Clueless on "Tuscany"

Since you are relying on public transport you should take a 90 min. fast train ride north, from Rome to Florence, Tuscany's Regional capital city, and use Florence as a base, since Florence is also Tuscany's transport hub. Visiting Florence itself could potentially take most of your available time. However, if you could squeeze visiting Florence in just a couple of days, you could have time for a day trip to Siena (SITA bus better than train), and perhaps another day trip to Pisa and maybe also its neighbor Lucca (train). If you had a car you could squeeze a few more towns on the way to Siena (San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Colle V.E.), but with a bus you may not have the time to do it all in a day. You won't have time for much else in 5 days, once you include the time to take the train back to Rome the night before your flight back to the USA (I'm assuming you are flying in and out of Rome). Venice is not in Tuscany. It's 2 hours north of Florence via fast train. You could day trip to Venice from Florence just for a short half day visit, but then you would need to skip some of your Tuscany's visit. Another option is to do Florence in two days, then train to Venice for a two day visit and fly back from Venice instead of Rome. Busy but doable. However with this option you wouldn't see any of Tuscany's smaller towns and your trip would be strictly Italy's three big Pearls: Rome, Florence and Venice.

Roberto is partial to Florence. But of course he's from there. I agree with what he's saying. Rick Steves' Italy is a good travel book. Check your library, as they usually have a good section on this very popular trip to Tuscany. Wikipedia has some great reading on most all the cities of the world, and they cover the local sights.

Liz, I also agree with Roberto. Florence is IN Tuscany, and it makes a great "home base" for visiting that area. If you're not overly interesting in Renaissance art and that sort of thing, you could skip visits to the Accademia and Uffizi, and take day trips to Siena, Lucca, Pisa or perhaps even the Cinque Terre. You could also take a run up the hill to Fiesole for great views of Florence with "classic" Tuscan Villas and Olive groves, and of course visit the famous Ponte Vecchio. While in Florence, I'd highly recommend making the climb to the top of Brunelleschi's "dome within a dome" as it's an amazing engineering achievement (there's also the Campanile). The trip from Rome to Florence (and return) is only about 1.5 hours each way via Freccia or Italo (high speed) trains, so it will be easy to get back for your flight home. The trains run at up to 300 kmH when they get going, so it's a very quick trip! Happy travels!

If you like visiting 'small villages, wineries , farms' and can skip all the biggies... the last thing I would suggest is that you stay in Florence. I would stay in any number of villages in Tuscany (San G, Certaldo Alto, Sienna, etc) and possibly make a day trip to Florence (if you feel the need) How did you get around in Provence? I know you can do some of this by train/bus, but I can't give advice on public transportation, I always drive in Tuscany...but there are others who do not.

Rethinking after reading these posts. Rome-Florence-Venice (fly home out of Venice as suggested). Will I be able to visit "little villages" from Florence. What about transportation in and around Florence?
While in Provence I was part of a tour with two other couples. We had a tour guide that took us everywhere. It was great. While I was in Marsille, I took the train to Aix en Provence. While in Nice I took guided tours that had drivers. I do not like the idea of driving in Europe. I would never have found the villages in Provence.

Departing from Venice changes everything and pretty much gives you another day. In all seriousness, I'd also recommend basing your Tuscany trip out of Florence (I am also partial to it, like Roberto) because it is a transportation hub, and you can get to the surrounding smaller towns via bus. A great view of Tuscany is in Florence at the Piazza Michelangelo at the top of the hill! I did a day trip to Siena, saw it, and have never felt the need to return, but that's me. I do return to Florence as often as I go to Italy, usually every year. Just my opinion. Most hotels can offer you a private driver/guide, and some of them to wineries. Check with your hotel for what's available.