Italy - Venice and Florence in 5 days

I've got 5 days to play with in Italy including the arrival day from the States and departure day back. Our plan was to arrive in Venice, spend the day and night and then take the train to Florence for the remainder of the trip flying out of Pisa on the last day. Would you all recommend more time in Venice and less in Florence? Or all of one and not the other? I wish I had more time to spend, but it's not possible. I did Rome in college years ago, so want to see another part of Italy. Food, culture and art/architecture are the priorities.

i saw the 3 or 4 things i wanted to see in florence, and left. the crowds are overwhelming, and one cannot escape them. the area of interest is small. one can go hide from crowds in venice, all the art seemed to me to be centered around gutting saints. (i have been in flr on at least 3 occasions, and spent a total of 15-20 days there).

completely skip pisa.

we liket the wine bar in florence named the fox. across ponte veccehho toward pitti palace, first left .

liked a restaurant called onion soup in italian. half way between the sharatons and the train sta.

Pisa is strictly going to be used for our gateway home. Train in from Florence, fly out. Any suggestions in Venice? Any hotel suggestions in FLorence?

It sounds as though you really have only three full days on the ground in Italy.
If that's correct, I'd be inclined to spend all your days in Venice and fly home from there or MXP. If you also travel to Florence, you're down to a little more than two days when you factor in packing, check in/out, transfers and travel.

Venice offers plenty of options to fill your time.

I agree. You really have three, or three and a half days. It's not worth it to split such a short time between two cities. Both cities are great for art. Overall, Venice is much more memorable and beautiful in my opinion. But most importantly, I'd choose one or the other, not both.

Florence was ok. Venice was ^ ^ Pisa was a nice surprise. @:-)

Seeing the Leaning Tower is = to the Empire State Building, Golden Gate Bridge and the Eiffel Tower. You get the idea. :cool:

Shameless plug for the wine dinner in NYC.

dh

Agreed with others who say skip Florence on this itinerary.

if you can move your departure from psa to vce, just go to vce and fly out of vce. psa has a harring, a very good sardinian restaurant, and a major airport.

Florence was ok. Venice was ^ ^ Pisa was a nice surprise. @:-)

Seeing the Leaning Tower is = to the Empire State Building, Golden Gate Bridge and the Eiffel Tower. You get the idea. :cool:

Shameless plug for the wine dinner in NYC.

dh

Another trip to Italy is in the plans. First time to Venice. Took train from Milan. Got to Venice - It was a WASHOUT! Torrential rainshowers. Gondola's were tied down. Streets were flooded. Sandals were soaked and I was walking around with that squish-squish sound. Quite funny.

Your comments make me wanns go back and do Venice again... well, do it FINALLY.