Your two cents worth on Tuscany trip...

What dates are you thinking? If around early July or mid August I would possibly swap Florence for Siena and expirence the Palio race in Siena. The passion around town and events are amazing. You can take a day trip to Florenve from there

Robert, I wish! That sounds like such fun, but we will be there in mid June.

I'd save the beach time for Sicily. The beaches in Sicily are wonderful.

Why fly into Pisa? Why Viareggio? How are you getting to Palermo? It looks like you could fly from Pisa, Florence or Genoa.

It's a 2-hour-plus train trip to Siena, pretty far for a day trip. Siena is an hour by bus from Florence. Do it as a day trip from there instead. If you want to visit the CT, better to stay overnight (or 2 there).

I would press on to Lucca and use it as your base instead of Pisa. You can see the Campo dei Miracoli in a half-day, Lucca has more to offer, in my opinion.

Why Viareggio? You could stay in Cinque Terre for a couple of nights. Then you could overnight in Siena and/or add a day to Florence and daytrip from there.

No luggage lockers in Italy, but most train stations have a Deposito Bagagli. If you daytrip from base cities, you won't need to worry about it (closing hours, lines).

I agree with saving beach time for Sicily, perhaps add a night there.

Thanks For your input! To answer your questions, we are flying into Pisa because it is the closest airport to where we want to start our trip, we are flying to Palermo from Florence, so need to end our week there. Why ViaReggio? Because I read on this forum that it was a nice beach spot, and CT only really has one small rocky one. We like sand and swimable beaches. It also seems like a good base as we can easily visit CT, Lucca and Pisa from there via train. But that's why I asked for advice, I don't know what I'm doing! I need you experienced travelers!

So perhaps this...
Fly into Pisa,late afternoon bus/train to Lucca ( which is easier from the airport?)
2 nights Lucca
1 night CT
2 nights ViaReggio
4 nights Florence with a day trip to Siena
Fly to Palermo

Check Rome2Rio.com for options from the Pisa airport to Lucca. It may be easier to take the bus or train from Pisa airport to Pisa Centrale, then the bus or train to Lucca. The bus from Pisa airport to Lucca seems to stop at Sant'Angelo, some distance from Lucca city center.

Agree with Zoe. Pisa is a half-day place. Stay in Lucca. One of my favorite towns in Italy. I took a cooking class there and LOVED it. It was one of my favorite experiences in Italy. You can bike or walk the ramparts. There is wonderful shopping there. Let me know if you need hotel or restaurant recommendations and/or cooking class information.
Karren

Great thread, very helpful to Tuscany-prospects! Karren, I'd love to hear your recommendations on restaurants and cooking classes and sights in Lucca!

Yes please Karren, to lodging and cooking class! I'd rather take a day from Florence and add to Lucca?

Again, thanks to all for your continued input!