We arrived in Milan early on New Years Day. We were joining our nephew and Kathy's sister school trip later that day and had about six hours to kill so we dropped our luggage off and took the train to Milan and enjoyed the quiet streets.The streets were being cleaned up from the massive party the night before.
Here is a shot of the famous duomo. 
Right across the street is this famous square, the floors were sticky and we walked across from the party the night before.
We stopped at a cafe and shared some pastries and cappuccino. 
Then we got back and waited for everyone! 
Got to our hotel that night just outside of Venice. The house dog was watching over and greeting guests.
The next morning we got up early and headed to the ferry to Venice, but stopped on the island of Murano to see some glass blowing and other stuff.
Example of the kind of work they had there.
Venice!
Tours and tours of stuff, we went into Doge Palace, worth the visit if you like historical stuff and beautiful art. If you dont like that stuff it is nice break for when it is raining, if you like getting wet and hate art and historical stuff stay home. No one wants to travel with you.
So we debated whether to do the tourist thing and go on a gondola ride, just go - that way when everyone asks you can say yes and it was boring, only made more boring by having an unhappy guide. So grabbed lunch and then went to the top of the tower by the Piazza, even through the rain it was worth the trip up.
We made it to the Grand Canal and smiled!
We wandered back through the streets to meet the rest of the group. The city was getting dark and the holiday lights were up, make the scene even more pretty, wish I had room to share all the pictures.
The next day we headed to Florence. Just before we got there we stopped just outside to overlook the city and took some pictures
We got to our hotel and dropped off our bags and went out walk around and see the sites.
The fake David. We saw the real David the next day.
Out to dinner that night and watch Karla get embarrassed by our singing wait staff.
Tour of ancient instruments. This is moments before the guard tried to take away my camera for taking pictures.....
Went to the local market to get some fruit and food. Fun.
Next day stopped a great pizza place for lunch, Kathy's four seasons pizza.
More rain the next day. Climbed to the top of duomo, 436 steps up. Nice work out. One kid in the group had to do it twice as he forget a book at the top.
Wandering the streets at night before dinner.
The next day on the way Azizi.
Walking the streets around the town after our visit to the cathedral.
Stopping to eat lunch , yum.
Rome! Pigs in Space!!! or soon to be in my stomach. 
Outside the Vatican....
The Colosseum 
The Forum.
Spices and spices.... sigh....
The catacombs.
Spanish Steps. Concert was about to start at the bottom of the steps, it was crazy packed.
Inside the vatican....
Outside the vatican...
Awesome cannoli experience...
Last night.... out to dinner outside the Colosseum 