Never been to Italy...

[ToPeeOrNotToPee]

and would love to go somewhere for a weekend break with my DP.

I'm thinking either Venice, Rome or Florence.

Any recommendations?

Florence... Amazing!
Rome... Amazing, but its much better if you are in a rush as the real life big city stuff ruins the magic (graffiti,crime etc) biased as had phone stolen the once dont let that put you off though i was speechless te first time i went.
My advice, dont bother queuing for the collosseum, the inside is not worth the wait, the outside is beautiful.
Venice... Yet to do so can't help there!

Florence would be my choice

second Florence and if you fly into Pisa and take the train over (Cheap airlines tend to fly into Pisa) you can see the leaning tower and all the other great buildings around it too.

re Venice: avoid in the summer - winter is best (fog/mist over canals make it all the more atmospheric).

Florence is probably my favourite though.

I have been to all three and would prefer Venice or Florence to Rome. Both fabulous.

I've done all three as well, and I'd do Venice or Florence if just a weekend.

fanny we would be going around mid-October. Is Venice nice then?

Leaning towards Venice or Florence now!

Can anyone recommend a nice hotel in either city?

Don't rule out Milan! Or fly into Milan and go to Lake Como - stunning.

I have done Pisa, that's okay for a weekend, as there isn't too much to do after the tower and the dome. It's a bit run down on the outskirts however.

Overall I'd say Florence out of your choices.

We stayed in the Best Western just a short distance from St Marks.
Several nice little restaurants in nearby backstreets. Well located for all the 'sights' and very close to the 'bus' stops for Grand Canal and out to the islands.
We flew into Marco Polo and took the river bus to St Marks, so no problem getting cases any long distance.