An Italian Weekend: Where to go?

Traveling in Italy is relaxing and a way to keep building on Italian culture. You might want to combine some city travels with some smaller cities as well.

Florence-a great Renaissance city two hours by train; you can climb the Duomo. Reserve museums ahead (Accademia, Uffizi gallery). Make sure to climb to the hill that overlooks the cathedral to appreciate the size of the dome. Good leather shopping; lots of American tourists. You can take the fast train in 1 hour 45 minutes, or the slow train too. Can be combined with a visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but climbing the tour (which is worth it) needs to be pre-booked online. 

Siena—Bus from Rome leaves from Tiburtina station; a classic medieval hill town with great food and the beauty of the countryside is overwhelming. The Palio horse race is held in July here. As Rick Steves says in his guidebook, "Everyone loves Siena." 

Venice—a living city from the past, see it before it sinks. No cars, making walks very peaceful when off the tourist spots. For me, an all-time favorite. Make sure to wander the entire island, or you will see too many tourists. Jewish ghetto is interesting. You can ferry to the beach too, or the off shore islands, like the glass-blowing island, Murano. Ride the trapettos across canals for a far cheaper gondola ride (a euro vs. 100 Euros). Food can be hit or miss, so wander off the path. Great tourist shopping for gifts!  Walks at night over bridges and around corners can be exhilarating.  You could stop in Verona on the way to Venice, if traveling by train. There are flights from Rome to Venice as well. 

Orvieto—an easy day trip form Rome, or overnight, if you'd like to see an Italian hill town. Funicular takes you from the station to the hill. One of Italy’s prettiest medieval cathedrals. 

Naples--As a medievalists and traveller to the Middle East, I find Naples enjoyable. But it is an acquired taste: chaotic, frenzied, frequent garbage issues. 

Amalfi Coast—one of the prettiest places in the world. You can train to Naples and then  Sorrento-- and bus to locations, ferry to Capri. Take the train to Naples, then the circumsuviana train to Sorrento. This same train goes to Pompeii (students tell me there is a luggage hold at this site) and Herculaneum. From Sorrento you can ferry to the beautiful island of Capri. You can also take a bus directly from Rome from Rome’s Tiburtina station (take metro there) to Sorrento; leaves around 2 p.m.; three hours; 16 E. Busses in Europe are very nice, with bathrooms; air-conditioned.