I have the opportunity to visit Italy before I go to Portugal in May and want to know what is my best bet for spending 5 days in Italy. I am looking for a romantic, fun, and safe area. <BR>Thanks!

Hi Kerri, for Romance, you can't beat Venice. Five days is obviously to short to see all three and as much as I loved Rome I would pass it this time and spend the 5 days in Venice and Florence.

If the ease of getting from one of these cities to Portugal does not concern you, I would vote for Florence. But Rome might offer you more (and possibly cheaper) options for travel to Portugal or someplace that will connect easily to Portugal. <BR> <BR>If you are finding a cheap "stopover" option to take you to Italy en route to Portugal, I would actually like to know about it. <BR> <BR>

You can't do justice to any of the the three in five days - Venice and florence are to die for and save them for a whole lot of time. Rome is of course heaven as well but there is so much going on there all of the time that spending five days there, you can occupy your time continually for 24 hours a day and never run out of things to do. It is the Eternal City - it never sleeps and it is so beautiful and wonderful that it will only whet your appetite for another visit. Indeed, I say Rome - save Venice and Florence for a leisurely time to really explore and soak up the tuscan beauty. Have fun!

All Cities have some common elements with crowded streets, hussle,bussle traffic lots of buildings, stores etc.....only Venice is really, really different. Water taxis, bridges from street to street, waterways instead of streets. Unique among cities. The Shops--its as if you must be an artist to own one! Very artsy, Very special. I saved my mad money for Rome--bad decision. Shop till you drop in Venice...spend 3 days there and two in Rome for the history. You will not be sorry!

Ouch, what a tough decision! But you'll have a wonderful time whichever you choose. I haven't been to Florence, but have been to Venice and Rome. Of the two, I'd say do five days in Venice. I spent three days in Venice and still wanted more. Just recently, I spent *six* days in Rome and was frustrated at having to leave because there was so much I still wanted to do. I had asked on this forum, before I went, if a day trip to Florence might be a good idea. Got a variety of opinions, but found that I agreed with those who said that once I got to Rome, I wouldn't want to take the time out of a six-day trip to go to Florence. So, Florence saved for another time. <BR> <BR>I'd say that in five days you can do justice to Venice and an island or two (Burano, Torcello), and leave without feeling that you haven't scratched the surface. (If you're like many visitors, however, you'll still be dreaming of your return...Venice does that to you.) I'd save Rome for when you have a full week to savor the city.

I agree with gina. I have been to Venice and Florence in the last year. I was only in Venice for 4 days and wanted more, It looks like it can't possibly be real, too much like a Hollywood set than real life. We both wish we had spent more time there than in Florence (7 days) 5 or 6 would have suited us just fine. <BR>P.S. St. Marcos Square if beautiful, but you can go just outside and save almost half and get bigger quarters. Almost everything is only 10 minutes from st. marcos square anyway. <BR>Kenny ENJOY

Gpood morning, Kerri <BR> <BR>VENICE VENICE <BR> <BR>Richard of La Grange Park, IL...