Nothing truly prepares you for your first glimpse of Venice. Because of the way it was built, it just rises out of the water. No shoreline, no sandy beaches, no buffer at all between the buildings and the water. Then once in the city, the never ending labyrinth of streets, canals, and squares is enough to boggle the mind.
Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and as such has so much to offer. If that is not enough to draw you to Florence, then the fact that is the center of Tuscany should be the icing on the cake for you.
All roads lead to Rome and eventually, all travelers must visit Rome. The rise and fall of the Roman Empire is nothing compared to the city it left behind. The glorious city is so full of history, charm, and crazy drivers that it should be a mortal sin to not visit Rome at least once in your lifetime.
We went to Cinque Terre as a side trip from Florence. There are other ways of doing it but we had an extra day in Florence and decided it was worth the trek to see Cinque Terre. It was a long day that started before dawn and ended late in the evening but it was worth every minute.
