trip. Fly into Venice, fly out of Florence or Pisa. You can day trip by train from Venice to Verona and Ferrara and from Florence to Bologna, Lucca and Pisa. If you haven't been to Siena, you can go there from Florence by bus for a day trip. If you want to spend the days between Venice and Florence driving through the countryside, look at a map to consider the various route options. If you only want to use public trans, you need to explore the train routes and stops and find out how much time and effort is required to reach the places you want to see.

Read some guidebooks to find out what you want to see in Venice and Florence and how much time that would require. Then you'll know how many days you have to plan in between.

If you like Renaissance art, then definitely include Florence. Venice fits in well with a Florence trip. Well, as does Bologna; I really like Bologna. The Cinque Terre is a bit more out of the way, though IMHO well worth visiting. I found that part of Italy much more interesting than the Lakes area (though that opinion is not shared by many others).

I know how you feel about train-only trips vs. those with a car rental. Our last few trips to Europe, while wonderful, have been city-focused, with little time in a rental car in the country, and I've found myself mentally planning a future trip that would include more driving and small villages.

One thing about ending in Venice - flights from Venice tend to leave early, early in the morning. Consider flipping your itinerary to start in Venice, and end in Florence or Milan. And if your budget allows, consider taking a water taxi from the airport - I'm a pretty frugal person, but it's one thing I'm willing to spend money on - that speedy trip across the water to Venice rising from the water, or the mist, depending on the weather.

Thank your for your responses so far. I think we're definitely going to spend a couple days in Florence, since we missed it last time.

Will probably either pair up Venice & Florence with Cinque Terre, or, perhaps save that for another trip, and do Venice & Florence with some leisurely time in Southern Tuscany.

Any other thoughts are appreciated. Stay tuned!

Okay I'll be the voice of dissent. Out of all the places I've been in Italy, CT impressed me the least! Yes it has beautiful scenary but maybe it was too built up in my mind/too many expectations. It lacked a certain...authenticity for my husband and myself, but maybe it was just us, as everyone else seems to love it. Places in Italy I absolutely adored include:
Genoa (very underrated, interesting history, lots of wandering)
Bologna
Florence
Venice/Mestre (neighboring town that's actually quite charming if you want to save some cash with crazy Venice hotel prices)
Lake Garda
Verona (yes it's touristy as all of Italy but there's many reasons for it IMO)
Bergamo
TRIESTSE (still cannot get over how beautiful and UNDERRATTED it is, see I'm even using cap locks
Milan, I adored, although heard it's polarizing. Have fun planning and travelling and congrats on 14 years!!!

Oh yeah also Siena! Gorgeous! Can forget that esepcially if you're doing Florence.

ihopp - with two of you travelling in September, you don't necessarily have to book everywhere you are going to stay, as there will be plenty of availability, particularly outside major tourist centres.

I would think about this - 4 nights in venice [prebooked] 3 nights in Florence [ditto] and a car hired for the in between bit where you just take off and travel where you fancy.

Thanks travelingkoshka. I know what you mean about CT; I had the same experience with Provence actually. I had it so built up in my mind that it seemed to fall short somehow. I think I had too many expectations after years of reading about it. I'm a little afraid of that happening with CT too. I like your list of places you adore. Lake Garda, Bergamo, Verona and Trieste fit nicely with Venice, and that would be an easy trip I think!

Annhig, thank you also. I'm such a planner that I haven't given any thought to just wandering around outside of Florence and Venice...something to think about!

The Amalfi Coast is a must!!! You can stay in Sorrento which is a beautiful Italian town and then from there take day trips to Capri, Positano, Amalfi etc. This is one of my favorite places anywhere.

Dsrn it, I had decided to save Amalfi Coast for another time, but now I'm thinking it's possible to do, perhaps instead of Cinque Terre. Venice, Florence and Amlafi Coast in 2 weeks?

Well, the AC is possible, but it doesn't fit well with the rest of your trip. Since you're dreaming of driving in Tuscany, I really like annhig's suggestion of flying into Venice and out of Florence/Pisa, with time spent in between in the Tuscan countryside. You could pick up your rental car as you leave Venice, drive to Tuscany, then drop your car some place like Siena or Arezzo with easy transportation into Florence.

Yes Mimar, I believe that is a better idea, saving the Amalfi Coast for another time. I also am beginning to really like that idea of Venice, Florence and the Tuscan countyside. How would one divide up the days for that? Venice 4, Florence 3, Tuscany 4 or 5?

lhopp - i think i just gave you that!

Venice 4, Florence 3, the area in between - the rest!

annhig, you did...goodness, I'm sorry! My mind is going crazy. I think I need to relax tonight with my Italy travel books and glass of wine and continue planning.

We fell like a ton of bricks for CT last Sept, but we had a whole month to play with (and had already done Venice and Florence and a bit of Tuscany) so we were filling in some of the desires we'd built up since our first trip. You will be back again, and I think you will love the Venice 4-Florence 3- Tuscany exploring the rest option for this trip.

Thanks. We may still considering working in CT for a couple of days, but we'll see. At least I'm narrowing things down a little bit it seems.

lhopp - no need to apologise, i just wanted to make sure you'd seen it.

You are heading in the right direction in your plans. I really would not try to squeeze in CT on this trip. There is so much to see in Tuscany, so many of those little towns you spoke of, and such beautiful scenery, that it would be a shame to take away from it for CT.