We are doing the RS tour of Sicily ending Nov 23. We will travel at least another week, maybe more. Is the best plan to fly from Catania to Rome and then take train to Siena and Florence? Or better to fly Catania to Florence and train back to Rome? We have briefly been to Rome and Florence via cruise trips. Still want to visit museums in Florence and walk the forum and coliseum again in Rome. Suggested itinerary?
Posted by
SE Pennsylvania
2713 posts
If it's likely you will fly back to the US from Rome, make that your last stop.
Posted by
Irving
3313 posts
You can fly nonstop from Catania to Florence on Vueling.com for $26 on Nov 23. Hopefully you’ll pack light enough so you don’t have to check bags, otherwise, Iberia flies nonstop for $65. The further out you buy your tickets the cheaper it is.
Buy tickets for the Uffizi Gallery two months out to guarantee a reservation. If you don’t, skip it because the line takes a minimum of four hours to get inside. Florence is one of the world’s greatest museum cities and rivals London. Afterwards walk over to Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David; that line takes 30-minutes and moves fast. The Bargello is another highlight and the main draw here is Donatello’s David. Another day visit the Duomo Museum and Pitti Palace.
On your last day in Florence take a direct bus to Siena (1h 15m) that will drop you off in the old city. In Siena visit Il Campo square and the duomo. I would sleep in Florence a minimum of four nights.
You can take a direct train from Florence S.M. Novella station to Rome’s Termini station (1h 45m). I bet this train fills up quickly and the further out you buy your tickets the cheaper it is: https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html.
While in Rome sleep in Trastevere if possible or the nearby Hotel Smeraldo. Plan on touring the Colosseum and try to see it at night when it’s fully illuminated. What a sight it is, even if you have to take a taxi.
There’s also the Capitoline Museum, the Pantheon and spend one day in Vatican City where you can tour St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums. You need a minimum of four nights in Rome.
If you add day trips add a night for each excursion. Good day trip options by direct train from Rome’s Termini station are Orvieto (1h 15m) followed by a ride on the funicular to the top of the town and Naples (Central station, 1h 15m).