train travel

Yes. Choose any departure that does not show a connection in Florence. If you want to see the map of the train route or list of stops along the way, the detail view will show that when you use the DB link at How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online. Trenitalia.com sells the tickets, or buy in person in any train station.

Yes, that's definitely a possibility. Choose one of the direct trains from La Spezia Centrale to Rome, as those go along the coast for awhile before veering inland. You will of course need to use the local Regionale trains to get from whichever of the five towns you're staying in to La Spezia.

There are direct departures at 08:17, 10:06 and 13:14 (among others). I'd probably use the 10:06 departure as that will allow you to have breakfast and still arrive in Rome by mid-afternoon. The train from La Spezia to Rome will have compulsory seat reservations, and at that time of year it would probably be a good idea to purchase that ticket in advance. You can either buy it locally when you arrive in the C.T. or pre-purchase online at Capitaine Train, ItaliaRail or Trenitalia. At this late date all the discounted tickets will likely be gone so you'll have to pay Base fare, but at least you'll have a reserved seat arranged. You can buy the Regionale ticket to get to La Spezia when you arrive in the C.T.

Thank you so much. That helps a lot.