A month in Italy. Thanks again

I'd say maybe do it in reverse, start in Milan, train to Venice, rent car on the way out of Venice, Ravenna, Rimini, Fermignano, Ancona, Pescara, Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto, Tuscany, Florence (drop the car), train to Lucca, train to Cinque Terra, train Pisa and fly to Barcelona (Vueling Airlines).
That puts you in Cinque Terra later and hopefully warmer. Tweak a bit to be in Assisi on Easter. Car will be a pain in Florence and Lucca (parking and ZTL's) and Cinque Terra.

Anyway, looks OK.

I would opt for Lake Como instead of Milan, especially since everything will be closed on Monday. You could take a train to Varenna when you land and be having an apertivo in Varenna by 5.

I ma envious!! Looks like an amazing trip.

No advice, except that I agree with the previous posters -- to do the trip in reverse if possible, and go to Lake Cuomo rather than Milan if things are closed. (Be aware that lots are closed in the North until the "season" starts.) I am also so jealous I could die! I've been to Italy 5 times, twice to Sicily but can't convince the husband to do it for a month! Lucky you!

Hey, thanks everyone for the replies.

I am fortunate, and able to take a year off to travel with the girlfriend. Since I just turned 48-- and only went out of country for the first time in January-- I've got a lot of catching up to do! (Month in Spain after this... :)

The order of this trip is set-- flight into Milan is booked, and some other things too. I do like the Lake Como idea. There's much I want to see in Milan, but a Monday excursion might be fun.

If anyone here's had great (or awful) experiences with hotels in these cities, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks again!

If I have said it once, I have said it a dozen times... Borgo Le Terazze just up the hill overlooking Bellagio is pure heaven. www.borgoleterrazze.com Go there after you land in Milan for two nights.

Not sure of where you have been and what your future plans are but are you aware of the Schengen rules that restrict you to 90 days in the entire Schengen zone (most of mainland Europe) in any 180 period?. Do a "Google" search for the details.

Bob, thanks much. Yep, I'm familiar with Schengen-- it's been on my mind since we started planning, because we want to do a Fall trip as well.

Our plan is to spend May in Spain, and then head over to the UK (outside the zone!). That'll burn about 60 days of our Schengen "budget," and let us get back near the beginning of September.

Hopefully we'll have a couple months of good weather to see a few more countries-- and the part of Italy we're skipping in April. Looking forward to that, but we've got our hands full with this one now! :)

if you like classical music, don't miss Cremona,the city of Stradivari

Lucca is one of my favorite cities in Italy. Stay inside the walls for the best experience. Attend the Puccini concert in the evenings. Bike or jog the ramparts. Have a picnic on the ramparts. The best pizza I had on my last trip was in Lucca..also my favorite leather purse was purchased there. Send me a PM if you want hotel or restaurant recommendations. Have a great trip. I also love Siena and have recommendations there, as well, if you are interested.
Karren