<p>Thanks for posting this again - I remember it from before. I read it and took notes!! Lots of great information.</p>
<p>Cinque Terre is pretty far north - it’s very close to Genoa. We flew into Genoa to get there. There is a fast train from the southern area of Cinque Terre that takes about 3/3.5 hours to get to Rome. I really wouldn’t recommend going to Cinque Terre at this time of year - in fact, I left Cinque Terre early and hopped on the train to Rome when I was there a few weeks ago. Lucca (recommended above) is a pretty town and definitely worth a visit. My husband and older son drove from Cinque Terre to Rome, and stopped in Lucca on the way to Rome.</p>
<p>We ordered the Roma Pass in advance, and then picked it up (on the Corso) the morning after we arrived, but you can just buy it when in Rome.</p>
<p>Sounds like Cirque Terre has to wait for another trip in warmer weather.</p>
<p>I think I’ll look into ordering the Roma Pass ahead of time. Thanks</p>
<p>H and I were just in Italy for 2 weeks at the end of October - mid November. We started in Rome, and ended up in Milan. We didn’t go to Cinque Terre since it seems more like a warm weather destination. (This was our 2nd trip to Italy; we did Venice, Florence, and Rome on the first trip.) I would strongly second the suggestion to do a guided tour for the Vatican. The line to get into the Museum winds around the block – but with a guide you get in right away with no waiting. Plus, as mentioned, the whole place is overwhelming to do alone. This trip we did a tour with “Through Eternity.” Here’s the website: [Brilliant</a> Rome private tours Rome to experience art and history in the infinite city. Rome private tour Rome to meet J. Caesar, Michelangelo, Caravaggio. Rome private tour Rome let art bring new spirituality in your life. Your exclusive Rome walking](<a href=“http://www.througheternity.com/]Brilliant”>http://www.througheternity.com/) Our guide, an American born graduate student, was excellent. Also re: Rome – H & I both have iPods; we downloaded several Rick Steve podcasts (free) about the Roman Forum and other places in Rome – very informative.</p>
<p>For Florence, buying museum tickets in advance is a must – otherwise you spend forever waiting in line.</p>
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<p>Ahh, but the Florentines would tell you it really stands for “Sono porc questi Romani” (what pigs these Romans are)</p>
<p>Okay, I got a chance to look around a little more. The second week in January it looks like the Teatro Communale is doing Don Pasquale, the tickets run from15 to 100 Euros. Teatro Verdi is doing a clarinet concert, some pop stuff and an Operetta, The Princess of Czardo. Nothing at Teatro de Pergola that week that I can see. </p>
<p>Eating in Florence is great. We lived there for a year and mostly ate at home so I am not very good at real restaurants, but for street food I can give you some great recommendations. In the Mercato Centrale, eat at Narboni (it is on the first floor). They serve Bollito, beef boiled in a rich broth, then shredded and served on rolls dipped in the broth and served with a red or a green sauce. Try both. They are only open when the market is, and are usually sold out by about noon, but they are well worth it. On Piazza San Marco, there is a little bakery called Pugi. They serve the best foccacio in Italy (the Florentines call it sciccata, not foccacio, but they will understand what you mean) The plain with just olive oil and salt is to die for, but I also really like the onion or the spicy tomato. A big piece and a can of coke will run you about 5 euros. There are a few tables in the back, but mostly people just eat it on the street. Be warned though, at lunch time the place is packed with Italian students and workers. If any of you are willing look for the tripe wagons. There used to be a lot of them in Florence, but anymore they are rare. There is one that parks outside the American Express office and one down by the Mercato Ambrosia ( a less touristy version of the Mercato Centrale). I hate tripe, but my husband and youngest son both enjoyed it.</p>
<p>Gelato is tough, but I will try. THe best fruit Gelato is at Carabe, just down the street from the Academia, but they usually close for part of the winter. Vestri for chocolate, Vivoli for traditional flavors ( I love their rice gelato) and Neri for some more unusual flavors. Also Grom which is right in the center of town, so it is very familiar to a lot of tourists. Good gelato, but not my fave. There are many others really good places, but a good rule of thumb is to look at the pistachio. If it is bright green, keep walking. Pistachio gelato should be a pale gray-green color.</p>
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Riomaggiore, on the south end of the ‘5 towns’, from Florence is about 163km or 100mi or about a 2 hour drive - I don’t know how long by train. Pisa is sort of on the way - just a minor detour. </p>
<p>I’ve only been there in the summer (very hot) but my D was there in October and it was nice. I’d certainly pay attention to the weather but I wouldn’t skip it just because it’s not summer - the towns are still there, the Mediterranean Sea is still there, the path between the towns is still there, and it’s still very scenic. If it’s very rainy the path might be closed in spots - check first. The towns might not be as geared up for the tourists but for me the main attraction was the scenery - not a restaurant or gift shop. It’s a good break from seeing museums and buildings depending on how long you’re there and your interests. </p>
<p>You could do both Pisa and Cinque Terre on a day trip from Florence. An hour is adequate for Pisa and the Cinque Terre depends on how much time you feel like being there and how many of the 5 towns you see. You could go to the southern town and walk to the next 2 towns and then take the train back. The path and views from the path are incredible. Again - if it’s a cold rainy day it might not be as much fun but if it’s clear it’d be worth it IMO (but again - I haven’t been there this time of year so take what I say with a grain of salt and maybe play it by ear when you’re there).</p>
<p>Probably won’t be time for everything but:
I did a cruise a few years back with my Mum and we did a tour that included Pisa (which I was much more impressed than I expected to be) and Lucca. I had not heard of Lucca before then, but it ended up being one of our favorite places. It is a walled medieval city. Really beautiful and quite different to anywhere we had been to before.</p>
<p>Venice would be wonderful if he has the time. But it is about 3 hours by train from Florence, so it is probably a stretch.</p>
<p>If you possibly can, book reservations for these in advance:</p>
<p>Galleria Borgese in Rome</p>
<p>The Academia and the Ufizzi in Florence</p>
<p>I love the Rick Steves’ guides to these cities - his museum tours give quite a bit of info (for the non-art majors) and are occasionally hilarous.</p>
<p>Make a list of what you want to see and look online for the days/times they are closed. Some of the churches, esp, close at pretty bizarre hours.</p>
<p>In Florence, the Science Museum is absolutely fascinating. </p>
<p>My husband and I very much liked this restaurant: [Ciro</a> and Sons, Florence - Restaurant Reviews - TripAdvisor](<a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187895-d946107-Reviews-Ciro_and_Sons-Florence_Tuscany.html]Ciro”>http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187895-d946107-Reviews-Ciro_and_Sons-Florence_Tuscany.html) </p>
<p>One of the Sons married an exchange student from Iowa and she acts as hostess. We followed her advice about what to eat and drink and were very happy with the meal. They have really good limoncello, too, from the family trees in Sicily.</p>
<p>This is a nice hotel, located close to the main train station:
[B&B</a> Rome Center Station Rome Colosseum; BED & BREAKFAST Touristhouse VIA CAVOUR 211 B&B ROMA.](<a href=“http://www.touristhouse.it/bb_rome_center_colosseum_station.php]B&B”>http://www.touristhouse.it/bb_rome_center_colosseum_station.php)
You need to walk slowly down the street looking up for the “Hotel” sign since it’s on the fifth floor of a building.</p>