Hi,

I'm looking to go to Italy either this fall or next spring. I've been there many times but I'm going for someone who be seeing Italy for the first time. We have the places picked out but I need help with suggestions on the routing that will work best.Any help with this will be greatly appreciated.
We're looking to visit:
Venice(would like to arrive there from the U.S.)
Florence
Assisi
Lake Como

Any other suggestions on places to visit while there?
We are planning to be there for about 12 nights.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

Can you be more specific? The fall is three months long, and the temperature around the lake in the fall can high in the 50's in October, and in November it can be in the 40's, approaching freezing at night. There's still life there and a reason to visit, but a lot closes. That's another point. Lake Como is huge. Going to Lake Como, you usually choose a town on the lake to visit, not the lake itself. You visit Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, etc. You have to decide where in Lake Como, and since you are going in the fall, find out which hotels are open. the fall is September 22nd to December 20th this year. Places that will be open in September will be closed in December on the lake.

Twelve nights, with tired day of arrival, and packing night the evening before departure, really means 10 nights to visit and soak up Italy. Four places in 10 nights is quite a lot. Assisi is a ways from Florence. It's a full, not too convenient day trip, leave in the morning, get back late, assuming you are not driving. If you go to Assisi that would leave you 9 nights to really Venice, Florence, and the town you choose to stay at around the lake. That's only 3 days per place, averaged out. You wouldn't get to see much of Venice or Florence in 3 days.

It would help to be more specific about your time and itinerary.

Hi Perche,

Thanks for your reply as it made us fine tune our plans.
We have decided to go in May next year. Also, we will be in Italy 14 nights( not including the overnight flight, of course).

Assisi is a must. I've done the train twice from Florence. I had stayed there 2 nights on each trip and feel it's a nice way to get an authentic feel of life there.

Lastly, I think basing our stay in Varenna will be a good choice.

With these items now worked I am grateful for any help you can provide in making this a reality.