<p>Wow, what an amazing trip!</p>
<p>I only have the experience to give very, very limited advice, part of which is a bit touristy (and easily found in guidebooks anyway–and by the way, I’m partial to Rick Steves–but perhaps this can act as a bit of an underscore :p):</p>
<ul>
<li><p>If anyone’s up for some pleasure reading, check out *Eat, Pray, Love<a href=“Elizabeth%20Gilbert”>/I</a>. A third of the book is devoted to her description of a similar trip…three months spent in Rome, learning to speak Italian and appreciate “pleasure.” Light and enjoyable read, and maybe a good way to gear up.</p></li>
<li><p>It won’t take much research for your cousin and her friends to figure this out for themselves, but go-go-go-go-go to the Cinque Terre, and actually spend some time there (i.e. at least more than one full day). No matter where in that region I went, the people around me were all saying “I wish I could stay here all day,” and it was incredible to be able to do so myself. I didn’t make it to the lakes region, but a few people actually told me they preferred it to the Cinque Terre, so I can only imagine that it must also be something quite special.</p></li>
<li><p>Get major cities and tourist areas out of the way EARLY, because summer will get crazy (particularly July and August, but also well into September). I would highly recommend ‘taking care’ of Rome and Florence, above all, between March (avoiding Easter in the former…) and June, at least as far as any sight-seeing goes. Even if you’re not part of the vacationing mass, the crowds + heat can really leave a negative impression of these places. Having to be so alert all the time (pick-pocketing) is absolutely exhausting, and the heavy traffic, hustle and bustle, etc. really hinders meaningful interaction/integration. I spent a few weeks in Florence at the end of the high season, and the city was so congested that you couldn’t even walk down some streets for the crowds. Other visitors said that they’d been even more overwhelmed in Rome and Venice, though I can’t speak firsthand. Outside of the city, even in other “destination” areas (Pisa and other Tuscan cities, Cinque Terre, etc.), I had no trouble at all.</p></li>
<li><p>Whether or not crowds are a problem (but especially if they are), spend enough time in the major areas to get off the beaten track. Yes, yes, see the “must see” sites, but take advantage of having six months by visiting a few of the many, many wonderful museums/gardens/cities/etc. that don’t have three hour queues at their gates (and for those that do, plan ahead, spent a few extra euros, and make phone reservations, because nothing is enjoyable after that much time in line). At the same time of year that had 2-3+ hour lines for major museums, I made phone reservations and walked right in, and then spent the rest of my time at smaller or less-frequented (but often still wonderful) places. In a few cases, I literally had museums to myself.</p></li>
<li><p>Encourage your cousin and her friends to make time for themselves as individuals, not always staying as a group, or even in pairs. Being alone makes for an entirely different experience, and it can be much easier to blend in. Being on my own for a couple of weeks, I spent more time meeting locals and really ‘getting a feel’ than some students I know who’ve spent months studying abroad, but despite all of their best intentions, have never really broken out of their group.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>And again: what an amazing trip! Best of luck to them :)</p>
Any info you could offer about Tuscany and Florence?</p>