re: Honeymooning in Rome and Florence in May 2019

During the summer when many go Rome is sorta like Disney; hot, crowded, long lines, etc. If you go then you just gotta know what to expect, and spend some time away from the throngs of people.

That’s part of the reason I would highly recommend OP spend a night or 2 on his May honeymoon away from the city.

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Rome is ridiculously hot and chaotic. It is disorganized. It is a beehive. It is an absolute grind.

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you enjoyed NYC didn't you? the same could be said for it. it's about knowing when and where to go and not sitting in times square during mid-July for 3 days.

OP I do agree with others that with that length of time, I'd add a third either in the country side or along the coast to wind down the trip. We did Florence to Rome to Positano. Florence got us nicely adjusted into Italian culture, Rome was the big stop, and then Positano allowed us to relax on the beach with stunning views.

The good news is you can't go wrong.

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We are considering adding another leg of the trip, making it three Italy sites. I have been looking at other Tuscany locations as well as Naples

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Skip Naples or the Amalfi coast for this trip...stick to Tuscany (around Florence), Umbria (right next to Tuscany), or Lazio (around Rome). Minimizing your transit time maximizes your relaxation and doing-stuff time.

Agree w/the poster who said, go to a smaller town or two, or into the countryside. A place like Orvieto, Cortono, or Montepulciano will feel very different than Rome or Florence. Find an agriturismo (working farm that takes paying guests) that offers a cooking class or similar activity, with a pool and some vines and olive trees. Slow down and relax, drink wine, eat pasta, look at the view. If you go to Italy and spend all of your time in cities or towns, you're missing an important aspect of the country.

Here's a good site for finding an agritourismo: LINK Some of these places will require a car to visit, but renting a car for a couple of days to explore smaller places is well worth the effort. Yes, Italy has a decent train network, but it only takes you to major places....lots of wonderful things to see and do off of the beaten path.

In Tuscany, consider staying near San Casciano dei Bagni, which has thermal springs & several places offering outdoor hot springs fed pools & related spa services.

Here's an agriturismo near San Casciano: https://www.agriturismo.it/en/farmhouse/tuscany/siena/PoderePietreta-9170009/index.html

And a tourism guide to the San Casciano area: LINK

Currently in Perledo on Lake Como. Echo VA’s comments - it doesn’t suck here. Having a coffee on the balcony this morning.

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Rome absolutely fricking blows. And that’s me understating it.

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Trastevere is an awesome neighborhood in Rome. I wasn't a huge fan of a lot of Rome, as it kinda just seems like a "big city" outside of the tourist sites, but Trastevere is a hidden gem, IMO.