If "art" or artistic interior decoration are not "high" on your list then I would not advise doing much of anything "inside" any of the buildings in Venice.

The "art" in Florence is, in many ways, in an entirely different realm than the art in Rome IMO.

Let me just add that when I was in Venice in September of last year, it was mobbed during the daytime. Unpleasantly so. Fortunately, I've been there several times before but I could hardly believe how much more crowded it was compared to a few years prior. What about a combo daytrip to Montepulciano and Pienza? Two different-feel towns and both enjoyable and not nearly as crowded. Enjoy your trip whatever you choose. You can't go wrong.

One night in Venice is a complete waste of time and money.

Every person I have met who did one overnight in Venice ended up hating the place.

It takes at least three days to find your way around. You need to explore the quiet areas of the city not just the hurly burly of Piazza San Marco and the Rialto.

And when I mean hurly burly I mean The Burning of Atlanta hurly burly.

Thin

OK. Have a talk with your teens. If they want to swim and get a tan -- don't go to Europe. Really. If they want to go to Europe, talk to them about what they want to see. I took my daughter to Europe at age 14 and there were rules -- only European food, we both got to choose some things we wanted to see, etc. And we both had a great time. She discovered food she loved and still eats to this day (15 years later) and I lived through trying on every dress in Paris (or so it seemed lol) But don't take them all that way to sit in the sun and tan. What a waste!


I went to Pisa at 20 and thought it was a bore. Only go to Venice if you can afford a night trip on a gondola. If so, it could be the highlight of the trip -- just take a nice late afternoon nap in the air conditioned hotel, have a wonderful sea food dinner someplace recommended by your hotel person (after you have been very nice to him or her of course) (or someplace recommended by Anthony Bourdain) and take photos that they can show to their friends. Take a long slow walk back to the hotel, going back across the central bridge and square now that it's dark and more quiet, and consider it a success.

As for the person who would give up Rome -- crazy. Rome is so wonderful. Have a "competition" for how many pieces of art they can spot up high on the outside of buildings, how many churches they can count in one day. I've lived in Paris and still think Rome is the most beautiful city in the world. (Oh and they have GREAT fake purses cheap! The shopping for a teen is heaven!) Take the bus tour the first day, then, having seen all the "must sees" you can walk around, gelato in hand, looking in the store windows and the churches and again, nap during the heat of the day...

Just my two cents worth,

an Italy lover

TF

<i><font color=#555555>"If they want to swim and get a tan -- don't go to Europe. Really."</font></i>

Sorry, but I think this is a ridiculous suggestion. We're talking Europe (primarily Tuscany) in AUGUST! Italy has some fabulous hotels with lovely swimming pools. If I have to be in Italy in August (or anywhere with high heat), I must have a pool with my lodging. And my teen years are long behind me. In the heat of summer, nothing can be more fabulous than lunch and a quick nap at poolside.

<i><font color=#555555>"But don't take them all that way to sit in the sun and tan. What a waste!"</font></i>

A pool in the heat of summer is NEVER a waste, no matter where you are. When I was a teenager and spent many summer days in a pool, a "tan" was the furthest thing from my mind. Of course, my hair got more flaxen and my skin did turn a beautiful shade of bronze, but neither was the purpose or the focus of my enjoyment of a pool.

Nobody loves "to tour" more than I do. I can walk/hike for miles, and I'm known for spending all day in a museum and loving the experience. However, touring in 90-100º heat can be torture, no matter what your age. And a great way to cool off and re-energize in the summer heat is to hit the pool for an hour or two.

Everyone has an opinion on how best to soak up the delights of Europe. IMO, July and August are months that require, or demand a special strategy. No one, and I don't care how much experience they have, can talk me out of a pool in the summer heat.

I have never gone, and would never go, to Italy in high summer without access to a pool or the ocean. There's a special kind of torture that comes with trudging over hot stones all day and not being able to take a plunge when you're done, no matter how much gelato you can absorb.

And about those "GREAT fake purses cheap": http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/...t-products.htm

They won't be dragging luggage around Venice because they are keeping the Siena hotel.

I can see both sides of this. I LOVED Venice and would do just about anything to get there again. That said, it's a long train ride round-trip you're considering in order to take a quick peak.

Why not take a family vote?

Hey TF,

>As for the person who would give up Rome -- crazy. Rome is so wonderful.

In August?

Instead of Venice and Florence?

As they say in Italy "Tutti a suo gusto" (Chacun à son goût)

:) :)

((I))

BTW,

I do agree with TF,

> If they want to swim and get a tan -- don't go to Europe. Really. "

Far too expensive. Vegas.

((I))

Do you have pools where you live? Horses? How about twelve hundred year old cities built entirely on water that UNESCO World Heritage List describes as "The whole city is an extraordinary architectural masterpiece". Not that there is anything wrong with enjoying a swim at the end of the day at your hotel in Siena, but to not go to Venice instead of swimming or horseback riding or some other activity that you can do at home is really a waste of all the time and money it takes to go to Europe.

Venice is unique, you can enjoy it without going inside a single building (but the insides of places are pretty amazing as well). But it is mobbed during the day so evenings and early mornings are the most magical. But even during the day if you get off the tourist route between the train station, Rialto and San Marco you can find un-crowded places.

You will spend less time on trains if you go there between Siena and Rome, rather than in the middle. There are lots of hotels close to the train station so you can just drop your luggage and then go enjoy. If each person has just what they can handle (a 21" carry on and a tote bag/small backpack) it won't be a problem. (And if you plan on more than that you will regret it other places too).

If you leave Siena after an early lunch, you'll be traveling (on air conditioned train) during the hottest part of the day, by the time you check in and get out the crowds will be decreasing and you can enjoy a long late afternoon/evening to explore. Spend the following morning doing the same and plan a mid afternoon departure for Rome (hotels will hold luggage if you want to go after the official check out time).