I’ve never been to Italy.  I’ve long wanted to go to Italy.  Everyone I know says I’ll fall in love with Italy. And this trip is Roman-Empire-themed.  So I think it’s okay to give Italy plenty of time.  To be honest, less than 5 days in Rome itself is going to be pushing it. Sooooo… let’s start putting stuff on a map.  Starting with main cities and areas, roughly in the order I’d get to them:

• Turin – nahhh
• Milan – yes.
• Verona – yes – see Carmen in the Amphitheatre
• Venice – yes.
• Trieste – nahhh. Despite it being listed as Lonely Planet’s “most underrated destination” in 2012.  Too Habsburg-y for this trip. Maybe in the future.
• Florence – yes.
• Rome – yes.
• Naples – yes, and maybe Sorrento
• Sicily – yes
• Sardinia – maybe

So that’s sorted. Interrail from Milan from Barcelona on Thursday 19th June, and then go

Milan –> Verona –> Venice –> Florence (+Pisa) –> Rome –> Naples –>Sicily (+Sardinia?)

and then back across to the mainland, and to Brindisi, and from there by boat to Patras, and thence to Athens.  If I interrail it.  Flying direct from Palermo to Athens though only costs $160.  Hmmm. Would save me two of three days all told.  Hmmm, to be researched.

…

Flight booked.