2 week trip ideas

I always find the "suggested itineraries" (Explore Europe > [pick any country] > Plan > Recommended Itinerary) as a great way to start. Inevitably, the existing itineraries don't perfectly align with my own tastes and preferences, but they're always a good starting point and a source of inspiration, then customize to fit your own likes and needs. No shortage of great options in Italy. I think the two biggest challenges you will face are 1) choosing from among so many good options, and 2) popularity/crowding...much of Italy is full of other tourists (but not all of it!).

I was in Italy this May, and discovered that shoulder season is disappearing, especially since COVID. There were crowds most everywhere. Venice was ok away from the major sites, and Lake Como was very nice, but Sorrento and Amalfi Coast were packed.
If you're flexible, try mid-April, perhaps.
This Forum is full of single women traveling by themselves. Many of them have written great Trip Reports. This is the place to get support and encouragement .
You go, girl!

Agree with David that using RS suggested itinerary is a great start for planning. I traveled to Italy by myself 20 years ago. I found it really easy to travel solo and met tons of other women traveling by themselves. For inspiration I read Wild Women Writing - a series of short essays from women who have traveled solo.

Here are some thoughts for your second week:

Head further south from Rome and explore the Amalfi Coast- perhaps a trip to Pompeii. I loved Positano but hear that it’s completely overrun.

Another option is to take a fast and direct train to Florence - a very different city from Rome. If you want to balance Rome with smaller towns then the Tuscany area is easy to travel around using public transportation. Each of the towns have something unique to offer. I traveled to Assisi, Lucca, Siena and San Gimiano,

Good luck!

If you have never seen Venice, it is like no other place on earth and is easy for a solo traveler. Fly into Venice, spend a few nights, then train to Florence for a few more nights. End up in Rome and fly home from there.

Venice 100 percent!!. We just left there. There are a TON of people crowding the streets, so you may want to wait a month or two before going anywhere in Italy and hope the tourism dies down.

If you go to Venice, take the NIGHT tour of St. Mark's Basilica. I wouldn't want to see that cathedral any other way. It's beyond words. If you're interested, reply here, and I'll get you the details of the specific tour we took about 10 days ago. You'll want to book that far ahead of time to get in at night.

I would suggest a combination of Tuscany and Rome. If possible leave Rome for the end. Personally with 2 weeks I would try to have maybe 3 or 4 places. Lucca is a good size town, with intact walls that you can walk or rent bikes to ride on. It is very walkable, great food. Siena would be another option, similar in population, but a different feel, more of a hill town.
Siena is probably easiest reached by bus. I thought I prefered trains, but quite enjoyed the scenery on the bus trip.

Orvieto is much smaller, but lovely, 2 hour train ride from Rome, more economical than Rome, absolutely gorgeous Duomo.

In Rome, if you are thinking of a monastery take a look at Suore di Santa Elisabetta. We stayed there many years ago and liked the location.

We were in Rome last October. It was very crowded at the sites that you are supposed to see - ie Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps etc. But we found that often less than a block away we would have the street to ourselves, and could pop in to a church that no-one else was in.

Joby- I hope I am as adventurous as you are at 65! If I was traveling alone, I think I would just do a RS Tour for safety and having fellow travelers (even if it's not my husband I like to have shared experiences) reasons. For another city I would choose Sorrento, I like the contrast of City and Sea. I found Sorrento to be very walkable and there are tons of things to do with a full week, you could join Mondo group for an Amalfi Coast day, take a ferry to another town etc. It just had a really good vibe and I always felt really safe.

Letizia, RS Tours are not for people on tight budgets. Joby, I think you will be fine by yourself. I agree with convent stays- the one we stayed at was walking distance to Colosseum-I think it was Santa Brigida. A recent thread suggested you book directly with the convent rather than with the Monastery Stays website. In my opinion, the must see churches in Rome are St. Peter's and San Clement and maybe Sopra Minerva near the Pantheon. I assume you know that you need advance tickets for many museums and I think also the Pantheon. I've seen St. John Lateran Church and wasn't impressed. I prefer the churches in Florence. You should definitely go to Orvieto-it could be a day trip from Rome. Since you love art, I think you should spend more time in Florence than in Rome. Florence is also a great place for walking. Be sure to see Museo San Marco in Florence. Check prices to fly home from Venice or Florence and compare with the cost of going back to Rome and spending a night there at a hotel near the airport. Also, I think Venice may be a more expensive place to stay and eat.

Thanks so much for the feedback so far!

I'm still just rolling it around in my head, nothing concrete so far. My thoughts are to come up with an itinerary, look at lodging prices and see if i can find a cheap airfare to see if I can afford the trip at all. Also deciding on the time frame is important in the decision.

I don't mind hot weather if I have AC to sleep. We sometimes go to Cozumel to dive in the summer. It will be high 90's and humid, but we're in the water for a portion of the day, go back and shower, rest, eat an early dinner, maybe walk around town in the evening or drive around in an AC car. So we manage and it's their low season because of the temps/humidity. We wouldn't wan to go out and run around the square in the middle of the day and surely love the AC when we have it!

I would like to have something that's different than Rome for the additional week also. I think a week in Rome would be good to be able to see the big attractions plus some off-the-beaten-track things. Also, I wouldn't have to rush everything with a week I'd think.

I wouldn't mind seeing a couple of other places the additional week, but I don't want to waste a lot of time with transportation and changing lodgings too frequently. I'm guessing this will be the only time i get to Italy.

Are there any other suggestions/ideas of places I should consider for the additional week?

Something I also thought about for the time frame--if I went late April/May the days would be longer than if I went August/September. Should that be a consideration?

Hey Joby, Great that you're thinking ahead and asking the right questions! August & September will be HOT and I think most comments above also reflect just how intensely crowded the main areas & main attractions will be, rather than the temperature. Personally, after 24+ trips to Italy, I would look at multi-city flights into Florence & out of Rome (I too am going to suggest Tuscany, especially as you said you may not return to Italy.) May & September are no longer 'shoulder season', it will be crowded, you can read other threads about it.

ABSOLUTELY you will be fine on your own!! In my experience, us slightly older women tend to attract chatty local women LOL which I've enjoyed so much.

I would need to keep costs to a minimum. I was wondering about 2 weeks in May, maybe spending 1 week in Rome and another week someplace else. I think using public transportation would be best budget-wise? I was even thinking of staying in a convent or monastery? A town or city that's walkable? Massive crowds would NOT be ideal, but decent weather would be. I would enjoy seeing beautiful landscapes, churches, art, history, museums, off-the-beaten-track places, local food and I love wines!

So addressing specifically what YOU are looking for, you mentioned not liking crowds, so April or October would be my personal preference, but do some research on average temps. I would stick with 3 towns, Rome, Florence & agreed with above poster, Lucca would be nice to get 'off the beaten track', sample excellent wines & see yet more history! https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2016/05/untouristy-lucca/. I too might cut back a bit on Rome, perhaps 5 days Florence to start as it's a very walkable, and you will be exhausted from flying, then Lucca 3 nights, & end with 6 nights in Rome. I love Sienna, but wouldn't want to spend 3-4 nights there because it's jammed during the day with day-trippers, thus I suggested Lucca. Look up national holidays. May 1st is a BIG holiday weekend and school is out that week or the next, many more locals will be traveling. Being out after dark in safe central locations isn't a problem and the lighting on monuments is amazing!!

Public transport, buses & trains are very good in Italy, no need to rent a car or driver. You might want to take a Tuscan day wine tour while you're in Florence, but I don't think they're cheap. Instead, take a walking food tour in Florence, good value & you can go back to the places you learn about.

Galleria Borghese is the one museum in Rome I would not skip! Frankly I prefer it to the jammed Vatican museums, you need advanced tickets for both.

Here's a link to a forum thread on monasteries - https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy-reviews/monastery-stays-09dd810f-1fda-441a-88f1-eabf32488154

Every tour guide has suggested itineraries of different lengths, compare and contrast RS and Fodors and Frommers.

Also look at online brochures for major tour companies in different price ranges. You'll probably see a pattern after a while, they know what their customers want so they go there.

October might work as we live in an agricultural area and my husband is busy then. I looked at rain for October and it looks like it can be rainy. The temps are much cooler, but the length of day is much shorter. I do like that it would give me longer to plan than May. Less visitors?

May has longer days, less rain and higher temps and more visitors?

August is very hot and humid, no rain, good length of days, but tons of visitors?

Guess I'm just trying to find that sweet spot :/ I NEED cheaper airfare, I WANT decent weather and not so crowded.

3 towns would be fine with me if I could do them all justice, have easy to/from transportation and could afford all 3. I would ideally love to have 3 different experiences in each area. I'll probably not get back to Italy ever.

I appreciate all the help :)

Hi Joby,

I love Italy and have been there multiple times, including two solo trips. I’ll add my links to my two solo trip reports. The first one has advice for things I did differently because I was traveling solo. You can tell from my trip reports that I thoroughly enjoyed them!

My first solo trip was less than $3500 for three weeks, plus the airline ticket. The second trip was $3700 for slightly longer than three weeks, plus the airline ticket. I am also including the link to my 15-day trip where I brought my daughter. That itinerary went to more of the mainstream locations because this was her first time in Italy & in Europe. That one cost me $3700; hotels in more popular cities cost more. By the way, when you’re traveling solo, you can purchase a nicer theater ticket, for instance, because you’re not needing to buy two of them. ; )

Hope those help! Have a great time planning and being there!

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/solo-trip-to-italy-2018

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-please-do-not-comment-until-i-change-the-title-filling-in-the-report-thanks

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/mother-adult-daughter-italy-trip-aug-sept-2022

If you really want to keep expenses down, think about what you’re wanting to do during your trip without mentioning a specific city. Picture your imagined favorite days in Italy and come back & describe them to us. There’s a lot of cities in Italy that could probably fulfill your wishes, and we may be able to help turn your trip into a solid “Yes!”

You mentioned weather. I prefer being there in September or June. Those are still warm - sometimes hot! But I haven’t run into more than one day of rain during a 3-week trip.

Hi Jean,

I LOVED your trip reports! I'm an overachiever at planning, some might say a bit OCD, but it works for us! I love the process. Sometimes I've felt like by the time we got to the city/place that I already knew it :)

Gosh, I'm not sure I know enough about Italy that I could pinpoint a perfect day ;/

Let's see......all things Vatican are highest on my list AND that elusive private meeting with the Pope :)

Other things--seeing and photographing beautiful fountains, architecture, frescoes, seeing magnificent churches, I love cemeteries too, tasting lots of wonderful local wines and foods, people watching, museums, unusual tours maybe like an underground tour or a behind the scenes tour, I love handmade things and local markets, and lots of things that I have no current idea of that are available to see/do in Italy......

I'm not sure any of this is specific enough to help, but that's what I can think of at the moment.

Hi Joby! Sounds like you have a good idea of what you like, answering Jean's question. The only problem is you can do that almost anywhere in Italy! Since you said you love churches, look at the RS European Art series, good to learn more about the history of art before you go into all those churches. And are you visiting the library to browse guidebooks? I'm very visual, so always carry a DK guide, I want to SEE the inside of a church & where to look for statues, for instance. I too love trip planning & consider it one of the great pleasures of life. Arriving someplace & already knowing it is absolutely the way to go, less time wasted & you already know what you like & want to see. You can 'build' a Google map to each city - I have a private Google map to Rome, shows all the restaurants, monuments & museums that I might visit next.

Weather is a trade off between crowds / temperatures / prices. Why not pick a sample monastery in Rome (as you said you'd stay in one & they get good reviews here) and check out prices in April, May, Sept (forget August!) and October? Yes, it can rain more in April & October. I would book late September - early October in order to have slightly smaller crowds & cheaper prices. Less wait time, better chance of getting tickets, etc.

Let's see......all things Vatican are highest on my list - Once you figure out when you're going, I would suggest booking the Vatican museums & St Peters. Lots of ideas on forum about how to book. You also mentioned wanting to do some subterranean tours, most of those places in Rome are easy to understand, underrated & no lines! Here's some advice I asked for Dec 2023 to Rome, about the 'smaller gems', since you mentioned 'off the beaten track' ideas. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/rome-recs-for-2nd-tier-gems-over-ny

Summer= heat+ crowds+ higher prices for just about everything. Avoiding the hotter months also means fewer crowds and cheaper prices. April (but AFTER EASTER) would be my sweet spot. Warm days and cool evenings. Lower crowds. Yes, there's a possibility of occasional showers, but you aren't made of sugar, so you wont melt : ). Carry a collapsible umbrella, and duck into a church, museum, Cafe or interesting looking shop. Monastery or convent stays, and advance purchase on train tickets for the high speed trains will help cut down on expenses.

If you would have 2 full weeks on the ground in Italy, I'd look at the classic combo: fly into Venice for 3-4 nights. Then train to Florence for 5 nights. Using that as a base, you could day trip to Lucca, Pisa or Siena ( or do a day tour by van to some of the hill towns.). Then finish up with the remainder of the trip in Rome, flying home from there. A multicity flight ticket shouldn't be much different than a round trip, and avoids having ti back track.

It won't be convenient for the other sites, but we love Hotel Museum which is down the steps from the Vatican Museum. If you fly into Rome, they can arrange a pickup for you at the airport. After your Vatican visits, you could take a taxi to a convent that's more centrally located-I think the one we stayed at was Casa il Rosariio near the Colosseum.

BTW, Easter falls on March 31st ,2024 & Easter Monday is also a holiday in Italy. The proceeding week AND that next week are major school holidays so you would want to arrive on or after Sunday, April 7th to skip the Easter crowds if you decide to go in April!

Thanks again for the suggestions! It's all very helpful.

I say this on every trip we've ever taken--the hardest part is deciding on the itinerary/cities to visit. Rome is the only definite on the itinerary at this point.

I looked around some more and saw an island that looked neat--Ponza. It said it was similar to the Amalfi coast , but less touristy and busy. Would it be an idea to spend 2-3 nights there maybe after Rome? I was thinking that it might give me something a bit different than just the big cities?

I don't think I want to spend all the trip in large cities like Rome or Florence. It sounds like the lake region by Lake Como is really busy and expensive May-October.

Any more thoughts on places that I may like to visit?

I'd do some research on the seasonality of Ponza. I went there for 2 (I think) nights back in the 1980s. I don't remember the precise timing, but it was September or October (which were probably really different months back then, in terms of visitor levels). They were practically rolling up the sidewalks; it was hard to find an open restaurant. It's nice to go to an island that's not totally overrun, but it was bit too dead for my taste at the time I was there.

I guess a look at lodging rates on booking.com would be a good guide to how busy it will be in any given week.

I was in Lake Como this last May and found it charming with a nice buzz, but not uncomfortably crowded. This was a return visit, and won't be our last. It's serene and beautiful. Safe travels!

Just a note on timing. Someone mentioned that May 1 is a national holiday. April 25 is also, Liberation Day. Many Italians make it into a one week vacation time. Crowds! It’s a time I’d avoid (voice of experience).

”Other things--seeing and photographing beautiful fountains, architecture, frescoes, seeing magnificent churches, I love cemeteries too, tasting lots of wonderful local wines and foods, people watching, museums, unusual tours maybe like an underground tour or a behind the scenes tour, I love handmade things and local markets, and lots of things that I have no current idea of that are available to see/do in Italy......”

Hi! Getting back to you. Glad the trip reports were helpful. Your time in Rome can fulfill your wish to see the Vatican and also several of the above on your description. I was disappointed that I couldn’t get over to the Milan cemetery while I was there. Someday I will take a tour there because with all of the gorgeous sculptures, I can easily picture myself screaming, thinking one of them is a real person if I just went there alone! But, I would love to photograph some of the especially beautiful or poignant sculptures.

Those trip reports mentioned lots of details about specific cities, so I won’t repeat them. Many would be good possibilities for you.

From Rome, check out a day-trip over to Tivoli to see the fountains & villa/gardens. Or, someone mentioned recently the gigantic palace & grounds at Caserta. That’s a 1-hr train so doable as a day trip, if you take the faster one, and the station is near the palace. (I’m going there in May.)

OMG, the Cimitero Monumentale di Milano in Milan is gorgeous!

I looked on Maps and saw that there is an easy connection from Milan to Lake Como. I also saw that If I flew to either Rome and/or Milan it would only be 1 stop whereas, Florence would be 2 stops either way.

Would it be an idea to fly into Rome, train to Florence, train to Milan and train to Lake Como and fly out of Milan for home for a 2 week trip? Or would that be too much traveling and not enough staying put and exploring?

A stop or two on a fast train--as opposed to needing to change trains--is really inconsequential. Just look at the total travel time. The small towns along Lake Como, like Varenna, will require a change of train in Milan if you arrive from a place like Florence or Rome. Rome-Florence-Milan are on the Freccia route; Varenna-Esino has only regional-train service. The larger town of Como (station Como San Giovanni) has some faster EuroCity trains.

Sorry, I don't think I was clear enough about the stops ;/

I meant to say that the stops were about the flights from home. I was trying to say that it would be easier if I flew to or from Milan than Florence or Venice as was suggested up-thread. I was asking if an itinerary that was: Rome--Florence--Milan--Lake Como--Milan--home would be any better logistically (with easier flights for me) than an itinerary of: Venice--Florence--Rome--home would be

A flight to/from Rome would entail only 1 stop (change of plane)

A flight to/from Florence would entail 2 stops (2 changes of planes)

A flight to/from Milan would entail only 1 stop (change of plane)

I'm just trying to come up with an affordable itinerary that would fit what I hope to see/do in Italy. Until I come up with a loose itinerary I don't think I can calculate the cost of lodging, etc. jean mentioned the cemetery in Milan and I looked it up and think it's fabulous. I also wondered if Lake Como might be a good place to relax and have some water time at the end of the trip?

Hi, I'm still here, researching and asking for guidance :) I've been thinking about some of the above responses as well as researching online.

I think 2 weeks mid September might be a good time for me (considering temps, rain, daylight, crowds, convenience for my family, etc.).

I think convent/monastery stays (with air conditioning for sure) in Florence and Rome would be the best for me. That might free up a FEW more dollars for a coastal stay or additional area stay?

Get up and out early by 7:30 am'ish, bed by 11 pm'ish.

I'm really thinking about staying along the coast or a lake for my first 2 nights or so of the proposed trip. I think it could be a nice way to get over jet lag, introduce myself to Italy and see an area that's different than the big cities I would travel to. I've looked at easy rail connections to/from different cities, that's important to me. It looks like the Ligurian coast might be good for train transfers and not so far to travel from Milan airport (2-3 hours at the most?)?

The Cimitero Monumentale di Milano in Milan looks amazing, but I can't seem to come up with enough time to go there. I've found a few other cemeteries that look interesting too though: https://www.myitaliandiaries.com/italy-most-famous-cemeteries/ with a couple that might incorporate into the itinerary easier.

Jean (above) asked what my ideal day would be. Well, it would depend on where I was at on that day. I don't know if this is any more specific or helpful than the answer I gave above but, I'll give it a whirl.

coastal/water day:
swim/walk/gaze at beach/water/relax, good seafood dinner, easy transfers to/from the rest of my itinerary.

Rome day:
thoroughly explore the Vatican and its areas, visit churches, simple dinner with good wine, walk around the piazza and eat gelato.

Florence day:
beautiful churches, art, simple dinner with good wine, wander piazza.

any additional day:
not quite as busy as Rome and Florence, visit beautiful cemetery, cheese or olive oil tastings, visit local market, visit small winery, talk with vintner, wine tastings, simple local dinner, walk around the town to see pretty lighted fountains/buildings/people watch.

If I had 12 days + 2 travel days would this be a loose itinerary:

arrive Milan morning
train to Rapallo or similar area--2-3 nights
train to Florence--4 nights
train to Rome--5 nights
depart Rome for flight home

If I had 14 days + 2 travel days:

arrive Milan morning
train to Rapallo or similar area--2-3 nights
train to some other location--2-3 nights
train to Florence--4 nights
train to Rome--5 nights
depart Rome for flight home

Any comments or suggestions on the above??

Hi there, sounds like your plans are really coming together... You might consider a smaller, nearby town for the first few days rather than Rapallo, other Forum posts have recommended Santa Margherita Ligure. Santa Margherita Ligure is the most substantial town in the area that’s worth visiting in its own right. Yes, it has (pebbly) beaches, but it also has a bustling old town with a big Baroque church and lots of urban character. https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2016/05/italian_riviera/

Moving from place to place & monastery to monastery eats up time, energy & then you need to figure out how to get around & where to eat all over again! If you get a decent price on Florence & Rome lodging, I would just stay put & take day trips to Luca & Siena out of Florence. Someone else mentioned Tivoli gardens in Villa de Este, these are truly magnificent gardens, cute little town & you can take the train from Rome.

Thanks, Sandancisco. I looked at some of the surrounding towns on the coast. I just didn't know which one might make the best fit for me :)

Are there any other suggestions on a coastal stop? Thoughts if that might be a good idea for my itinerary?

Thoughts on the amount of days allotted in the itinerary for either a 12 or 14 day trip?

Thoughts on an extra stop if I have the 14 days on the ground? Should I even add an extra town?

I appreciate the help I've gotten :)

Well of course 14 days is better than 12, because you get to spend more time in ITALY! HA. I wouldn't add any more over night stays, 3 places is enough, with a chance to look around, settle in, learn where to buy things like meals, & relax a bit.

Something like this - (Assuming you can book those monasteries for a reasonable price! And it's not too early to shop airfare for next September either)
Arrive Milan morning 
train to Rapallo or Santa Margarita, or?? 2 nights - (Read up on these, I don't think you can go wrong, just liked what Cameron wrote about the latter.) You can always hop the train and go explore other small nearby towns. (NOT Cinque Terre, just too dang busy.)

5 nights in Florence (day trip to Siena & maybe Luca?)

Rome- 6 nights


Day 14 depart Rome for flight home

If you decide to fit a visit to the Ligurian coast...so many, many adorable towns. Viareggio for beach and lovely promonade with shops and restaurants; Santa Margherita is worth a visit; Camogli (north of Cinque Terre) is just beautiful! I would definitely avoid Amalfi if you want to save some money. my two cents....I am also a frugal traveler hahaha....and solo female traveler on a budget.

Thanks, June. I've never traveled solo and am nervous, but I really think I'm going to do this trip. I really need to find the best airfare I can though. I'm seeing it around $975 and up in September.

I haven't posted much as I've had eye surgery and haven't been on the computer much. I'm just about healed now and will start my research again :)

Changing gears again a little at the beginning of the trip :)

What are your thoughts on this idea--

September 2024--- 12-14 nights

arrive MXP morning
MXP bus to Stresa (1 hour direct)
3 nights Stresa–Lake Maggiore (hotel stay)
Stresa train to Florence (3.5 hours 1 change)
4 nights Florence (monastery stay)
Florence train to Rome (1.5 hours direct)
Rome 5-7 nights (monastery stay)
morning train FCO (35 min direct)

Rapallo is 3.5 hours away from Milan airport.
Stresa is 1 hour away (direct) from MXP.

It might be an idea to go to Stresa on Lake Maggiore (instead of Rapallo) as it's closer and easier to get to than to the seashore at Rapallo to have a few acclimating nights in Italy at the beginning of the trip?

At the beginning of the trip I just want someplace a little low key to rest and get my bearings after a long flight. If it's low key, I won't be as tempted to go out and see everything there is after being jet lagged :0

Is it best to keep all my questions about the itinerary in this single thread?

If you land at MXP, Lake Maggiore is very close.

@Joby - I’m traveling to Italy solo (flying into Rome) in mid-April, spending about a week in Italy and then a week in France, flying out of Paris. I prefer to travel solo; I think you’ll love it. After a few nights in Rome (I’ve been there before, albeit decades ago) I’m training to Castiglione del Lago, a tiny hillside/lakeside village on Lake Trasimeno for 3 nights. Then I’ll take Bernina Express from Tirano to Chur, before heading to France. This will involve a lot of train travel, but I adore traveling by train so that’s OK.
It sounds like you’re considering a few nights on Lake Maggiore - I think you’ll love it!
I wasn’t even planning a trip for April but stumbled upon an open jaw fare on Iceland Air out of Raleigh (to/from Rome and Paris for $625 and could not pass it by).

Well, a good airfare popped up yesterday afternoon and I booked it :) I'll be in Italy for 14 nights in September. Booking air is always so nerve wracking for me. I always watch it before planning a trip to get an idea of what the average fares are. Unless it's a drop dead excellent fare, I always question myself as to whether I should wait or not.

Thanks for all of the help and advice from everyone so far. I'll have tons more questions while planning the trip :)

I've been pondering my exact itinerary in each of the 3 locations (locations that are set and I have lodging reservations for---3 nights Stresa, 4 nights Florence, 7 nights Rome) for weeks now.

I am thinking seriously about a day trip to Orvieto. the cathedral looks amazing, the underground tour looks interesting and the white wines in the area are right up my alley!

I'm a very detailed planner and ask a lot of questions!

The Vatican's new schedule of tours is a little disappointing as I wanted to avoid the crowds as much as possible. I do have a ticket to visit the Scavi already though, so I am making a little progress :)

Wow! You've made so much progress and it sounds like you've really honed your trip down to the places that are most important for you to visit, great use of all the suggestions! I looked at Stresa and thought, hmmmmm what a great idea, easy to get to from Milan.

I'm not recommending any specific Vatican tour, but have you researched early entry? Here's one I know is well regarded, they meet at 7:15 AM for a 7:30 AM entry. https://www.walksofitaly.com/vatican-tours/pristine-sistine-chapel-tour/

Sandancisco, I'm not sure I'm in the "wow" part of planning yet :) More like I'm in the "wow, I'm still overwhelmed and there are so many choices to make" stage :) I was really glad to get the Scavi ticket! Now I have to wait and see what the new Colosseum tickets are and decide which Vatican ticket would be the best for me!