Thanks for the thoughts so far. Just wanted to clarify...I've been to Rome 3 times, Florence, and Milan in the past....was in each city for over a week when I was there. So, I'm pretty good at maneuvering through them and don't plan on going back to the major tourist attractions. Venice is the only new "city" and we may either take the train there, or fly in directly to avoid the car issue.
I am more interested in the small towns and countryside and any great spots people have been to there. Weather doesn't bother me. I've lived in the midwest, Denver, and Seattle, so I am used to cold, snow, gray and rain.