Advice for this 10 day itinerary

Your gut is good on not wanting to move around too much. I would encourage you to stay in Firenze and make your proposed day trip to the CT a last minute decision based on weather and your energy level. Do not go to the CT if the weather is less than great!

We did not go to Firenze in either of our two long trips (3-4 weeks each) prior to moving here. When we finally went we loved it! It is not all about museums: it is a delightful pedestrian friendly city, too. I think you will enjoy a 4-night centerpiece to your trip. BTW we liked Firenze much more than we liked Siena, so stay in Firenze and daytrip to Siena.

You will be able to do much more than you have listed on some days particularly days 6, 8 and 9. On Day 6 if you want to see the Accademia (David) be sure you buy tickets in advance. In Venezia the Secret Itineraries tour is worth booking. Also in Venezia, consider going across the laguna to San Giorgio Maggiore and go up the bell tower for a fabulous view.

Have fun!

In Florence, visit the Museum of San Marco, on the same street as the Accademia. Small museum but it has great frescoes by Fra Angelico in a setting that used to be a Dominican convent; each of the friars' cells is painted with a fresco. An hour would do it. In the piazza in front of the museum are several good bars for refreshments or a light lunch.

In Rome, visit the church of San Clemente. This is really three religious structures on one site, and you can go down sets of stairs to see all of them. The lowest level contains part of a temple to Mithras, a pagan god. The other two levels are the churches of San Clemente, one built over another.

Try to stay in Siena past sunset - the daytrippers will be gone and the city is magical at that time of day. Depending on when you go, one or more of the contrade may still be decorated with flags (before and after the Palio, some at other times of the year as well).

If you're not excited about staying in Florence you could always stay in another city such as Lucca or Siena. You could still do day trips from there to the CT or even to Florence if you decided you want to visit.

All in all, it's a good itinerary that should give you a taste for Italy.

Donna

If this is a summer trip, I would not be too worried about weather and would stay 2 nights in the Cinque Terre, instead of 4 in Florence. I've done that on my independent trips as well as Rick Steves' Tours. If you head from Rome to Cinque Terre first, before Florence, it's a pretty straight shot on the train, 4.5 hours with a connection at La Spezia. Then head to Florence (no backtracking), then Venice.

Days 3,4 & 7 are killers- way too much for one day each.

I have stayed in both Siena and Lucca, and loved them both. Lucca has the wall surrounding the city which you can bike or jog around. I like Florence, but it is more art than athletic and adventurous.

As far as Cinque Terre, I would not go as a day trip if you want to see all the villages and hike. The hikes, depending on which ones, could take most part of a day, especially if you stop in a village along the way for lunch. For scenery, it is coastal, with beaches , mountains and vineyards. I personally can spend a few days in CT just relaxing by the beach in Vernazza and visiting each town, slowly!

Check out Rick Steve's videos on youtube, they are very informative.