23 days to go and a few question.

Its been several years, but went all the place you mention, except Doges Palace, with this bag.

http://www.eddiebauer.com/product/stowaway-packable-20l-daypack/82300168?showProducts=&sizetype=&size=

Dimensions are a bit different, but capacity the same. Unless it is stuffed full, I would not expect any problems.

We just had snacks, water bottles, guide book/map so not anywhere near full

Antique market on Saturday 7:30/8:00-18:00. Sunday 8-16:00.

Sunset in Pisa mid September around 7:00pm.

Vatican Museum you will have to check your backpack in the cloakroom (free) if it's judged too large, but then you'll need to go back and pick it up. Even if you're on a tour that goes directly into St. Peter's Basilica.

Congratulations on your upcoming trip. I can help you with some of your questions, not others.

Backpacks:
- Here is the link to the information on backpacks at the Colosseum along with other relevant security information. We went in June and left all backpacks at home. I took a cross-body purse and it was okay. The site doesn’t list measurements on the size of the backpack.
- St. Marks: can’t enter with luggage, looks like backpacks are okay: http://www.basilicasanmarco.it/informazioni-per-i-turisti/orari-di-apertura/?lang=en. Again, when we visited, my husband took the Rick Steve’s Civita Day pack and we did not have to check.
-Doge’s Palace: we visited at the same time as St. Marks and took the Secret Passages Tour, my husband brought a small day pack
Vatican Museum: here is the link to the website. You need to check those backpacks that don’t meet their size requirements, but they don’t list them. It is up to the staff. http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/visita-i-musei/consigli-utili.html. When we visited only took my crossbody purse, my husband did not take is backpack. Note that the Vatican is very crowded and I wouldn’t recommend the backpack.

Sandy

Don't you have any contact information for the tour operator(s) in Venice? No one here can help you about picking up tickets without knowing who's giving the tour(s). And with that information you should be as able as anyone else to find them on the internet.

I supposed you bought your tickets through venetoinsider.com ? If so, your confirmation email should have a voucher attached to it, open the voucher and it shows where the meeting point is.

If you booked the Doges Palace tour directly with the Doges Palace - the Secret Itineraries tour, perhaps? - then you pick up your tickets directly from the main ticket office at the Doges Palace. The doorway to enter faces the water. Get there at least a half hour before your tour begins. After you pick up your tickets, they will tell you where in the courtyard to wait for your guide.

If you booked the Doges Palace tour directly with the Doges Palace - the Secret Itineraries tour, perhaps? - then you pick up your tickets directly from the main ticket office at the Doges Palace. The doorway to enter faces the water. Get there at least a half hour before your tour begins. After you pick up your tickets, they will tell you where in the courtyard to wait for your guide.

Re. St. Marks in Venice and backpacks: the guard may determine that you need to check your backpack. Actually having a backpack to check can be a good thing. I suggest you don't even ask the guard. The office to check it is around the corner from St. Marks, on the left (Rick's Italy book gives the spot on a Venice map). Once you've checked your backpack, you are given a voucher which gives you "skip the line" privileges. Take it to the guard at the head of the line. Worked great for my son and me several years ago.

Just wanted to thank you for the assistance.