I love both, but I would have to agree that Venice has that extra charm and something special. There is plenty to do in both, for a week. If you are looking for a place to stay, check out Ca Maria Adele. It's a fabulous small boutique hotel that is located on the Dorsoduro, Across from San Marco. It's perfectly situated. We had an absolutely fabulous stay there and I highly recommend it. Venice is magical! I hope you love it!

Posted Apr 06, 2011

I agree!  If you like big city bustle and have your heart set on seeing ruins or the Colosseum, don't skip Rome, but Venice is so unique and such a romantic city....and if you like art, a ferry ride to Murano will get you to some beautiful glass shops!

Posted Apr 06, 2011

Both!  :-)

I'm sure you could spend a week (or a month, or a year) in either city and still have more to see.  There is nothing in the world like Venice, and if you've never been, you really should.  Rome has a lot to offer, too, but if you can only see one, I'd pick Venice.  What are you most interested in seeing or doing in Italy?

Posted Apr 06, 2011

I think Rome and the Rieti Valley up to Florence will give you a taste of history and simple beauty as well as art. Better to spend more time in fewer places, more immersion if you will, that to try to cram Italy into one trip. Toss a coin in Trevi Fountain and maybe you'll get to go back to Northern Italy and Florence another day!

Posted Apr 06, 2011

I love both but for a first taste of Italy, Venice would be my choice! There is certainly enough to keep you busy for a week.  but if for some reason you exhaust everything you want to do, you can always take a train from Venice to Verona for the day (1.5 hours away).  To a great extent it depends on your travel style -- do you like to "do" a place in-depth or do you like to get a first impression and then come back at some other time to see more?

Posted Apr 06, 2011

You could easily spend a week in either city. While Venice is everything everyone has said, I would choose Rome. The scope of history, the prominence of the city in Christianity (regardless of your religion), the concentration of peerless art and architecture are all so central to our way o life and tradition. All of this is perfect for your introduction to Italy. Go to Venice on your next trip--and understand that this will not be your only trip to Italy!

Posted Apr 07, 2011

I've not been to Rome, so I can't speak on it. But I can guarantee you that a week in Venice is well worth it. I've been twice for one month at a go each time, and multiple times for shorter stays and still feel like I've only scratched the surface of the city. The joy in spending a block of time there, or anywhere, is in getting settled in and discovering the history and the present day life as lived by locals. 

I'd say definitely pick one or the other and tuck in. The only way to enjoy and get to know a place, truly, is to stay a while. A week isn't nearly enough, but it's a good start!

And for Venice, if you got bored in Venice proper (which I cannot imagine), there are always easy day trips to the islands of Murano, Burano, Torcello, the Lido, or further afield to Chioggia. Also, consider a quick trip to Padua or Treviso on the mainland, but train. Or, if you need more ideas nearby but outside of Venice, Verona, Vicenza, and pretty Bassano del Grappa are also nice day trips by train.

Posted Apr 07, 2011

As mentioned above - both a great, but Rome is the best!  The best sites - Colosseum, The Vatican, Villa Borghese and museum, Castello Sant Angelo... the list goes on and on.  And the food is to die for.  For the best Pizza in the world, go to Pizzeria Baffetto - (Via del Governo Vecchio). 

Posted Apr 08, 2011

while the best answer is both, i'd say rome.  venice is quaint and romantic with waterways. gondolas and rich history...but rome is magical and i feel a better short term trip.  just being near the colosseum is amazing.  and the vatican is a must see.  either place will be great though- enjoy!

Posted Apr 08, 2011

Erika,

First off I would say both.  I liked Venice and it is such a unique sitaution/city being in the water and walking or taking a boat everywhere.  For a second honeymoon type of trip it is very romantic.  I can only handle about 2-3 days there though.  I get stir crazy and it has a funny smell to it.  I like Venice but I loved Rome.  You cannot go to Italy and skip Rome.  Just give it one day and it will grow on you.  I am not at my home computer or I would give you recommendations of Hotels and Restaurants.  If you stay at a family run place ask for restaurant rec's we have had very good success with that.  Sorry I couldn't help you more.     

Posted Apr 15, 2011

Erika,

I have not been to Venice, I do get to Rome several times a year.  I would suggest not visiting Italy in July and August.  Italians leave because it is too hot.  Trastaverde (translation: across the river), south of the Vatican and across from the Jewish quarter, is an intimate pre-Renaissance neighborhood.  Piazza Santa Maria is ground zero to start exploring.  A treasure of resturants, bistros, and galleries is Rome's best kept secret.   

Posted Apr 17, 2011

I love the idea of spending a second honeymoon in Venice, especially if you're looking to relax. If you end up wanted a day trip or two, I'd recommend Ravenna for its amazing mosaics (the best outside Istanbul, really). You could also tag on a few days in Slovenia, which is such a beatiful country. Rome is, of course, as noted, so full of history, but it can also be crowded, noisy, overwhelming to some degree. If I could only go back to one place before I die, it would be Venice over Rome. Last time in Venice I stayed at the Ruzzini Palace and it was fantastic; I would stay there again. If I had unlimited funds I'd stay at the Gritti Palace.

Posted Apr 18, 2011

Venice will start to be quite crowded in June, so you might want to stay in the Dorsoduro quarter or even on Giudecca if you want to avoid the bustle, and the tour groups. Getting back and forth from Giudecca island is more time consuming, but if you have a week, that's not much of an issue.  Take the time to go to the island of Torcello and see the Romanesque church there. It's 1000 years old and the mosaics alone make the trip worthwhile.  I love Venice, and, for me, a week is barely enough time there.  Bring comfortable shoes and a cellphone with a navigation program--you'll get lost a lot.

Posted Apr 25, 2011

I spent a year living in Rome and made several trips to Venice during that time because I studied Venetian literature. Unless you have a particular interest in Venetian history, this is NOT a city to spend more than a couple of days in. Trust me on that. Venetians are also famously not terribly friendly to non-locals (non-Venetian Italians included even) and particularly to people who cannot speak Italian. I HIGHLY recommend that you take a train and do about 3 days in Rome. Rome is the center of Western history and would be a tragedy to miss especially if you have a full week. Its also a very romantic destination. 2 busy days is more than enough to experience Venice to the fullest. There is an extremely easy train to take from Santa Lucia train station in Venice directly to Termini Station in Rome. Its 5 hours and won't cost more than 100 euros p/p. Its absolutely worthwhile, you'll love Venice, but Rome will leave the lasting impression on you forever. (Part of why its called the Eternal City!)

Posted Jun 12, 2011

Oh, Venice is absolutely THE place for a romantic getaway, great choice! You'll be back for Rome, though, anyway!

As regards hotels, a reasonably-priced option that we enjoyed was the C'Aloredan (www.caloredan.com): it's small, nothing special on the outside or inside, but it's clean, staff is helpful, and the location couldn't be any better.

Posted Aug 21, 2011