Itinerary help - Italy in November

sepoje,

"Having some time to relax and soak in Italy" and "My tendency is to try to fit in more than is reasonable...". Yes, and these two things look to me to be in conflict.

I think you will not find Cinque Terre too open for business or enjoyable in late November, and it would use up a lot of your scarce time to get there and away from there. So, my suggestion would be to scratch Cinque Terre and leave that area for a future trip in a better season. That would free up most of three days.

And then, I would not add Milano (or a flight to Bologna) to the itinerary, but give yourself extra days in Naples, Florence and Venice, so you really can enjoy those cities and relax a little bit. To get away from the urban areas some, yes take a day from Florence for Lucca, wine country or nearby hill towns and countryside, and then in Venice take a day for the islands of Murano and Torcello, especially, in the Venice lagoon.

Since you asked for suggestions ...

Keep it simple.
Can Cinque Terre.
Can overnighting in Naples.
Can the internal flight.
Can getting a car.

Day 1: Arrive in Rome (4 nights)
Day 2: Rome
Day 3: Day trip from Rome to Pompeii
Day 4: Rome
Day 5: Train from Rome to Florence (4 nights)
Day 6: Florence
Day 7: Day trip to Lucca and Pisa
Day 8: Day trip to Siena
Day 9: Late train from Florence to Venice (3 nights)
Day 10-11: Venice
Day 12: Venice to Croatia

David's itinerary encompasses all the suggetions that I would make.

Friends of mine flew round-trip to Venice and rented a car to tour Croatia. If you do that, unless you have a reason to be in Croatia in December, you could start by flying into Venice for 3 nights to sightsee and get over jetlag, then Croatia by car, and then the rest of David's itinerary in reverse.

David has given you great advice. You are cramming in too much.

Day 5-7: Stay in Florence (3 nights) and take some day trips. Probably to Lucca, maybe a quick visit to Pisa. We'd like to rent a car one day to drive around the countryside.

If you only have 3 nights in Florence, you have two full days. You want to spend one day going to Lucca and Pisa (a full day, FYI) and then another to drive around. When would you see Florence? Too much too fast.

I'll vote for David's schedule as well. What you currently have involves too much moving around and will allow for little if any "time to relax and soak in Italy." Consider that 2 nights in Rome and Venice is only one FULL day in each, and arrival day in Rome may be a jet-lagged haze. 3 nights in Florence doesn't allow you any time for Florence itself if you want to do day trips too, and it's not a great time of year for the CT.

Heck, I'd even can Pompeii and save it for a future trip of Naples/Amalfi Coast as, IMHO, 4 nights/3 full days is a minimum for Rome unless you've been there before.

Another vote for 'less is more'

David & Chani have a great blueprint. Add your personal tweaks to fit your needs if you do not like it " as is"

"planning for inclement weather"

Don't worry too much about the weather. We were in Tuscany in December 2015 and the temps were mild and we had only one drizzly afternoon the entire 8 days we were there.

I agree with others - simplify you itinerary. Build in a couple of days with nothing scheduled to allow you to just knock around or include something you've discovered and want to explore more fully.

Thanks for all the endorsements friends. You’ve given this grey haired guy a golden glow.

I wouldn’t normally suggest Pompeii in a day from Rome, but if you are prepared for an early start with a late return, and if it’s high on your wish list, plus you have good stamina, then go for it. Heat won’t slow you down in November at least.

Enjoy.