Originally Posted by
JMN57
The strategy of making Positano a home base for day trips to Rome and Florence just doesn't make sense. It's too far away/long trip to both for a day trip - particularly in the summer season where travel slows considerably on Amalfi roads. You would be better off splitting that time between Positano, Rome and/or Firenze. You could day trip Firenze from Rome on the train but the day in Florence would be more like a checkbox exercise than a real visit on a day trip. You don't mention where you are/how you are traveling to/from Italy but if you are transiting Rome to get to Amalfi, you might want to consider spending some time there on your way in/out and doing the Florence/Rome elements from a different base than Positano.
I agree with the above.
we were on our annual trip to Naples this past November and we actually met with one of my wife relatives that now lives in Norway, as her husband and herself never visited Italy before, they wanted to pack as much as possible in the short trip. It has worked for them but it was a checkbox exercise really, aside of Positano/Amalfi: they flew into/from Rome, rented a car and drove straight down to Amalfi. Spent 3 days there visiting Positano and Sorrento, then drove up to Naples to meet us, spent the day with us with me taking them to some key spots (poor weather, no clear sky, meant that I could not show then the world famous panorama from San Martino hill), after dinner they drove up to Rome where they booked an hotel. Following morning they drove to Florence, spent the day there and at night drove back to Rome. Another couple of days in Rome and they then flew back.. I am not sure they enjoyed any of it to be fair.
personally I think outside of actually enjoying the coast/beach/sea, perhaps renting a small boat to go around some natural spots, Positano, Amalfi and Sorrento are really a one day visit sort of place (in terms of visiting historic sites, admire the architecture, check what is on offer in the shops and eat some delicacies). Of the major Italian Cities, Florence is probably the one that is most suitable to be at least enjoyed on a day trip.. Rome and Naples for me need at least 4-5 intense days if not at least a full week as both cities have so much to offer and spread across a quite large area (whilst Florence is mostly concentrated within walking distances).