Suggestions Welcomed

I'd skip Milan too unless you want to do lots of clothes shopping. I was there 2 days and I was a bit bored. I saw the Duomo and it's nearby sites all done in half a day. I'd go to the small laketowns in Switzerland.

My favorite city in Spain to just "hang out" in is certainly Seville (Sevilla). If you are tired of museums, here's a place to simply sit and relax. Grenada is also great (the Alhambra is stunning.)

Similarly, I can't say enough about Sorrento, Italy. Spend at least a couple days and nights, and use one day to trip over to Capri.

I spent three weeks in Italy, covering six major cities and several Tuscan hill towns, and everywhere was great, but personally I don't recommend Milan.

Florence is very museum/church-oriented. It's a can't-miss, but you probably won't want to stay there more than a few days unless you make a concentrated effort to do things a little differently and enjoy wandering the city instead of the museums.

Rome is very diverse. Art museums, historical museums, ruins, churches, etc. You can easily occupy yourself there for 4 or 5 days and not burn out on any one thing.

As you go from one to the other, consider stopping off in Orvieto, a small hill town in Umbria that is just lovely. It definitely has that small city vibe, and being on the train route between Rome and Florence makes it very convenient.

My two favorites in Spain are Jerez de la Frontera and Cadiz (you can take a ferry boat between the two). They're so underrated but so worthwhile. I found them even more interesting than Sevilla. Jerez is the most morrish town in Europe and it certainly shows. In Cadiz do visit the Camera Obscura. It's amazing!

JB, we loved Barcelona because, you can see museums or just wander the streets, visit great buildings or go to park guëll or the beach, you can visit lots or not and still have a great time, there is a few nice day trips you can make from Barcelona too. You say you might go to Lauterbrunnen , i would make sure to include it in your itinerary, it is our favorite place so far. Have a great time planning!

I'll tell you why not to skip Milano.
Often when people say they don't like Milan is because they only hang out around the Duomo area. However, the Duomo is breathtaking, and is all made of marble. How it was made and the history is amazing. The opera house is very beautiful. The pedestrian street is filled with charming shops and cafes. Also, there is the Sfozesco castle and fountain. But so many think that is it in Milano. Wrong! I was glad I took the hop on Hop off bus. I saw areas I didn't know existed like the Basilica of S. Lorenzo Maggiore. There are ruins in front of it like you see in Rome. Also Argentina St. is fun to walk around in. If a person sees what's around the Duomo, of course you would think that's it, and get bored. Milano is a very big city, so you do need to see other areas. Anyone seeing "The Last Supper" has to get away from the Duomo area. It's pretty far from there. I would say, if you want to see a lot of Milano, you would need about three days. By the way, I didn't go clothes shopping at all. Last year at this time, some people here told me to skip Milan. I'm very glad I didn't listen, because I would have missed a great trip!Also, so many of us have different tastes. After I went to Milano, I went to the Swiss Alps by train. My whole trip was just wonderful!

Here are parts of a great article on Milan...
You thought Milan was only a commercial and industrial city for businessmen? Surprise! Here you can find so many interesting and wonderful masterpieces that it is hard to imagine! Just begin at the city centre, where the huge Duomo appears in all its magnificence. This is the Cathedral and the symbol of Milan, with its golden statue "La Madonnina", which is inside the heart of every inhabitant.

Then, you have the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a covered and elegant gallery with restaurants and bookstores. If you enter it from Piazza del Duomo, you'll exit in Piazza della Scala where the world known Teatro alla Scala appears. This is the centre of lyric opera and it is not difficult to meet here important artists like Riccardo Muti, who is the conductor of the local orchestra.

You can make a tour in the nearby, from Via Manzoni to Via della Spiga and via Montenapoleone, the heart of the Fashion. When you arrive in the heart of Brera, the place of the artists, full of locals and pubs, visit the Pinacoteca. Along Via Manzoni there is also the Poldi Pezzoli, another very important museum of Milan.

Towards Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, one of the most fascinating places of the whole city, you can admire the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio in Romanesque style, dedicated to the Saint patron of Milan. In the nearby there is the Catholic University, former monastery of the Abbey. From here you can begin a walking tour along Via San Vittore. On the left of the street, you'll find the Museo della Scienza e della Tecnica - Leonardo Da Vinci, an important museum which collects fundamental signs of the technological progress of humanity and which is dedicated to the genius of Leonardo.

Not far from here, there is the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie where you will find the art of Bramante. In the refectory, the famous Cenacolo (Last Supper) painted by Leonardo appears in all its magnificence.

JB,

For places to visit in Italy, you might consider:

• Rome (try to spend at least four days as there's LOTS to see)

• Orvieto (a beautiful hill town in Umbria; while there you could tour the small village of Civita di Bagnoregio, one of Rick's favourites; beautiful Duomo)

• Siena (another beautiful town, but in Tuscany)

• Florence (most people like to visit the Uffizi & Accademia, but there's also the incredible Duomo and Brunelesschi's "dome within a dome")

• Venice

• Verona

• Lago di Como (Varenna, Bellagio, etc.)

• Cinque Terre

• Lucca

• Stresa / Lago Maggiore (day trip to Locarno, CH on the scenic Cento Valli railway, return by boat)

There are LOTS of possibilities! Have a look in the Italy Guidebook to see which cities and which sights in each one would interest you the most.

Happy travels!

Thank you all so very much for your suggestions.

I failed to mention that Cinque Terra is definitely on the list.

I have printed all of the suggestions to reference often as I plan the final stages.

Again, thank you all.