Hello everyone.
I am planning a 3 week trip to Italy with my mother this October. We were thinking of starting with Venice, followed by Verona and then make our way down to Tuscany before finishing our trip in Rome. Our itinerary is not set in stone.
I still haven't decided how long to stay in Tyscany, but it wil be at minimum 8 nights, 4 in the historic city of Florence and the rest to visit Tuscany. Every city and village seems beautiful, so we'll go wherever and do whatever will prevent us from wasting time. I have some questions :
If Florence is a good base, should we rent a car or ride buses and trains? For those of you who know Tuscany well, what would you do in my shoes?
If you had to choose a city or village as a base in Tuscany to visit the region, which one would you choose and why? We are open to go anywhere, so I'm interested in your opinions.
Where else in Italy would you go if you wanted to fit in one or more places for this trip?
*Edit: categorical views and opinionated takes from people who know the area well are welome. That's what I'm looking for.