planning trip ? tour/on own

You really should have no problems following Riscks gbk. That said it seems that perhaps your inner voice is indicating some loss of confidence. If that is the case just take a tour with a company like Rick Steves or others.
There are many companies who offer italy short and long tours. Losing ones nerve happens. U have an opportunity to travel with a friend now. Do not miss your chance. It is relaxing to take a full guided tour. All the logistics are worked out by others. I continue to do independent and guided tours to europe.
It is only the location which determines the choice I make. If u need suggestions for other tour companies that I have experienced PM me.

I’m very biased having done 7 RS tours and having booked 2 more for 2019. Every time we get close to trying another company, we find something, sometimes big, often little, that steers us back to RS. We still do independent travel, often before or after a tour. But for a pretty stress free adventure where you see a lot and mostly all the details are handled, these tours are hard to beat. Look at the South Italy tour which begins in Rome and visits the Amalfi coast. It does not visit the Vatican, but you have an afternoon on your own to do that. Or, better yet, arrive few days early, get over your jet lag, see the Sistine Chapel and other sights not included on this tour. You’ll have a great time!

If you've taken previous trips with Rick's books and done well, Italy should be the same. You can, of course, take a tour if you wish, and this does have the advantage that someone else does all the logistics for you. But these are no harder for Italy than for other places in Europe.

If you like traveling independently, you can have a great time on your own. RS Italy guidebook is helpful as is Trip Advisor. You might want to consider mixing some walking tours to give you a bit more structure and insights. The Vatican for example is a great place for a guided tour. Italy seems daunting because there is so much to see and do, it can be a bit like a grand buffet, hard to know where to start. However, the people are lovely, the transport systems are good, and you can create your own experience.

Have a great trip,
Sandy

It sounds like you may want Rome and the Amalfi Coast. Probably Pompeii too, More? Add Florence and a few days in more rural Tuscany or Siena. Take trains. Get a driver from Naples to the Amalfi Coast.
It isn’t difficult to plan. Ask questions on this forum as you plan.

Have you thought about why Italy seems like a "major undertaking" (compared to other European countries)? What's different about Italy? The skills in planning one trip are as applicable (and similar) to other trips. Italy is so well covered in guidebooks and on the tourist circuit, that I would encourage you to strike out and plan another trip on your own. If you've used RS books successfully in the past, this trip will likely turn out great as well. Good luck! I think you'll do just fine.

7 days is not a lot of time. When is this trip? Does that include two travel days arriving & departing days ? If so you really don’t have a lot of time. We are doing RS 7 day Rome tour but going for a few days before the tour to Sorrento. We are going in Winter so weather is a concern. Have fun!

And one of the joys of being retired (assuming that's your level of "senior") is being able to take longer trips without having to ask an employer "Mother may I" -- we took a month in Italy (independent travel), and still haven't gotten to CT or Assisi or ...

Italy is molto bene. Fly into and out of Rome, train to Naples and Circumvesuviana to lovely Sorrento for a few days and take a bus ride along the Amalfi Coast, then return to Rome for Colosseum, Vatican and Sistene Chapel, gelato, la dolce far niente.

Italy should be no harder to do on your own than wherever you went previously. It sounds like your priorities are Rome and Amalfi Coast. With 7 days that’s enough. No need to add more

Fly into Rome, or Naples if possible. If Rome get a train to Naples (2 hours) then on to wherever you want to stay on the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento is easiest. Get there by train or private shuttle. A shuttle is expensive but more comfortable, the train Naples - Sorrento is a local commuter thing not a fast train. It is fine but some people find it sketchy or just too crowded if you have luggage.

Stay in Sorrento or other Amalfi town a few nights. Go to Pompeii (easy train from Sorrento). Explore the coast on a bus or with a guide. If you are interested you can easily spend a day in Naples too.

When done reverse the process and return to Rome for several nights. Book the early morning “Pristine Sistine” tour to see the chapel in relative peace. Explore Rome using Rick’s book.

Fly home from Rome.

We have been to Italy several times and not taken a tour on any. We do book day tours.

Rick's tours have great itineraries, but you can do it on your own. Italy had an extensive rail system and I encourage you to use it.

Check out Viator for day tours or extended multi day tours.

Use kayak and TripAdvisor to research hotel.

I don't know that you will find a 7 day tour to Rome and Amalfi Coast. I'm pretty sure that Rick does not have such a tour and most tours of any company are longer than 7 days. Rick's 7 day tours are in a single city, like Rome.

Is 7 days front door to front door or 7 days in country? When do you plan to go?

I suggest you firm up your itinerary a little, then look for tours (especially RS) that will hit at least most of your sites. If you only actually have just 5 days, you may have trouble finding a tour that short.

Regarding Pisa, IMO it is not so much a place to avoid as it is a place that may take more logistics to reach than it is worth. I see a lot of people wanting to take day trips from Florence and it comes down to time management and bang for your buck.

There is the Best of South Italy Tour, but that is 13-day tour.
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/south-italy

If you are limited to 1 week, with Rome and Amalfi Coast, its a do-it-yourself job,

I see Perillo Tours has a 9-day Rome and Amalfi Coast tour, but they count the departure day from US as one of those days, 7 nights in Italy. Google it because I do have some qualms about posting links to other people's tours on Rick's site.

Already saw some info on places to avoid (pisa).

Not sure why Pisa is a 'place to avoid", but given your limited time and other preferences, its too far away to include in this short trip.

Regardless of what 'have 7 days' is, you should consider flying into Naples and out of Rome. If you must fly in/out of Rome, then go directly to AC upon arrival and finish in Rome to make flight home less risky and more stress free.