mid May/early June travel to Tuscany, Rome OK?

Thank your lucky stars that you need to switch to mid-May to early June. IMHO, that's the very best time to go to Italy. The weather is warm but not too hot, and the flowers are in bloom everywhere. It's post-Easter but pre-summer vacation crowds. Happy travels.

We were going to start a 4 week trip to Italy in Rome the week after Easter. However, with Pope John Paul II being made a saint the Sunday after Easter, that week will be a zoo (Hotel rates have already gone up). We postponed the start of our trip a week. I believe we can find enough open in Rome on 1 May to keep ourselves occupied.

Thank you all. What a great communication vehicle. My original plan was to go mid-April. I would have been there in the height of the Easter and the canonization celebrations if it weren't for Roberto. I then changed to the 22nd for Florence and after hearing from Bob, was thinking more about the 28th. Michael, you paint a beautiful picture! All's Well That Ends Well... Sharon

The end of April-beginning of May is the crowdest time in Italy, especially in famous tourist spots. In some cities (Rome, Venice, Florence) you will have a hard time finding accommodations. That is due to a combination of holidays falling in that period: April 20, 2014 Easter April 21, 2014 Easter Monday (holiday in Italy) April 25, 2014 Liberation day April 26-27, 2014 Weekend
May 1, Labor Day The end of May early June will be warmer, but generally not scorching hot like the 2nd half of June or, even worse, July and August.

We were in Rome last year during Easter weekend. We toured the suburbs of Rome when it got too busy in the city center, and experienced no problems. There are about as many tourist sights outside Rome as there is in the city center.
Either earlier or later on your itinerary will work out fine. I usually take a Spring trip the last day or two before the flights get more expensive, which this year airfares increase on 3/28/2014. We never complain about being too hot that early in the Spring.

Heck, I can do better than paint a pretty picture - I can show you. Here's a photo I took on May 11 in Rome: View of St. Peters from Gianicolo with flowers And another taken on May 12 in Rome: Roman bougainvillea If any particular place you want to go is too crowded, then there are scores of other lesser-known options in the historic center, without having to go to the suburbs. My favorite recommendation for those who are interested in Ancient Rome is the National Museum of Rome in Palazzo Massimo. You might end up having the museum practically all to yourself. And it's loaded with amazing Roman art. Feel free to check out my extensive (and exhausting!) photos of Rome here: Rome 2013 Rome 2008 and 2011 highlights

Thank you Michael. You take the same kind - and number - of pictures that I do. I bought a new camera this spring for my Turkey trip - Sony Cyber-shot RX100. I love it - does all of the thinking for me, let's me enjoy taking pictures and also be in the moment and enjoy the experience of what I am seeing. I will definitely put the Ancient Museum of Rome on my list. Sharon