CT, Florence, Venice

People do it both ways and your total train time adds up to about 11 hours either way. The difference is on which day you have the longest travel plan. Trains take about 1.5 hours for Rome-Florence, 2.5 - 3.5 hours Florence-Vernazza, and 6 hours Vernazza-Venice. Or start with 4 - 5 hours for Rome-Vernazza, 2.5 - 3.5 hours Vernazza-Florence, and 2 hours Florence-Venice.

I don't know where you land and where you depart from but assuming you arrive at NAP and fly back home from VCE with an open jaw flight the more logical itinerary to minimize train changes in one trip is:
SORRENTO > ROME > CINQUE TERRE > FLORENCE > VENICE
Sorrento-Rome= 1 train change in Naples
Rome-CT=1 train change in Spezia
CT-Florence=2 train changes in Spezia and Pisa.
Florence-Venice=non stop.
In your hypothesis the day you travel from CT to Venice you are going to incur 3 train changes (SP, PI and FI) or at least 2 if you take the longer route through Milan. Besides your itinerary back tracks to Florence.

After going to all those places, I would skip Cinque Terre. Spend more time in Rome or Venice- or go to Vicenza, Padua, or Verona from Florence on the way to Venice. (they are really amazing places, and not as touristic as CT, and better logistically). I was not happy with the experience in Cinque Terre, the small towns haven't really done anything to accomodate the large number of tourists. There is a big "Domani-- allohora" attitude there. The locals are basically enjoying the profit from Rick Steve's praises and are not doing anything to make life better for the tourists. Its so typically touristy there, the money is infecting the local's attitude. At one time it was probably authentic... but its turning into a tourist trap. The restaurants by the sea are twice as expensive, etc. All things being said, CT is amazing for its views and the towns are interesting, but its not worth trying to squeeze this into your itinerary which as a previous write wrote makes you back-track. I noticed on the video that Rick Steve's gets the "red carpet/ VIP" treatment at CT. No local is going to treat you as well as they treat Rick Steves-- So the video about the anchioves, and the food is really not accurate. Rick Steve's had an authentic experience in the 70s... I got it- but he is a celebrity and the CT's biggest marketer, and now the place is over-run with tourists so he doesn't know the truth! I

would go to Verona if I were you--- EASILY! Its so much better! You have a coliseum, you have an authentic Roman Forum, and you have the Piazza Juiletta, a Roman Ampitheater, a castle, you can go to Lake Garda or the Alps for a side trip. Verona is a gem! Vicenza has a lot of Palladio if you are into architecture. Padua has the Capella Scrovegni (Giotto's Sistine Chapel), which is walking distance from the train station. Padua also has St. Anthony's tomb with statues and friezes by Donatello. So much more interesting than CT.....

Have fun on your trip, and I hope you don't mind my candor!

Rick Steve's: Go icognito as a typical tourist and see how it is (the barbed wire fences blocking the trail), the trains that leave you stranded, the limited parking, the lack of respect at the hotels, the expensive restaurants on the water! This place is no- longer authentic!

" No local is going to treat you as well as they treat Rick Steves-- So the video about the anchioves, and the food is really not accurate "

I disagree & have had consistantly great treatment from nearly all the CT residents during 4 trips in the past dozen years. Trust me, I am no one special..................

We found the CT to be a delightful break for a few days, and we were treated very well, too. Oh, sure, it's a busy place, and likely much more so when we were there in September than when you will be there in May, but all in all we found merchants and restaurant folks to be pretty easy to get along with. And sure, Il Pirata has been strongly promoted by RS, and rightfully so, it's a fun place with good food.
I will say that the CT is not a place to rush through, I think that is probably one of the hard things for people working there, the tendency for tourists to want everything right now. The CT is for slowing down and savoring, and it is a nice contrast to busier towns, especially in May.
Dave

Thank you for all of the recommendations! We switched the route so we are traveling to CT from Rome then to Florence, didn't realize the 'back tracking' when originally booking the trip. All of the comments were greatly appreciated. Looking forward to slowing down for a day or two there and enjoying the beautiful sights.

Ok, CT is a lovely place. Yes the people are nice and laid back. I went in April 2011, and I had a negative experience. I lived in Italy for 2 years and traveled to many places.

I didn't only have one bad experience: it was thorough and consistent thought my 3 day visit to CT.

Ok if you are traveling through, and you come from the US it is marvelous because you have no point of reference. (I remember a young teenager saying "wow they play American music here."

Also I would like to add those who lived in Italy for a month and you think you know everything (like all my family and friends from NJ) act like they are such experts! They know nothing.

Go to a place like Verona, Padova, or Milan... which I have visited probably over 30 times because I lived in Vicenza. You can't compare CT- (The Italian Redneck Rivera" to those places. I am being honest I was very disappointed and I was mad at Rick Steve's for pushing it on me. I live in the Netherlands now going on my 7th year in Europe. And the longer I live here the more I find flaws with Rick Steve's. I do like his tours of some places, and I use him frequently. I feel that I have earned the right to say these things due to my experience.

The people are nice. They just don't care! And they are raking in the money.

rlgood11,
I visited Italy in 2009 with 3 girlfriends. We too are fast paced travelers and wanted to cover as much as possible. We based our trip off the suggestions of this blog http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/italy-itinerary-the-perfect-two-weeks.html. We flew into Venice and out of Naples. We used this itinerary and added extra time on the Amalfi coast. We spent two weeks plus 2 days and didn't feel rushed at all! If you've never been to CT then I would definitely go.... it's beautiful! We stayed in Monterosso but Vernazza would also be a good option. Two nights was perfect. We had a nice dinner on arrival, hiked the entire next day, then departed for Florence on the next morning. We felt two nights in venice was perfect. I'm also going back with my mom in May and we're planning a similar itinerary as last time I went because I want my mom to see everything I did 4 years ago. One more tip; If you start in Venice and end on the southern coast you'll be sure to get hot weather on the Amalfi. Also, definitely take a day trip to Capri!!! Have fun!
- Danielle