City to visit in-between Firenze + Milano for solo-female traveler

Bologna
Easy to get to and from
No changes

Grazie, Christine - and would you recommend to stay in the city center of Bologna? Looking for something less big city after Milano, Roma, + Firenze... Grazie!

Hello SimoneV, and welcome to the forum!

What are you looking for in the place you're staying?
- Bologna is a big, busy city with a university and great food scene.
- Verona is a chic, pretty city with an intact Roman Arena, theater and pedestrian, cafe culture feel to it.
- Brescia has a interesting series of connected great squares and public space, great Roman ruins and castle on top of the hill.
- Venice is moving away from Milan but is still only 2.5 hours to Milan by train and I find the city magical. If you haven't been to Venice I vote for Venice.
- Lucca is a great little walled hilltown (but flat) and a great small place to spend some peaceful days but you will realistically need to travel back to Florence to go onto Milan. It's a side trip but is small town suggestion versus a large city. Florence is less than 2 hours direct to Milan anyway.

Hope that helps, have a great tip,
=Tod

Bologna is a fun vibrant city... lots of students and many tourists now. Brescia is great (less touristy than Verona) and also quite walkable. I'd spend 2 nights if possible. I love Bologna and there is plenty to see.

I haven't been to this region either so I don't really know much about it. But here's some random thoughts nonetheless :)

The other day we were watching the Tour de France roll through Piacenza and it looked really pretty. Smaller city than Bologna, and close to Milan for your final leg. Slower trains to get there through Bologna though.

Reggio Emilia is also a smaller city, and its on the high speed train line from Florence to Milan. The station is just outside town, but I assume there are buses or taxis for the short distance into the center.

The other place I want to go outside Milan is Bergamo (also due to watching cycling!) You'd probably have to transfer through Milan. Older walled city, with the mountains in the background.

I have been to Reggio Emilia several times. The train station I used (fifteen years ago) was not too far to walk to. You won't hear any English in restaurants in R.E. (but no problems for ordering food), and it may be too "quiet" or "living local" for everyone. It's not famous like Bologna, but it is noted for an elementary education scheme studied and used in the USA in some places. There's a small but nice town collection art-museum, a new modern art (private collection) museum I haven't been to, and a full-size replica of a Baroque Theater. Superb food, and a pleasant nightly passeggiata. Weekly market day. Again, it does not have as much to do as Bologna.

EDIT: This is a small city, not a village!

I will suggest Ferrara, a lovely small city and UNESCO heritage site just 25 minutes past Bologna. Very friendly, with a nice pedestrian zone at the center, and enough to see to fill your one full day.

https://www.ferrarainfo.com/en/news/10-reasons-to-visit-ferrara

https://www.visitferrara.eu/en/

And I will specifically recommend Hotel Annunziata, a small family-run hotel just off the main piazza, with views of the Castello Estense.

https://www.annunziata.it/en/

When I carelessly left my cross-body bag with sunglasses, etc. in a restaurant where we dined the night before our departure, Simone graciously contacted the restaurant owner the next morning and arranged to meet her at the closed restaurant to recover my bag, all in time for our departure.

Thank you EVERYONE so far with your amazing and generous replies.

Yes, Tod - I am looking for somewhere "different" than the bustling cities - looking for a wind-down/refresh moment of relaxation before entering into a week of intense work. (and yes, I have been to Venice and think it is magical too!!) And - definitely looking for something ON THE WAY to Milan, as I don't want to waste more time traveling. I will store your Lucca recommendation, thank you.

Thank you Beth ! I will research these places.

Thank you Tim ! Yes, I am looking for something like " too "quiet" or "living local" for everyone. " so I am very intrigued by Reggio Emilia.

Thank you Lola ! And for the links, grazie mille :)

Here are a couple of ideas easily on route between Florence and Milano. Last year I visited Brescia for two nights. We arrived by train, walked a short, easy, flat walk to historical city center and stayed in a small hotel right on Piazza Paolo VI. The historic center has beautiful piazzas, all interconnected, duomos, the old and the new, a castle, Roman ruins, an interesting archeological museum, and more. Our two days went by quickly. It also felt very safe as we were out walking day and night. A cousin of mine who lives in the province of Brescia had suggested it to me and we were surprised how much we liked it. We were there in March and there were not many tourists there and even fewer Americans. If you are looking for a smaller town with scenic lake views, my cousin also suggested the town of Iseo on Lake iseo. I have not been there yet. but it also is accessible by train.

One town on my wish list radar is Bergamo, which is not far from Milano. Also easily accessible by train. It has a lower and upper town and its historical center looks quite beautiful. The upper town has a walled core. My son was just there and really enjoyed it.

Have you been to Verona? I have visited Verona three times and I would return again. Lots to see and do. Explore both sides of the river. Views from the Castel San Pietro to the city below are very picturesque. You can walk from the train station to the historical city center or go by bus or taxi as it is a hefty walk with luggage. See if there are any concerts or performances scheduled at the Roman arena while you are there. But be aware that Verona will be filled with tourists.

Research all your suggestions that you get here on the forum and see what appeals to you the most. There are no bad choices. As a traveller, and particularly as a solo female, always practice situational awareness, and keep your purse or phone crossbody, in front of you. Enjoy your trip.

I'm a solo traveler too. I spent 5 nights in Bologna in 2019 and LOVED it. This year, I decided to go back to that general area and will be staying three nights on Lake Como, 5 night in Lucca (actually have an apartment for 5 but will only use for 4 - going to Cinque Terre overnight) and 4 nights in Reggio Emilia. I would suggest considering Reggio Emilia. I also considered Modena and Parma and just thought Reggio Emilia seemed less touristy with good connections by train.

Parma, Modena, Ferrara would all be excellent choices if you want something less big-city than Bologna. We haven't visited Reggio Emilia, but that appears to be another enticing option.

The train line from Florence to Milan will pass by (from south to north) Bologna, Modena, Reggio Emilia, Parma, Piacenza, however all high speed trains will stop only in Bologna, so to go the others you might need to change in Bologna. Parma also has a high speed station, although not all high speed trains stop there.
Bologna is the largest, Parma (which is pretty) the most visited after Bologna.