Indeed - something we can all agree on.

Ultimately yours is an apples/oranges type of question. It comes down to personal taste and what you want from your vacation. I lived in Italy for two years while researching my doctoral dissertation on Italian Renaissance Art, I go back every summer. I prefer Rome to Florence precisely b/c its larger, has a great deal more to see from the entire scope of Italian history (Florence is essentially a 15th century destination) and b/c its larger, its easier to get away from large crowds of tourists following a guide w/a microphone.