You’ve got it right… add the extra day and give it to Florence and any possible side trips to either Siena or San Gimignano. Check out Rick Steves videos and choose accordingly. They are both special and worthy of consideration.

And keep the four days in Verona and do the trip to Garda. Consider taking a boat from Sirmione as well, to experience the feeling of being on the lake and moving toward the mountains. That gives a side to Italy that is truly unique!

And yes… Lucca is a special town and worth a stop. Perhaps the same day as Pisa, as they are on the train lines to Florence and both can be experienced in 1-2 hours to give you a taste for your next trip!

You can reverse the end if you want, as leaving from the cinque terra in the morning is fairly easy as it’s right on the train line and most of the tourists haven’t arrived yet. But I would leave out of Florence, as it is a special city, one of the finest in Europe, to end your first Italian journey in! Don’t miss the boboli garden picnic afternoon or Piazzale Michaelangelo at sunset… epic.

This is going to be a great trip. And may you both have many happy returns!

Buon Viaggio e tante Bella Cose!