My wife and I plan to spend our first anniversary in Italy this summer (July 4th week). I've been looking online and reading various books and have put together two possible itineraries:

Itinerary #1:

July 2nd (Sunday): Land in Milan
July 2nd: In Milan

July 3rd: Milan - Pisa by train (Take the 6:10 am IC train that arrives in Pisa at 10:12 am)
July 3rd: Leaning Tower of Pisa
July 3rd: Pisa - Florence by train (Take an evening train that arrives in Florence by 11:00 pm)

July 4th: In Florence

July 5th: Florence - Venice by train (Take the 8:30 am Eurostar that arrives in Venice at 11:28 am)
July 5th - July 6th: In Venice
July 6th: Venice - Rome by train (Take the 6:32 pm ESI train that arrives in Rome at 11:05 pm)

July 7th - July 8th: In Rome & The Vatican

July 9th: Return to the US


Itinerary #2:

July 2nd (Sunday): Land in Rome
July 2nd - 4th: In Rome & The Vatican

July 5th: Rome - Pisa by train (Take the 7:30 am IC train that arrives in Pisa at 10:57 am)
July 5th: Leaning Tower of Pisa
July 5th: Pisa - Florence by train (Take an evening train that arrives in Florence by 11:00 pm)

July 6th: In Florence

July 7th: Florence - Venice by train (Take the 8:30 am Eurostar that arrives in Venice at 11:28 am)
July 7th - July 8th: In Venice

July 8th: Venice - Rome by train (Take the 6:32 pm ESI train that arrives in Rome at 11:05 pm)

July 9th: Return to the US


As you can see, the "days are just packed" (with apologies to Bill Watterson). My wife and I don't mind dropping one of Pisa, Milan and Florence, but can't decide...In all likelihood, Pisa gets the axe if she thinks we need to slow down a bit...

Once the itinerary is set, I'll bug you folks with questions on accommodation and transportation - either the train tickets cannot be purchased this far in advance or I'm doing something wrong - I never get the "Buy" basket - always get a "NO" when the results are displayed.

Please comment in the itineraries and suggest any changes...Ticket prices seem to be near crazy, borderline extortion, for that time of the year, so I want to purchase my US-Italy air tickets as soon as possible.