Here's my itinerary for the Italian portion of my backpacking trip:
Day One: VENICE - arrive late afternoon from Salzburg
Shop/wander
Grand Canal Cruise
Day Two: VENICE
St. Mark's Basilica & Square
Doge's Palace
Frari Church
Shop/wander
Gondola Ride (?)
Day Three: FLORENCE - arrive early AM from Venice
Accademia
Rick's Renaissance Walk
Uffizi Gallery
Piazza della Signoria
Day Four: FLORENCE
Tuscan hillside bike tour
Wander/shop
Oltrarno
Day Five: FLORENCE
Fiat500 Tour
Church of Santa Maria / Perfumery
Pitti Palace & Gardens
RS Oltrarno Walk
Piazza Michelangelo
Day Six: ROME - arrive early AM from Florence
"Caesar Shuffle"
Wander/shop
Day Seven: ROME
National Museum of Rome
Baths of Diocletian
Villa Borghese Gardens
"Shopping triangle"
Rick's Dolce Vita Stroll
Day Eight: ROME
Vatican City tour w/ Through Eternity
Wander/shop
Day Nine: ROME
Day trip to Tivoli
Shop/wander
Rome at Twilight Tour w/ Through Eternity
Day Ten: CINQUE TERRE - arrive afternoon from Rome
Explore Riomaggiorie & Manarola
Sleep in Manarola
Day Eleven: CINQUE TERRE
Hikes between towns
Wander/explore
Day Twelve: Cinque Terre --> Swiss Alps
Posted by
OP
Las Vegas, NV, USA
68 posts
Originally I had 2 1/2 days in Venice and 2 days in Florence, but I thought I should give an extra day to Florence since there are a lot more major sites to see. Do you think I should spend the extra day in Venice instead? I could also try taking a night train in from Salzburg so I could spend 2 days instead of 1 1/2 in Venice... maybe that would work.
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
Caroline,
Very impressive Itinerary! Looks like you've done your legwork.
The gardens at Villa Borghese are just coming into bloom. And at the National Museum, near Termini, there is an incredible "temporary" Pompeii exhibit (not to mention Olivia's Rome). You're in for a treat there - I recommend starting at the top floor and working your way down in that building (4 floors I think!).
What time of year are you planning on coming?
You'll have to let us know about the Fiat 500 tour. That's one of my favorite little cars - and you still see them all over Rome, but more so in the country!
Good Luck - It's BEAUTIFUL here today!
Ciao,
Ron
Posted by
OP
Las Vegas, NV, USA
68 posts
I'm planning on going next July! I can't wait! Thanks for the tip about the exhibit. Hopefully it will still be going on when I'm there.
I'll definitely make a post about the Fiat 500 Tour. I've heard good things about it, and it seems like a fun way to spend an hour or two in Florence.
Thanks for the response!
Posted by
OP
Las Vegas, NV, USA
68 posts
Thank you for mentioning San Lorenzo! I had it written down in my notes, and I forgot to specify that I would be shopping there.
Wow, Burano looks amazing! Next time I go to Venice, I will definitely take a day trip over there!
Posted by
lansing
72 posts
how set are your plans? it might be easier to do rome to florence to cinque terra to venice to switzerland. other wise your time looks good. you could probably cut a day out in florence but that is up to you. just a word of advice, it is very easy to get lost in venice, and i mean lost as in where the heck am i? i got lost for 3 hours one evening and anouther hour on the way back tp my hotel. maps can be difficult to use there. but it is fun to look back on. Rome also has some rather poorly labeled streets. If you have extra time, consider a day in Assisi. it was my favorite town in italy. it's absolutely gorgeous!
In the Cinque Terra, when you are in riomaggiorie, if you walk to the back of the town (all the way back) you will find a trail that leads up the mountain through some great scenery and finishes with an absolutely amazing view of the towns! its about an hour or so hike up, and much faster going back down.