Northern Italy (to start!)

1st thought is...can you get your money back on the Eurail Passes because you don't need them in Italy. Point to point will probably work out much much cheaper for you.

Don, I tend to agree with the previous reply. Railpasses are usually not the most cost effective solution, especially for travel in Italy and especially now that it's possible to book discounted fares on the net. However, which option is more cost effective is VERY difficult to determine without having a definite list of the places you'll be visiting. It's important to remember that Railpasses DO NOT include the reservation fees that are compulsory on the "fast" trains. You'll have to pay separately for those. Reservations are specific to a particular train and departure time, and if you're caught without a valid reservation, you may be fined ON THE SPOT and it won't be cheap! As I recall, the fines are ~€40-50 per person! The same is true for not validating tickets on Regionale trains. When using P-P tickets, reservations are included (again, the tickets are specific to a train and departure time). You may find it very helpful to read the excellent Ron In Rome website. It would help to have some further information, such as the time frame of this trip, and when it will be taking place? Also, have you travelled in Italy before? In order to get some idea on places you might like to visit, I would highly recommend picking up a copy of the Italy 2012 Guidebook, as it contains a wealth of good information including hotels, sightseeing and transportation. The book is also available as an E-book in several formats. Just for clarification, the Cinque Terre is in Liguria. Were you planning to pre-book accommodations there? That's usually a really good idea, as it's a popular area. Good luck and Happy travels!

Ravenna, which is an easy train ride south of Venice, has some of the country's finest Byzantine-style mosaics in well preserved early churches (some Arian, some traditional... which also makes it more interesting historically). Orvieto, which is in Umbria about an hour north of Rome by train, has an amazing cathedral and is a really lovely hill town. (Also known for wine, Etruscan ruins, and ceramics, I believe, although I didn't look into that.) And I love Assisi, which is an easy train stop between Florence and Rome (train stops in modern town, with local bus or taxi to hill town). The Basilica of St Francis has lovely frescosl, as do a number of the other early churches. And I also love the Eremo della Carcieri (a few km up the mountain from Assisi) and San Damiano (a short walk below Assisi). Both, are peaceful and quieter than Assisi, with beautiful sacred buildings and enjoyable walks).
And finally, I don't see Florence mentioned in your messge. It's my favority city in the world... amazing art within 100 yards no matter where you are. So if late Gothic or Renassaince art (particularly early Renaissance) or architecture appeal to you, I'd suggest including it.

We just came back and spent our time in the north. We spent three full days in Venice which I thought was good. We visted Pudua or Padova. We wanted to see the Giotto Fresco. It was magnificent. But the real bonus was Padua itself. I thought it was a great place that doesn't get enough attention. We spent time in Lake Cuomo near Bellagio. Very nice with lots of ferry access to nearby towns. Very pretty and peaceful after a busy Venice. Spent a day in Milan. Saw the Duomo and went to the top. Very nice. Viccotorrio Emanule right there to see. Of course we went to see the Last Supper. Get reservations if you go. As you head to Rome stop in Florence for a couple of days. Florence is like a postcard, beautiful. See the uffizi, accademia, cross the Ponte Veccchio, head up to Piazza Michangelo, than vist the church of Santa Croce. Of course walk by the Duomo and vist the shops and street vendors. YOu don't mention how much time you will be spending in total. If you don't have the time to see all, buy the RS book and videos and prioritize.

Yes, how long is your trip, and how much time have you already allotted? As Ken stated, Cinque Terre and Tuscany are two different places - were you visiting one or both? If you can post a day by day itinerary, with the committed days and the open days, people can give you much better advice. Of the places I've been that are "on the way" from Venice to Tuscany or the Cinque Terre, I heartily recommend Padova, Ferrara and Ravenna. I also liked Parma (not sure if this would be a detour for you). I'm not enthralled by Bologna, and I only liked (not loved) Verona, but many others disagree. On the other hand, I like Milan more than many others do. If you have more time, Bolzano is very interesting for its mixed Australian and Italian culture and its museum with the Iceman, but it's the "wrong direction" for the rest of your itinerary.

Yes, it's a shame you already bought Eurail passes. But setting that aside, is there a reason you're not considering Florence? The standard itinerary for a first visit to Italy includes Venice, Florence and Rome for good reason. Happy travels.

"I heartily recommend Padova, Ferrara and Ravenna." It probably wouldn't be real good idea to visit the area around Bologna or Ferrara at the moment, as that's the general area that was affected by the earthquake a few nights ago. The epicentre appeared to be just west of Ferrara.

Good point, Ken - I totally forgot about the earthquake! Do check on the latest conditions before going there (and I'm so sorry to hear about the tragedy).

Thank you all for the replies. Unfortunately I purchased the Eurail passes already, but will inquire about a refund - although I know there is a cancellation fee. My wife and are there for 22 days, while our companions are only there for 12 days. They are not going south at all, while we plan on spending the second half of our trip in the south, and will conclude with 2 or 3 days in Rome. My family name is Gargano, so we planned on stopping in to see how my properties are holding up! We have other family members who are staying in la Pievuccia in Castiglion( Toscana) July 7-14, so we wanted to stop there for a day or two. We haven't ruled out any of the cities, and we realize Florence is a must see. We simply wanted to put together an itinerary that made sense geographically, as backtracking didn't seem to be an effective use of limited time. So again....thanks for the feedback, and I look forward to hearing back from you.