Now accepting Rome/Venice suggestions!

[natsnow]

I finally booked our trip to Rome/Venice in September. In Rome, we will be staying near the Pantheon.

In Venice, we will be overlooking the lagoon right at the base of the Grand Canal.

I'll take any suggestions you have for things to do, places to eat, companies to utilize, etc!

We have already booked flights, hotels, transfers and plan to see at least the major sights in each city.

[travelingjen]

We visited Italy last September for two weeks and spent four days in both Rome and Venice. I have multiple entries in my travel blog on the trip:
wanderlusttraveler.blogspot.com/2012/01/rome-italy-sightseeing.html
wanderlusttraveler.blogspot.com/2012/01/rome-italy-accomodation-dining.html
wanderlusttraveler.blogspot.com/2012/02/venice-italy-sightseeing.html
wanderlusttraveler.blogspot.com/2012/02/islands-of-venetian-lagoon-burano.html
wanderlusttraveler.blogspot.com/2012/03/venice-italy-accommodation-dining.html

[Deleted]

I visited Venice for the first time last month. We spent three days there and it was the perfect amount of time. I definitely recommend paying for a guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica. You can enter on your own for free, but we paid for a guided tour and it was well worth it to have a knowledgeable guide explain the historical, architectural, and religious significance of various details. When we were in line to enter, a woman was rounding up a tour and we just joined in for about 10 euros per person for a 90 minute tour. Also in St. Marks, we toured the Ducal Palace and also rode to the top of the clock tower (amazing views of Venice, worth a ticket to the top). I suggest taking one day to just walk around and explore. We had two fabulous dinners in Venice - Osteria alla Botte and La Mascareta Osteria Enoteca. I highly recommend both, and while they are slightly set back from the main square, they are within reasonable walking distance.

[anelms]

We used Dark Rome for our tours of the Vatican and the Colosseum/Ancient Rome and they were excellent.