This is my first time to Italy and my husband's third. We fly in and out of Rome and airfare is already booked for May 2020. We will have 17 full days in Italy, not counting the days we fly. Here is what I'm thinking:
Rome - 3 nights,
Sorrento - 2,
Tuscany - 3 (renting a car for these days),
Florence - 3,
Udine - 2 (visiting my husband's cousins),
Venice - 2,
and back to Rome for final 3 nights.
I'm not sure about getting from Sorrento to somewhere in Tuscany (perhaps Orvieto or Siena?) where we will rent a car and then need help with a Tuscan/Umbria itinerary. Could we somehow see Orvieto/Civita, Montepulciano, Pienza, Siena, Volterra, San Gimignano, and Lucca/Pisa in the 3 days or is that too much? Also, should we stay at a different place each night as we head north (from Orvieto) or stay in one place (like Siena) and do day trips? We will probably drop the car off in Siena or Florence. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1676 posts
Hi
A couple of thoughts. Keep in mind every time you change hotels you will use up a half to a full day of your time in travel. Unfortunately, you have made your airfare already. You are going as far from Rome at the end of your trip. If it were me, I would make my way to Udine as soon as possible when you arrive in Rome and work back towards Rome. (Udine, Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Rome). I would say 3 days isn't enough to see your list in Tuscany/Umbria. I would skip Sorrento and use those days in Tuscany/Umbria. (Just my opinion choice). Enjoy Italy!
Posted by
871 posts
Two nights yield only a single full day. Yes, scrap Sorrento, rent car in Rome and return in Florence.
Posted by
Portland
3603 posts
In my opinion, you can’t possibly visit all the Tuscan towns that you have listed, in just three days. Even ones that seem close to each other may take a surprising amount of time to reach, because the roads are narrow and winding. Also, you usually have to park some distance from the historic centers, then walk in. Viamichelin.com is one place to get a sense of driving times between places, with the caution that you should really add about 25% to their estimates. You might want to stay in two places, one more to the north, the other to the south. Do not change every night. If you cut Sorrento, (good advice), you could add one day to Tuscany.
Of those you have mentioned, I think Orvieto (actually in Umbria) should be number 1. By itself, it is worth more than a day. Don’t bother with Civita. It’s a nothing.
Pienza is very charming and has the historically interesting palace of Pope Pius Ii. He rebuilt much of the town during the Renaissance, so the architecture is different from what you will see in many other towns. We had a tour with an English speaking guide, arranged, as I recall through the TI office. If that interests you, check the town website.
Volterra has a strong Etruscan connection, as well as Roman ruins, so different from some of your other choices. We also liked Lucca a lot.
Though some people are dismissive toward Pisa, to me, the tower is iconic. Though you will have seen many pictures of it, the reality is still stunning. Don’t skip the cathedral and baptistery, right nearby.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11344 posts
I would drop Sorrento. Too far to go for only 2 nights. Add those nights to Tuscany and slow the pace there a bit. By doing that, you could go to Florence on arrival in Rome, spend your time there and rent your car when you leave. Then put all of your Rome nights at the end.
You have 18 nights:
Florence, 3 nights
“Tuscany” (suggest you pick only one or two towns to sleep in) 5 nights
Udine, 2 nights
Venice, 3 nights (people who stay longer in Venice tend to enjoy it more than those who spend only a couple of nights)
Rome, 5 nights