All,

Looking for some advice on an Italy trip in mid-October. My last time there (about 15 years ago) included Florence, Venice, and CT. My wife is going for the first time. This time around, I'm thinking about Rome and Amalfi Coast, but I recall fond memories of Florence. I have two itineraries in mind and was hoping for some suggestions:

Option 1:

Arrive Rome, head straight to Florence

2 nights in Florence, 4 nights in Rome, 4 nights in Positano

Return to Rome and fly home

Option 2:

Arrive Rome

5 nights in Rome with day trip to Florence

5 nights in Positano

Return to Rome and fly home

Any recommendations (including ideas not listed here)?

Thanks!

Jon

Hello JonS, do you and your wife have a good interest in visiting the museums in Florence? If so, I would go with Option 1. If not and if you just want to enjoy Florence for the day I would go with Option 2. If you take the train early morning from Rome to Florence (about a 90 minute train ride) you could enjoy Florence and return to Rome in the evening. That would save time changing hotels. So it does depend on what you two have interest wise.

In that you have fond memories of Florence I would think that you would enjoy sharing Florence with your wife and thus Option 1 would probably be the best plan. Best regards.

Also, what time will your plane be landing in Rome? Figure time to get from FCO to the Termini Station and than onto Florence. If you arrive at FCO in the morning you would probably have the afternoon and the next day and part of the morning for Florence if you go with Option 1. With Option 1 you would have the later part of the afternoon in Rome plus three full days before you leave for Positano.

I pick Door #1, but I'd try to fly home from Naples.

Door #3

Arrive Rome, head straight to Florence
2 nights Florence, 4 nights Positano, end in Rome 4 nights.

Door #3 is looking promising

Any suggestions about how to get from Florence to Positano? Seems like driving would make sense since we will want a car in AC. Is it feasibible to rent a car on the way out of Florence, keep it in AC and then drop off on arrival in Rome?

Jon

Re: Florence.

We've done one-night and two-night visits. I wouldn't go for a day-trip. The train takes about 1:40 each way...an easy trip, but it takes a chunk of time out of a single day-trip.

If you're an art junkie, then two nights in Florence is the way to go. If not, one night will do the job arriving in mid-morning and leaving after dinner the next day.

Make sure that, if you are going on a weekend, get your tickets in advance...actually, getting the tix in advance is always a good idea.

Our first trip we got the advance tix on the Trenitalia website (e-tickets with a paper printout) and that worked well. (I assume, but am not certain, that this is still possible.)

Our second trip we did a day-trip from Rome on a weekend without advanced tix, and we almost couldn't get back because almost all the evening trains (Sunday) were fully booked.

SS

I also go with Door #3. No point in backtracking with the time you have. As far as the car, I know it's feasible to rent in Florence and drop off in Rome, but you'll just have to check different car companies to see what, if any, is the drop-off fee. Some can be rather steep.

Re getting to Positano. Train to Salerno (probably have to change in Rome). From Salerno, either a bus along the coast with one change or ferry/boat to docks in Positano.

I agree. Door #3.

Are you sure you want to drive on the Amalfi Coast? The road is narrow and twisty; the driver won't have much time to admire the view.

In mid-October the buses shouldn't be that full. However, the ferries may not be running. Or they can be canceled because of rough seas. Here's the ferry schedule: www.metrodelmare.com. Note that the Autumn schedule stops after Oct. 11.

Hi Jon,

>Any suggestions about how to get from Florence to Positano? Seems like driving would make sense since we will want a car in AC.<

Why do you think that you "need" a car on the AC? They have very good bus and ferry service from Sorrento to Salerno.

Ditto dfr.

Not planning on Venice with your SO?

Enjoy your trip.

PS, At least an overnight in Florence. However,

A DAY IN FLORENCE:

Train to Florence SMN:
The Luggage Office is to your left as you leave the train.

From Piazza d' Stazione, walk up via Nazionale to via d'Ariento and the Mercato Centrale, wander through.

Take any street going NE to Via Degli Alfani and go right to the Accademia for The David.

Take via Ricasoli SE to the Duomo, the Baptistry and the Opera Museum (Originals of the bronzes on the doors)

From the Campanile, take via Calzaiuoli S (do some window shopping) to the Piazza d' Signoria. Look around, take a break.

Continue S to the Uffizi. Visit.

From the Uffizi, walk W along the Arno River to the Ponte Vecchio.

(You can walk up to the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens if there is time. Great views of Florence from the top of the Gardens)

If you have time, walk E along the S bank of the river to Ponte alle grazie and cross over to visit Santa Croce.

If not, go W along the Arno from Ponte Vecchio to Ponte S. Trinita and go right. Go left on Via d'Spada to via d'Fossi and go right to Santa Maria Novella. Look around.

SMN is across the square from the train station.

If you have time, take the no. 7 bus (you can find it at the SMN train station) up to Fiesole (0:20 hr 1E) to watch the sunset from the terrace of the Bar Bleu.

Be sure to have lots of gelato (in a cup, not a cone), take some wine breaks and a light lunch.

Train schedules, prices and tickets are at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html
Call center from outside Italy is 39-06-68475475

Bus routes are at http://www.ataf.net/
Buy your ticket before you get on the bus. Stamp it in the yellow box on the bus.

Uffizi and Academia Museum Reservations
You can purchase tickets online at http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/english/musei/uffizi/

Have a nice visit.

Hi Jon:

5 nights Rome
5 nights Positano
Day trip to Florence

You do not want a car on the Amalfi Coast. The buses and ferries will take you everywhere.

Positano-Capri: ferry (30 min.) €30.pp.
Positano- Amalfi-Ravello: Bus or ferry (25 minutes)€3.-€6.pp.
Positano. Pompei: bus & train (1hr.)€3.80pp.
Positano- Herculaneum : bus & train 1 1/2 hr.€3.80pp.
Positano-Vesuvius : bus& train 1 1/2 hrs. €13.60

The fast trains from Rome to Naples take 1hr. 20 minutes €46.pp

Naples train station to Port for Positano ferry €10.
Ferry Naples -Positano €15.pp.

Naples Sorrento Train €3.80
Sorrento -Positano Bus €3.pp.

SAVE YOUR TAXI MONEY ON SOME GREAT MEALS AND FUN.

You cannot drive into Ravello. You cannot drive into Amalfi. You don't want to drive into Positano.

We used "Walking With The Gods" for our itineraries and Hotel and transportation.

A practical note here: I loved the shopping in Flrence and so will your wife! Spend an overnight, let her explore the San Lorenzo area.

4 days Rome
2 days Florence (Train Florence-Positano)
4 days Positano

If your flight is departing from Rome, you will need to spend your last night in Rome so it only makes since to stay in Rome the last four nights.

Option two is the best choice. Take one day trip to Florence.

Unless, of course, you plan to visit famous Museums,you are able to explore the city in one Day.

Florence Historico Center is small.

Thanks so much to everyone for the great advice. I would say that we are art appreciators rather than enthusiasts. I do recall however seeing the David in person as an incredibly moving experience that I would not want my wife to miss. I think we could do without the Ufuzzi experience (art enthusiasts, please don't be offended!).

We arrive in Rome at 8:45 am. Is it too much to head to Florence, spend one night, and leave the next day for AC? I also think it would not be so bad if we stayed a 2nd night and left early for AC. I hate to jump around so much, so trying to strike the right balance.

If we stay only one night in Florence, any destinations on the way from Florence to AC worthy of an overnight stop?

Thanks,

Jon