Amalfi coast area vs venice

Venice, IMHO, is an overnight MUST. The character of the city is quite different in early AM and after 1600 when the cruise crowds depart. If you only have 13 nights, stick with Rome and north. Save Sorrento for another trip.

Venice is one of the remarkable cities of the world. Sorrento is pretty but better seen on a longer trip if you've never been to Italy before. Also, in contrast to Rome and Florence, Venice is quiet because of the lack of motorized vehicles (well, aside from boats), so it's a nice change of pace in addition to being the home of unparalleled art and architecture. Say, does Gaffney still have the Peach?

Visiting Venice as a day trip from Florence is much too rushed even if you take the fastest train. After many visits to Venice, mostly during the peak summer season, I would highly recommend a visit to the Palazzo Ducale (with advance reservations) and then walk away from Saint Mark's square and sit in a cafe in an uncrowded street to relax and enjoy some downtime and a bit of a more authentic side of Venice. Then wander back to Saint Mark's, drool at the amazing pieces of jewellery in the shops under the portici, listen to the orchestras in the evening, take a vaporetto ride down the Grand Canal at sunset and then on your next day... the possibilities are endless! I'm so envious! Feel free to send me a p message if you would like more suggestions!
Sorrento and the rest of the Amalfi Coast is beautiful, but as a previous post suggested, I would leave it for another trip. If you end your trip in Venice, you could fly out of the Venice Marco Polo airport. (or Bologna or Treviso, which I have never done; connections are probably not as good)

Carole, this decision really depends on your interests and your goals for this trip. If you've been dreaming of seeing the Amalfi Coast, keep it in your itinerary. For me, that was a highlight of my first trip. But Venice is also spectacular. And I personally found 4 nights in Florence to be excessive. You might consider a "taste of Italy" tour. Just subtract 1 night from Rome and 2 nights from Florence, and spend those three nights in Venice ... keeping your 4 nights in Sorrento. Start your trip by flying into either Venice or Naples (which is a short hop from Sorrento) and then work your way toward the other, flying home from there. But that's just me. It's your trip. Have fun planning!

Thank you all for your help!!!

That itinerary in that order has you traveling long distances. And you have to do at least 2 nights in Venice. Here's what I suggest: 3 Sorrento (great place to get over jetlag, esp. if you can fly into Naples) 4 Rome 3 Florence
3 Venice Or reverse that. Buon viaggio.

I agree with the others that you should leave Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast for another trip. In my opinion, Venice deserves at least a few days (2-3) if not more. I think Venice as a day trip will not do it justice.