We arrive Rome at 7:30 AM on a Wednesday in late May. Planned on leaving Sunday morning after staying 4 nights in Rome. Next stop is 30 minutes outside of Florence. Will drive to Assisi on Sunday and go to lodging that Sunday evening. Tour Sienna/San Gigmangno Monday. We will only have one full day in Florence on Tuesday. Depart for Paris on Wednesday AM. Plan is 3 nights in Chianti. Now rethinking schedule. Decision: 4 nights Rome, 3 nights Chianti OR 3 nights Rome, 4 nights Chianti We are first timers!!!
Posted by
OP
Baton Rouge
18 posts
We are flying to Paris from Pisa instead of Florence b/c of flight schedule.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32402 posts
Fergie, The decision will probably depend on whether you're more interested in historic sites, Museums, Galleries, etc. OR the rural charms of Tuscany. My initial impression is to allow 4 days in Rome, as there's so MUCH to see and do, lots of great restaurants and other attractions. I assume you're aware of the usual "caveats" regarding driving in Italy? Happy travels!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16232 posts
You basically have 3.5 days in Rome (about Noon Wed through Sat) and only one for Florence (incl. commute from your lodging location). It really depends on what you plan to see in Rome and in Florence. Do some research on line on the things to see in each, list the ones that look interesting to you, and I can tell you the proper allocation of days between the two cities. I may be biased since I'm originally from Florence, but I would cut Rome by one day and add it to Tuscany. You really have only 2 days devoted to whole of Tuscany (Mon and Tue) since most of your Sunday is for traveling and visiting Umbria (Assisi and maybe somewhere else, like Perugia or Spello or Gubbio). You can do Rome by Friday evening this way: Wed: Arrival procedures, check in. In PM leisure visit to the Centro Storico (Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona). Dinner in
Centro Storico. Thu: Vatican Museums and Basilica (you'll be done by lunch if you start early). Afternoon: Castel S'Angelo then walk back to Centro Storico. or Relax at Villa Borghese if you like. Dinner in Centro (Piazza Navona area?) Fri: Ancient Rome site (Forum, Colosseum, Arc of Trajan, Caracalla, Circus Maximus, Palatine). Afternoon relax in the Centro storico or visit the Villa Borghese Gallery. Have dinner at Trastevere. You are done with the major Roman places (with time to spare for something else). And that wasn't fast pace at all. I actually took my sister-in-law through all of the above (except for Villa Borghese) in one day. Saturday: To Umbria.