> 2) which hotels/b&b's are recommended in each city? i'm looking for
> quiet areas, away from the crowd congestion.
I'd recommend using
http://www.CheapAccommodation.com for finding
cheap hotels, hostels, apartments etc, where ever your travels bring
you. The relevant pages for your cities are:
http://www.CheapAccommodation.com/Rome/
http://www.CheapAccommodation.com/Florence/
http://www.CheapAccommodation.com/Venice/
I've use this site many times for short stays in Paris and Geneva.
Have a nice trip
Mel