Need help with itinerary for Italy

I would go for the Cinque Terre. Quaint old towns with different personalities and the more yacht-filled port of Portofino. All towns are easily connected by train. Weather should be nice, I was in Portofino last year the first week of Sept and it was still beach temps.

There are still big problems in Naples and Campania with garbage not being picked up - very unsanitary conditions that may continue into September. Go with the other choice.

Priya, I concur with the others, use the spare days for Florence and the Cinque Terre! Given the short time frame of your trip, my preference would be to drop one day in Venice and add one-half day to both Florence and C.T.

Plan a future visit for the Amalfi Coast. It's a beautiful area and deserves more than one day in each of the towns.

Happy travels!!!

Thanks much all! I think I am leaning towards Florence and Cinque Terre then.

Just for my information- I keep getting dual opinions about garbage problems in Naples, Sorrento and Amalfi and for my information- I would like to know what really is happening there? Is it really bad or just hula created by media. (I will ask this in another post too)

thanks.

Hi:

Been to Cinque Terre 3 times and Sorrento/Amalfi area 4 times. Each has its' own special charm and is unigue in its' own way. I think there was a trash strike when I was in Sorrento last year. I did not find it a problem. Again I think there was on in 2004 too and then there was stuff piled in the street. If you like a great scenic drive along with some charming towns then Amalfi Coast is great. I find the center of Sorrento with the main street closed to traffic a great place to people watch. On the sea side of the main street are many many shops and restaurants set up like an open door mall with old Italian archetecture. Cingue Terre are 5 little fishing villages that you can see in one day if you must and 2 days for sure. I find the charm from the different colored buildings with some bare plaster spots and clothes hanging out the window to dry. Monterossa is the largest and is split into the old town and newer town.If you are a shopper you will have plenty to do

The Cinque Terre would be great. You might consider staying in Siena rather than Florence -- we much preferred it, but day-trained into Florence to see its sights. Siena is utterly captivating, mid-size old town feel versus tourist-trap Florence. Just a thought.

We are staring in Rome in Sept, then 5terra, and then Venice.
We won't get to see Sienna and Florence area this trip, but have read so much about Sienna. Also, a friend last year could not find a place for 2 family groups in Florence and landed up staying in Lucca. They could not say enough about that town and using it to catch trains to see the other areas. Just a thought, you might want to look it up in your travel guides. He said it was a walled city, not too touristy, great walking, etc. Maybe you could ask other what they think of Lucca.

We are staring in Rome in Sept, then 5terra, and then Venice.
We won't get to see Sienna and Florence area this trip, but have read so much about Sienna. Also, a friend last year could not find a place for 2 family groups in Florence and landed up staying in Lucca. They could not say enough about that town and using it to catch trains to see the other areas. Just a thought, you might want to look it up in your travel guides. He said it was a walled city, not too touristy, great walking, etc. Maybe you could ask other what they think of Lucca.