Rome-Florence-Venice in 10 days

If you think about it, it's not really 10 days once you take out the day of arrival and the day of departure. It's basically 8 days. You've got less than 2 days in Florence therefore plan to skip the wine tasting tour. Instead, while in Florence, go to a street called Via Sant'Antonino, almost at the corner with via dell'Ariento (near the Mercato Centrale di San Lorenzo). I'm sure you'll go to the San Lorenzo market while there. On that street, maybe 20 yards from the market there is a "vinattiere" (wine shop) where they have wine tasting. It's called Zanobini Bros. (F.lli Zanobini, in Italian). It's a Florentine institution you should not miss. They have a wide assortment of wines, including Tuscan Chianti and Brunellos. At the corner with via dell'Ariento there is also a stand/truck where they serve sandwiches with 'Lampredotto' (tripe made with the abomasum stomach of the cow, a Florentine specialty). Just go there, get a sandwich (ask it with green sauce) then walk to the Fratelli Zanobini wine shop a few steps away and taste as many wines as you like until you pass out on the floor.

Well, I disagree with your friend. If this is your first time to Venice you should by all means go as you planned. It's magical and fascinating and it's definitely worth 2 nights which is really only one full day. You can do some Florence sightseeing on day 8 before traveling to Venice in the late afternoon (I believe the train takes a little over 2 hours, if that's how you're traveling). From other posts I've read here, it seems people either love or hate Venice so you're going to get mixed advice. It's purely personal.

You've studied your itinerary well. It should work perfectly given the limited time you've got to visit the county. Since returning from Tuscany, I've been bowled over by the cost of Brunello wines in the U.S. I can understand why we don't drink nearly as much wine as the Italians.

Your itinerary looks good. I also disagree with your friend about Venice. I loved Venice so much that we're going back there for 5 days on our upcoming trip. There's no other city like Venice and I think it would be a shame to drop it from your itinerary, especially if there's a chance that you or your mother-in-law might not get the opportunity to visit Venice in the future. You can judge Venice for yourself on day 8 and if you really don't like it then you could head out for a day trip on day 8 to Verona or Bologna or Murano/Burano. I agree with Roberto that you won't have time for a wine tasting tour since you'll only be in Florence for a day and a half. Have a great trip!

Certainly a lot of personal preference here. You really need to look at what each city has to offer and how you want to spend your time. My opinion is that I disagree with your friend. Venice is magical. You need 2 days to do it justice. Don't forget to spend some time just wandering the non-tourist areas. I find the island charming.

I think Venice is definitely worth it.

Hi Kylee. Definitely train, not car. Buy tix 120 days in advance at trenitalia.com for big discounts if you are willing to lock in exact trains; if you need to remain flexible and are OK paying full (base) price, just wait and buy tix when there. Enjoy your trip!

Your itinerary looks good! My only question re Venice is when you will be there. It can be pretty miserable in cold weather. If you're going late Spring/Summer do it. Winter - add a day onto Florence and do a day-trip to Siena. Roberto knows Florence very, very well, so print out his details and take them with you. You've done a great job with the open jaw, arriving in Rome and departing from Venice! NO CAR! Use the trains. There are so many "no driving zones" in both Rome and Florence with very heavy fines that a car will be nothing but a nuisance. You will have a great time.

I would drop one destination to spend more time in the remaining two. Personally, your itinerary will enable to say, "I was there." Less is more when you travel to Italy. Hey, I'm just sayin'... Buon viaggio,

i would consider maybe doing 2 cities rather then all 3. on Day 6 you will arrive in Florence but will most likely spend a good portion of that day getting from the train station and checking into your new accommodation. So that would really only give you one day to a day in a half to see the sites of Florence. There is so much to see and do and it would be a shame to be in the city and not even scratch the surface! The same with the journey to venice as you will only have a day and a half to do things.
I would also travel by train. You can go on the trenitalia website to have a look at journey times and prices. www.trenitalia.com

If Venice is so "meh", then why is it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world? We love Venice. We're going back for our fourth visit this May. You just have to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to travel. You need to go to those places that most interest you. The key to enjoying Venice is to get away from the crowds. It's easy, you just have to do it. (I'm guessing your friend didn't do that, possibly arriving on a cruise ship and just seeing San Marco and the Rialto, then forming his/her opinion about all of Venice before heading back to the ship.) Here are some photos and video clips I pulled together from our previous trips to give a glimpse of what we find so magical about Venice: Magical Venice And I agree with doing train only for this 8-day itinerary. A car would just mess you up and make it possible to get lost. Go to Roninrome.com for specific guidance (with pictures!) on how to do the trains. Side note: Are there any mobility issues with your mother-in-law? How do you think she will do with cobblestones (Rome and Florence) as well as lots of small bridges (Venice)?

I am seconding (or am I like number 20?) Venice...three trips there since 2008...my fav place EVER! GO!!

Thoughts to consider. What days are you in Rome? If there on a wednesday and you are Catholic get tickets to the open mass in the morning. In Florence, are you big museum people? My group is not big art lovers and the Uffizi was boring. Seeing the statue of David was awesome but rest of museum didnt spend much time looking at. If in Florence on a monday, museums are closed and we went to Pisa early and climbed the leaning tower before noon. We still made it back to Florence and I climbed the Duomo late that afternoon! I am a vote for Venice being the best place ever! I will say our dining selections were not good, but the atmosphere is truly unique. Follow Rick's walks for Rialto to Frari and also get lost and wander the little streets of Venice!

Dunno about your friend's opinion. We go to Venice nearly every year and love wandering - there are so many corners and nooks we haven't yet found. Hidden palazzos, little tiny side canals, where will you find the best gelato for your taste (I know where mine in and if I said where, that would be telling you couldn't "discover" it for yourself), street opera, fabulous church interiors and art in-situ. But all of that means nothing at all because you may not be interested in any of that. Everybody is different and there is no "right" and no "wrong". It all depends on you, doesn't it? You have an awful lot already planned for such a very short trip. With only 8 days, and taking the first of those as recover, minimal walking around as you said, you will be doing very well to see all of that. To try and dilute it further by throwing a day at Bologna would blow me away. Happy planning, not just for you two but also your M-I-L.

" A friend of ours said that they didn't think Venice was worth that much time " Without meaning to be sarcastic , I'm reminded analogously of George Bernard Shaw's comment that " A picture gallery is a dull place for a blind man " . This is a bit of a tight schedule , but before you scratch Venice , watch the 1955 film " Summertime " with Katharine Hepburn and Rossano Brazzi , directed by the great British film director , David Lean . Seeing it might just change your mind!!

Well...I would never listen to anyone who's advice was to 'skip Venice' as I would know we have absolutely nothing in common. If you come in with a horde of tourists in the heat of the summer on a day trip it might lose a bit of it's magic... but it is one of the most unique cities in the world and to be that close and skip it would be something I would regret. Just re-read your post... I guess they didn't say skip it... just give more time to Florence (which I still would not do)
Even though I drive most of the time given your itinerary it would just be a burden, unless you changed your schedule and stayed in Tuscany with a car for a few days and took a bus to Florence for the day (which would be my choice) If you did you could visit a vineyard and have a bit of variety of two city stays (Rome and Venice) and one village stay.

I agree with Steven about watching the movie "Summertime". I think everyone who is borderline about going to Venice should see it. Even though it was filmed in the 50's, a lot of Venice has not changed much. I feel the same about going to Rome - should watch "Three Coins in the Fountain" before going.