Heading to italy for 2 wks in July. Here's our current itinerary:

Land 6/28 AM in Rome. Spend 6/28, 6/29 in Rome.

Spend 6/30 AM in Rome. Rent car, drive up through Tuscany in the afternoon (stopping at Montalcino vineyards). Spend the night of 7/1, 'as close to Siena' as possible (Palio is July 2).

After Palio, drive from Siena to Florence, spend 7/3, 7/4 in Florence.

Leave Florence 7/5 AM, stopping at Pisa for a few hours along the way, and spending the night of 7/5 in a TBD town along the way to Sanremo.

Spending 7/6 (our 1 year anniversary) and 7/7 in Sanremo, at night enjoying the international fireworks display/competition.

Now here's the dilemma: Want to head to the islands (Sardinia/Corsica), but also want to visit Piedmonte/Villa D'Osta as some of our favorite wines call that area home. If we do 7/8 and 7/9 in Piedmonte, that only leaves us 7/10, 11 and 12 in the islands, then a ferry back to Rome the night of the 12th, for our July 13th flight. How does the italian riviera stack up to corsica and/or sardinia, because it's starting to sound like we may only be able to do 1 of the 2.

Now, feel free to criticize/improve/praise/impart travel wisdom uopn our plans...

And a couple other q's:
Seems like we have to rent a car for everything between Rome and the islands - agree?

This time of year, are we are going to need to book all of our hotels in advance (obviously in/around Siena) - else, what will our selection look like once there?

Thanks in advance for all the help!!!

Drop either everything except oine destination, either Valdaosta or Piedmont or Sardinia or Corsica (which is France and nit Italy, by the way). Any of these three areas would require at least 2 weeks to be toured properly, a mere 1-2 days in the area would not allow you to see anything, and I mean it literally! Now, the point is, are you more interested in spendinding your time by the seasie or in the mountains?

Wow--that is a big question. If I had your itinerary I would pick 4 destinations and spend at least 3 nites at each. You are driving right by some of the best of Italy in a hurry to get somewhere else. And, you do not want to drive into Florence. Yes, you will need to book hotels in high season. I hope you are flying home from Milan or Nice.
I would do:
Rome--3
Tuscany--near Siena--4
Ligurian coast--perhaps SML--3
The Lakes--Orta/Maggiore--3

You will return--slow down!

"genius" apparently comes in many forms! but I agree you may be trying to see too much too soon

I avoided answering this at first - - didn't want to have it said I think myself a genius, and I have never been to the Palio (actually not inside the town of Siena at all, ever) - - and likewise not to Sardinia or Corsica.

But I wonder what kind of rooms you can get "as close to Siena as possible", starting right now for July 1, 2003. "As close to Siena as possible" might be in Florence!

And a whirlwind, jet-lagged two days in Rome is a pretty good way to ensure that you will not like Rome. Rome is very intense, and it takes a day or two to get used to its sounds, its scooters, its pace and so on.

Best wishes,

Rex

We are staying near Siena during this time and most places required a 3 night stay. Even our hotel in Florence for the wkend b4 the race required 2 nights. I'd prioritize finding that place to stay now if you really want to attend the race. Good luck!

Thanks for the help, everyone. I think we're looking at dropping the Sardinia/Corsica (I know - France) portion to make this thing work. Maybe replace with Cinque Terre on the way to Piedmonte.

As far as Siena - we're going to get cracking on hotels ASAP!

I was under the impression that the race was on the 6th? Maybe I'm wrong. Where did you get the info from and have you tickets? I would agree with Bob. We're doing a similar trip a week later than you but over 3 weeks.
Rome 3
Tuscany 7
Venice 3
Lake Garda 8

We have all our accommodation booked and deposits paid. Good luck and enjoy!!

My opinion is that you should skip Piedmont and save it for your next trip. There is no other place in the world like Sardinia - You are going to love it!
Have a great vacation!

E

Include 5Terre if you can!
And the race is definitely on July 2.

We are leaving next week for a 12 day trip...this is what we are doing:

Venice 1nt
Rome 3nts
Siena 2 nts
Florence 2nts
Portofino 2nts
Milan 1 nt

I will be back on May 26th. Would be happy to provide feedback on our journey and hotel info...just let me know. One bit of advice - carefully look at the travel time and logisitics from one city to another. If you do things "off the beaten path" at all, train or transportation times can be limited (ferries or even trains to smaller cities). We changed our itinerary based on things like that.

Mgift: far too much in too little time. you will be spending more time packing, travelling and unpacking than really seeing the places. Make it two or three places only with one daytrip from each place.

Great!!! Sounds like a remake of "Around the world in 80 days". And you don't have any bookings yet???

Some simple remarks and questions:
1) Rome is a 5-days town.
2) Florence is a 2-day town.
3) Fireworks... if this really turns you on, then go for it, but Sanremo is a boring town.
4) Why the islands? And you certainly need a car on the islands! Do you have your bookings allready? But still; why the islands? Visiting the islands is very time consuming.
5) Why so hectic? Do you still have vacations when your back home?

My suggestion, as you asked for it:
- 6/28, arrival in rome, take the car and go to tuscany
- 6/29,30, 7/1,2,3 visiting tuscany, palio, san gemigniano, lucca, pistoia, florence, montalcino, pisa and so on...
- 7/3, trip to Cinque Terre
- 7/4, stay in Cinque Terre
- 7/5, trip to Piedmont region
- 7/6, stay in Piedmont region
- 7/7, daytrip to Rome
- 7/8,9,10,11,12
- 7/13, fly back relaxed