I'm travelling with my adult daughter, who will be attending an academic conference in Milan in mid-June ('25). We plan to fly into Rome (from Toronto) two weeks earlier and make our way up to Milan (via train).
a) After a day or two in Rome we will head to Florence and area, Cinque Terre, and then to Milan. Are there stops between Rome and Florence you would also recommend without rushing the trip?
b) We are unsure of our best option for a return flight. Would you recommend the high-speed back down to Rome for the (less expensive) return trip, fly back from Milan (more expensive one-way flight) or another option our less creative brains have not considered?