I am planning our Italy trip and think I have too many places to visit. I am trying to eliminate something. Would you spend a couple of nights in Chianti or Siena and tour the country side or stay in Florence a couple of nights and do a day trip to Cinque Terre and a day trip to Chianti? I want to do it all, but....

We are go go go vacation types...up early, power walking, seeing as much as possible, never tiring until we get back home. We are not much into art or museums. We are a late 30's couple celebrating our 10th anniversary. Any help would be appreciated. Oh, just in case you are curious, the trip does include Rome and Venice. I am just stuck on the middle part of the trip!! If you think Sienna/Chianti would you recommend renting a car in Rome to get there? Or can we get a car in Siena?

it's hard to answer all these questions because much of it is up to your preference. for some misc comments, i would say that cinque terre is not a good day trip...the only reason to visit it, IMO is to walk between all five villages. this cannot be comfortably done in a single day. anyway, CT is hardly a must see and can easily be skipped.

siena is not my favourite place. if you want city, i would choose florence over siena...many people here talk about siena like it's the tuscan countryside but it is a very compact city that is usually packed with tourists. even venice is more relaxing because you can easily remove yourself from the tourist fray and wander around.

therefore, if you want some countryside to balance with Rome and venice, i would spend at least 3 nights in tuscany....chianti would be ok if that is what you are leaning toward.

A day trip to the Cinque Terre seems like a lot of travel and not enough "being there".

If you are visiting Rome & Venice, I would not stay in Florence - I'd stay somewhere in the countryside or in a small village in Tuscany to get a different "feel" of Italy. Personally, I much prefer Southern Tuscany in the Val d'Orcia (Pienza area) over Chianti. I think the countryside is much prettier there, and the towns more charming. I actually prefer the wines of this region over the Chiantis.

Stu Dudley

It sounds like you have only two days to schedule and you are asking whether to visit Florence, the Tuscan countryside and/or Cinque Terre. I think Florence is one of the wonders of the world but it sounds if you prefer an active vacation to museums. That being the case, I would spend the two days in the Tuscan countryside, south of Florence. Definitely rent a car if you are not basing yourself in Florence. We liked Cinque Terre but I would not take the time away from Tuscany to take a day trip to CT.

Here's my (differing) thought -

Because you're "go go go vacation types" and because your "trip does include Rome and Venice" and because you're "not much into art or museums", I'd suggest not going to Tuscany at all (go there for your 20th) and go instead to the CT (for several days and not as a daytrip), and do the hiking and ferrying from town to town - a welcome scenic change-of-pace neatly sandwiched in between Rome and Venice.

Since you are not to much for the art museums and already have 2 city destinations planned, I would stay in a small country town. We stayed in a small village called Panzanno in summer '03 that was sweet. Nearby was a slightly larger town, Greve in Chianti and that would be a good base too. Also in Chianti is Castellini, I thought that was pretty. We rented a car in Rome and then drove to Chianti, you could drop the car in Florence and take the train on to Venice.

Another vote for exploring the Tuscan countryside over a daytrip to Cinque Terre. A couple days in one of the many charming towns to be found is a nice balance in between the cities of Rome and Venice.

Also, depending upon the time of year for your visit, the CT can be overwhelming crowded with your fellow tourists.

I like Tuck/s suggestion.

I'm with Tuck too. I think you have a perfect amount of time to enjoy the Cinque Terre -- the hiking, the ferry ride, the amazing food and scenery -- but too little for Tuscany. I would visit Tuscany another time when you have at least a week to see a mix of villages, cities, and vineyards.