Expert: Edoardo - 10/10/2009

Question
Hello Edoardo,It is my wives fiftieth birthday in September 2010, she has always wanted to visit Italy especially Venice and Florence.Other than these two cities we would like to spend time in less visited, rural areas.Can you suggest a route from Venice to Florence away from major traffic,and where we could stay en route? We will allow maybe seven or eight days for this part of our trip,we will then travel to Naples by train and on to Sorrento and perhaps Capri for two or thee nights,funds permitting! What do think of our plan? Please feel free to suggest any other itinery.We would greatly value your input as neither my wife or myself have the required knowledge of your country.
Best Regards
Graeme

Answer
Hello Graeme,
14 days is a very good amount of time to enjoy Italy, I hope you'll have a good time.
In Venice I'd spend 3 days, one and half for the town, 1 for the island of Burano and Murano and another half to visit the near Vicenza and Verona (if you'll have a car or a driver).
Then from there I'd drive south and make a stop in Parma and or Modena where I'd spend one day visiting the town and the countryside. During your day there you can visit the famous Traditional Balsamic vinegar producer in Modena  (it's right by the motorway, exit at Modena SUD and follow for Spilamberto) and the Parmigiano cheese in Parma along with the famous Prosciutto di Parma. Also you may enjoy the Ferrari Museum if you like cars.
The day after from there I'd go south to Tuscany and stay in Florence 2 days and then get rid of all the crowds and spend 2 relaxing days in the countryside or better in Siena that still keeps its very nice human dimension. ALso a B&B in the countryside could be nice and charming just to let you relax from the crowds.
Then I'd go South for the rest of your vacation.

I wish you a lot of fun,
Edoardo