My wife and I will be travelling to Italy for the first time next year. We arrive in Rome on 6/25/07 and leave Milan 7/8/07. Any suggestions on an itinerary? I would like to do a Rome - Florence - Venice - Milan but am puzzled by how many days I should stay at each location. We plan to train the cities, if that makes a difference. Thanks for your help.

Hi aw,

You have just the right amount of time for Rome 5 nights, Florence 4 nights (daytrip to Siena), Venice 3 nights, Milan 1 night.

I agree 100% with Ira. He gave you a perfect itinerary for the places you requested.

Hi Aw,

Another interary suggestion for you that would give you a taste of a hilltown, but by train.

Take 1 or 2 nights stopping in Orvieto before Florence. It's wonderful and would be a nice change of pace, still by train.

Buon viaggio!

Hi,

If I were you, I'd stay...

Rome: 4 nights
Florence: 4 nights (daytrip to Siena)
Venice: 3 nights
Milan: 2 nights (daytrip to Lake Como)

It all depends on what interests you and your wife.

If you'd tell us something more about your personal interests and what you hope to get out of a trip to Italy it would be easier to advise you.

(You know, things like: Love/hate museums, love/hate churches, love/hate shopping, prefer sightseeing to hanging out and eating, wine or food is important/unimportant, don't like to sit still/hate rushing around, can't stand the thought of missing famous sites/hate crowds of tourists, et cetera, et cetera.

Since this is our first time, we want to see as much as we can. Museums, churches, antiquities, art, are all on the top of our list. Great restaurants, nice hotels ($200-$250/night - suggestions would be greatly appreciated)would be great. Kid friendly/family oriented are at the bottom of our list.

I would not spend four nights in Florence without at least one daytrip: Siena is a great option. Also, consdier stopping in Assisi for a night between Rome and Florence.

Verona is a nice daytrip from Venice, too.

Even though Venice is the smallest, I would allow equal time there, personal opinion because I love the place.

My hotel suggestion is Pensione La Calcina, see www.lacalcina.com well within your price range, request a corner room with a view of the Guideccca canal. It is just a 3-star but very nice place. Breakfast included.

Just booked Gea di Vulcano for the 5 nights in Rome. I booked through venere and I think I may have gotten the last room because after I received my confirmation and I went back to venere it no longer came up. Any feedback on the hotel?

I just booked Foscari Palace in Venice for my 3 nights. Any feedback on this hotel. Reviews were excellent and location seems fine. Now all I need to do is book Florence and Milan.