I'm going to Italy for my first ever trip to Europe this fall. Family members are getting a villa in Narni for a week so I'm starting the trip there. I expect to take the train into Rome for sightseeing and generally go along with whatever others on the trip want to do. What would you do with this as the base, and what would you add?
I'll be traveling on my own for the added days. I'm thinking of taking the train to Florence and potentially on to Venice, spending a day or two in each, and then flying home from Venice. Would you do that, spend more time in Florence, or would you go someplace else entirely? (I'm a vegetarian so I don't need to go in search of outstanding seafood.)
In my hometown I primarily use a bicycle for transportation and would love to somehow involve bicycling on this trip but can't afford to add an actual supported tour. I could potentially bring a folding bike with me.