Help with our Italy itinerary (Honeymoon trip)

Hello and congrats on the upcoming nuptials!

I think something needs to go if you only have 12 nights. If you really want to see the Cinque Terre, then perhaps drop Rome and make your trip only northern Italy: Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre.

2 nights in Venice is not enough if you plan to go also to the islands of Murano and Burano, much less also to Verona. With 3 nights, you have 2 full days, perhaps one for the city of Venice and one for the islands. Make it 4 nights and you can probably fit in Verona if you like. You will be jetlagged so a longer stop in Venice will be a nice start to the honeymoon.

4 nights in Florence is nice, but I think there is so much to see and do there then you should only count on one day trip, either Bologna or Siena (your 4 nights really only allow 3 full days of sightseeing).

Finally do 3 nights in the Cinque Terre for a relaxing end. In addition to the 5 towns, a day trip to PortoVenere via ferry is very nice, as well as Portofino, Santa Maria Ligure, or even Genoa.

You'll have one night left and it will be necessary to use that in your departure city. Pisa or Milan would be good exit points for this itinerary.

If you can add 2 or 3 more nights, then you can add Rome back into the mix.

Once you decide on an itinerary, you can work on hotels and restaurants.

is it cheaper to get a Eurail Italy pass or just buy the point to point ticket?

Point-to-point is best. If you can commit to an itinerary, you can buy high-speed freccia tickets in advance for a discount, but they are non-refundable.

You have several months to work on your itinerary, so now's the time to do some reading/watching on your own. If you can't get printed guide books where you are, you can buy ebooks and read them on your computer. The Rick Steves Italy is a good start, with lots of practical information. So are the DK Eyewitness Guides, with lots of pictures. You can also find a lot of information on the internet on the sights and activities in each place.

Then consider how much time you'll have to see the things that most interest you. Take into account that you'll use about 1/2 day each time you change places (packing, checking out, getting to the train station, etc), you will be jetlagged when you arrive (so you won't be up to doing much on the first and maybe also the second day), and you want to be close to your departure airport on your last night. Lastly, be honest with yourselves about your travel style. Some people have a great time seeing a little of everything and are want to keeping moving on to the next thing. Other people like to take the time to absorb it, enjoy the ambiance. Both ways are good. Which is yours?

Examples of train timings for you.
You might like to stop in Pisa, store your luggage, and visit the Leaning Tower.

FR 9439
Dep 15:25 VENEZIA S. LUCIA (Italy)
Arr 17:30 FIRENZE S.M.N. (Italy)

RE 3113
Dep 09:28 FIRENZE S.M.N. (Italy)
Arr 10:28 PISA CENTRALE (Italy)
IC 674
Dep 13:42 PISA CENTRALE (Italy)
Arr 14:52 MONTEROSSO (Italy)

RE 21193
Dep 12:10 MONTEROSSO (Italy)
Arr 12:35 LA SPEZIA CENTRALE (Italy)
FB 35073
Dep 13:14 LA SPEZIA CENTRALE (Italy)
Arr 16:32 ROMA TERMINI (Italy)

Thank you for the suggestions. I talked to my fiance about your suggestions and decided to stay another night in Venice and we'll opt out Verona and go to Murano and Burano instead. I've been to Rome six years ago and I really enjoyed it there. It's one of my favorite cities in Italy, and I want my fiance to experience Rome as well. My sister says that I should go to Modena instead of Bologna, what do you think?