One more time: How long in each city?

While I love Venice, I'd cut that out on this trip.

Or, cut Sorrento and go to Venice and fly out of there.

Safe travels!

Your itinerary would entail a lot of backtracking, with a long trip from Venice to Sorrento -- I'm guessing at least 8 hours on a train. Do you already have your tickets into Rome and out of Naples? If you could fly into Venice, you'd have a more logical trip.

Or maybe you could do the itinerary as planned, but find a cheap flight from Venice to Naples (rather than the long train ride)? Then it's just only about an hour to Sorrento.

If you're allowing two full days (no travel) in Venice, I'd say your itinerary is fine. You can see plenty in Venice with two full days, and it's definitely worth it IMO.

I would cut out Sorrento and fly from Venice to Barcelona. I would spend 5 days in Rome, 3 in Florence and 3 in Venice. Since this is your second trip I would leave Sorrento and other nearby cities til your third trip to do them justice.

Donna

I definitely agree about leaving Sorrento for another trip. Rome deserves more time, especially since art history and world history are your interests. Art history and world history, you have just described Rome! Flying from Venice to Barcelona makes sense also.

Take the train between cities, there's no need for a car. The train would be more efficient and you don't have to worry about parking or navigating. The train would actually be faster.
Have a grat trip and let us know what you decide and how that transatlantic trip is!
Mimi

2 nights isn't enough for Rome. Rome IS Art History and World History. Sorrento is great, but not as great in November. I'd use those days in Rome.

Given that you're art lovers and given that you'll be there in November, I agree with dropping Sorrento from this trip (and I LOOVE Sorrento). Sorrento is charming, but at its best in warmer weather. And it has no significant art, especially compared to RFV.

Do Rome - Florence - Venice and fly from Venice to Barcelona.

Or are your plane tickets already booked?

Venice is the geographic oddity to your list. Perhaps another time?

Barcelona is wonderful. Don't short change it, in fact 3 whole days seems short - if you are into architecture.

You may want to look at easyjet flights. We booked a one hour flight from Venice to Naples for four people for 150 euros total (all taxes, etc. included). This was much less than a train or car (and hopefully less time traveling), so you may want to consider that as an option as well.

Thank you all for your suggestions. We are going to spend 5 days in Rome, 3 in Florence and 2 in Venice. Fly from Venice to Barcelona with a GREAT airfare. We will save the Amalfi Coast for a summer trip.

My husband is disappointed about missing Pompeii. Would a 1/2 day at Ostia Antica be a good substitution? I am now excited about adding Hadrian's Villa as well. Good idea? I am thinking we will find a hotel near the Termini for convenience.

Yes, Barcelona is wonderful! Our son did a semester in Sevilla and we as a family spent the Christmas holiday with him in Barcelona after a week in Andalusia. We adore Spain. My husband is fluent speaker of Spanish as he spent years in Peru as a graduate student. But we must branch out into Europe and not spend every vacation in So. America! Italy seems like a fine start!

You could take one day from Rome and take the train down to Pompeii. That would give you four full days in Rome. There's so much to see that you could always spend more time in Rome. We missed out on Pompeii on our last trip and my husband really wants to go there on our trip this fall. It'll be easier to walk around because it'll be so much cooler than the summer. Have a great trip.

As mentioned above, just because you are cutting out Sorrento does not mean you need to skip Pompeii if you really want to go there. It is a doable, but long DYI day trip from Rome (Rick's guidebook explains the specifics) or do it through a tour that provides you with the transporation.
Overall, I agree with cutting out the Amalfi Coast this time around and focusing on Rome, Florence, and Venice in Italy. Have fun!

Ostia Antica isn't necessarily a substitute for Pompeii, as their histories are different. However, I think OA is a wonderful site, especially as many of the buildings are still intact. You can climb apartment stairs, go into a bar, and sit on the steps of the Grand Temple.

I would say do Ostia if you don't want to take the time/money to get to Pompeii, and do Pompeii if that's what your hearts are set on & it makes sense with your schedule and budget.

Since we now have 5 days in Rome, we are planning to take the train to Pompeii one day. Could we still add in another little trip outside the city? If you had to select between Ostia Antica and Hadrian's Temple plus Villa d'Este, which might be more interesting?