19 Days in Italy

Hi Mark, I coverd less ground in 17 nights on one of many trips to Italy...and found it relaxing as you post indicates. I think that if you absolutely must see all of this in the heat of the summer and it is your one and only trip to Italy..go for it! I think settling in somewhere you can relax for the first few nights is a good idea, to get acclimated to the time zone, weather etc.

It will be HOT. You like to hike and relax...check out Ischia or Procida off of Naples they have sights but no museums as you said you are not big on those.

If you do cut out the Milan leg of the trip you could opt to see Rome on the way out of Italy and get a great airfare flying home out of there. I think many people try to do it all on a trip to Italy not realizing how big of a country it really is.....that said, I would save Cinque Terre, Milan and Lakes for it's own trip...maybe in combination with Switzerland or France in the future. Whatever you do, enjoy!

I would drop Vernazza and add those nights to Rome or Pontresino. A lot of people on this forum feel differently, but the Cinque Terre was a major letdown to me. If you have been to Yosemite National Park in the summer - the CT reminded me of the Mist Trail - only more crowded.

Thank you for the responses. They were helpful. I am rearranging a couple of things to slow it down a bit. It could be my only trip to Italy so do want to get in as much as possible. I have been to Yosemite and the mist trails. That illustration is very helpful.

Have a great Resurrection Sunday

Mark

Florence is not just museums. There is a lot to see and do without entering a single one.

Personally I'd stay in Florence and day trip to Siena (basically the reverse of what you plan to do) simply for logistics reasons.

Florence, a major railway hub, is better connected to Rome and the Cinque Terre, and would be a better base in your case, especially considering you are not planning to drive.

The historical center of Florence has a small town feeling, in spite of being in a city of 400,000 people with a metro area of 1.5 million.

Monterosso would be my choice for the Cinque Terre. More hotels and restaurant options, 3 min from Vernazza via trains, and with IC train connections to Milan without train change (Vernazza requires train changes because only local Regional trains stop there).

Unless you land in Naples very late at night, I'd go straight to Sorrento. That way you save yourself a hotel change. Stay 4 nights in Sorrento.
These are the options from NAP airport to Sorrento:

1 - Shuttle bus direct from Airport to Sorrento with Curreri Viaggi bus company:
http://www.curreriviaggi.it/autolinee/images/AUTOLINEE_CURRERI.pdf

2 - Taxi or Bus to Molo (Pier) Beverello then boat or hydrofoil to Sorrento.

3 - Taxi or Bus to Central Station then Circumvesuviana commuter train to Sorrento

No. 1 is the fastest and most convenient, also cheapest. No. 2 is more scenic.