Need suggestions for short trip to Italy

hi walden
when are planning this short trip?

This is tough.

It looks like you will have 4 usable days on the ground; one of those days you need to teach a workshop, another day you need to spend preparing. So you really have 2 free days.

Aside from the primary problem -- that your trip is just too short to do much with -- a second problem is that your proposed itinerary has your two work days smack in the middle, which means you really have two single-day free days, not "two days" as one might ordinarily expect.

If you could push the work days to the last two days you're there (or even better, the first two days), then that would give you two free days together, and more flexibility. That would allow you to travel somewhere once without having to come right back -- you could go somewhere, enjoy the time there, spend the night, and return late the second day -- much better than two single-day daytrips.

If it were me, first I'd try real hard to extend the length of my trip by adding some vacation days (like, two weeks of them...) while I was in Italy. If that's just not possible, then I'd try to schedule the two days of actual work at the beginning or end of my very limited time there, rather than in the "middle" of it.

On the assumption the total number of days is fixed,I would suggest timing your arrival so that you do the workshop presentation on day 5.

Depending what time of year this trip is, you could go to a coastal area , CT perhaps, on the first day and return to Florence to do your work thing.

Perhaps a trip to Bologna. It’s only an hour train ride north of Florence. It’s a great historic city with great food and few tourists.

If your flights in and out are fixed and can't be changed, how about on Day 2 do a small group day tour with Tours by Roberto, seeing some of the Tuscan countryside, villages, vineyards, maybe Siena? Take a look at his website for possibilities. Or look at Walkabout Florence. I've taken day tours with both companies, and both were extremely well done. Roberto's groups are smaller. Doing this day trip on Day 2 means you don't have to do a lot of travel effort yourself, while you are perhaps still jet-laggy. On Day 4, in the evening after your workshop, perhaps take the train two hours south to beautiful Orvieto and spend the night and all of Day 5 in that beautiful, amazing hill town. Then travel back to Florence in the evening of Day 5. If you don't want to spend the night away from Florence, consider a day trip to Lucca or Siena, which are both within an hour of Florence by train or bus.

Some great suggestions here and they are much appreciated!!

I am a little locked in on this trip which is next month arriving on the 6th and departing on the 11th. It is what it is... a free quickee trip to Italy.

Going to Bologna and Orvieto sounds like a good ideas. Also the tour ideas are something I will look into.

Is there a location I could take the train to and see the Alps?

Nice freebie, Waldenfepher! Maybe your even being paid to be in Florence to do your thing. If you are staying the whole time in Florence, lovely but generally crowded with tourists, my suggestion would be to spend your free days in smaller places, such as Orvieto, Siena, San Gimignano, maybe Ravenna or Assisi, all wonderful. To do something similar without the travel, I understand the town of Fiesole, nearby and just uphill from Florence, is a nice experience too, although I have never been. I have found that these smaller towns are often best experienced in the early morning or late afternoon / early evening, so I would advise planning to stay later than a normal day trip if you can. Maybe do something in Florence in the morning, then go elsewhere around mid-day and stay through dinner if you can.

I would go to Lucca. or Siena. Neither are coastal, but are close.

Trip Report/Lessons Learned

Day 1 – Arrived in Florence at noon. Took bus from airport to Santa Maria Novella (SMN)Train Station – cost was €6. First task was to purchase train ticket to Rome. I did not buy my ticket ahead of time because I am never certain of airline arrival times. Buying a train ticket at the last minute will cost you. I had to pay € 82 for a train that did not leave until almost 3. I had to get to Rome because I had reservations at the Sweet Dreams Roma and I had told the hotel I would arrive around 4.
Other than overpaying to ride in first class, all was good. Arrived at Termini and took 40 bus to Sweet Dreams Roma (http://www.sweetdreamsroma.com/). Met with Giovanni to get my room key and tour of the hotel. Very nice accommodation for a great price. I will stay here again. Giovanni asked me about my plans in Rome and he advised me. One thing I had planned was to take the train to Naples, then go to Pompei. He told me this could be done, but he recommended I wait a day because of the weather.
Got out to walk, went to Trevi Fountian, ate at La Prosciutteria (very crowded but good, Spanish steps, Piazza del Popolo, Metro to Colosseum, 10 – 15 minute walk back to Sweet Dreams.

Day 2 – Slow to get started due to jet lag. Walked to Roman Forum but did not go in. For the third trip in a row the Mamertine Prison was closed. Walked around the Colosseum and over to Circus Maximus, Temple of Hercules Victor, Tempio di Portuno. Figured out to use the Moovit App!!! (Became indispensable the whole trip) . Caught 118 bus to Appian Way. Got off the bus too early because I was still not trusting the app. Have not mentioned yet, but it was a very rainy day – so great call by my host to put off Pomei until tomorrow. Found my way to Catacombs of San Callisto. Did the tour. Waited for a long time in the rain to catch 118 back to town. I’m not feeling like I did the Appian way correctly, but I found part of it in the rain, so I guess that was OK. After diner, walked to Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Ponte San Angelo, the Vatican. Got on Metro back to Colosseum.

Day 3 – Up early to catch train to Pompei. Last minute ticket purchase to Naples was € 50. Since I was not sure what the day would hold I did not want to buy my return ticket. Got to Naples by 9:15. Caught Circumvesuviana train to Pompei. It was extremely crowded, no seats. The train I caught made every stop. It stayed crowed for the first 10? Stops, then we finally got room to get our noses out of each other’s armpits. Advise here is to go on past the ticket selling for tours at the train station and go to the main entrance to Pompei. I paid for the audio tour device. It was not great. I downloaded the Rick Steves Pompei tour in the app and used that instead. I spent 3 hours in Pompeii. I wanted to go to the archology museum in Naples, but it gets dark at 5 now so I did not want to risk it. The next Circumvesuviana train going back did not make all the stops. So at the end of the day I did do Pompei but I would have been better off paying for the tour on Viator that would have taken me on a bus to Pompei, the museum in Naples and Sorento. I would not have wasted time figuring things out. Sometime that is fun to do, but when it gets dark early, you don’t want to waste time.

Day 4 – Up early to purchase ticket to Florece. Spent morning finding these places … https://www.challies.com/articles/the-mischievous-protestants-guide-to-rome/. I found them all. Left Rome at 1:30 pm and arrived in Florence by 3. Checked into the Hilton Garden Inn (close to work). Prepared for work. Took bus into downtown and walked around. Ate at All’Antico Vinaio as it is a must for me on each trip. Crowds in November are great, no line!
Day 5 – Work.
Day 6 – Cinque Terre full day tour with hike. Hike was a challenge for me, but worth it. Great tour by Walkabout. I booked through Viator, but I would recommend Walkabout and would consider booking directly with them.
Day 7 – Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni on a GreyLine tour booked through Viator. Not as great of a tour group experience as the Walkabout tour, but great towns and great scenery.

Thanks to folks on this fourm for answering my questions before the trip.

I am assuming you do not have a car so I would look for towns near train stations. I believe Siena's train station is a tough walk to town. Lucca is a good choice and the train station is right outside town. Cinque Terre is another option by train though I am not sure of your dates (weather may be a concern)

jimk, the OP already took the trip; read the report above your post?