Hi all! My wife and I have traveled to Italy twice and are heading back for the 3rd trip in October. We already have plane tickets into/out of Milan thanks to a great Black Friday deal. We have a hotel near the airport booked for our last night. That's as far as I have gone on reservations! We want to spend a couple of days on Lake Como and at least a day in Milan (probably at the start of the trip). We are thinking about basing in Bologna and/or Verona to explore the regions. I don't know a lot about either region so I'm looking for opinions on this. I think we could split 3 nights in one and 4 nights in the other. We are mainly interested in art and architecture as well as photography. Perhaps even a cooking class? We want to see the mosaics in Ravenna and experience the food in Parma. Other than that, we are wide open. Suggestions on places to see/stay as well as transportation are welcomed! I am thinking that a car may be beneficial. Agritourismo or hotel in the city?
Posted by
Houston, TX
487 posts
We did the Italian Days Food Tour out of Bologna and it went to a dairy for parmagiano reggiano production, and then we saw how traditional balsamic vinegar is produced and prosciutto ham. All this was followed by a huge family style dinner and we almost rolled back to the hotel. It was a great day and we highly recommend. I was just looking at their website and it looks like they now offer food tours and cooking classes in multiple cities, but when we went a few years ago they did not so I can only vouch for the one out of Bologna. If we were going back I would definitely try one of the other tours though!
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Parma is a nice city, but the food is just as good in Bologna. Ravenna, definitely. I also like Ferrara, it is different from the other cities you list.
For architecture, you may want a car to go to the Palladian villas near Vicenza.
How many nights do you have? One in Milano, two on Lake Como; how many are left?
Bologna has very easy access for daytrips; Verona is good as well.
Posted by
North Carolina
2457 posts
If you're staying in Bologna, it would be easy to visit Faenza, which has an International Ceramics Museum.
Posted by
Washington DC
27197 posts
I like the ceramics museum in Faenza, but be aware that it's a bit of a walk from the train station.
I haven't made it to Verona yet, but it would be fine as a base for the city of Vicenza (Palladian architecture) and Padua. Padua has the larger historic area and I felt needed more time, so I set up my base there and day-tripped to Vicenza. Vicenza was a more relaxing place to visit.
But I'd make Ravenna #1 for sure. I visited from Bologna, but I think Ravenna would be a lovely place to spend the night if you didn't mind the hassle of changing hotels.
Nearer Milan you have the atmospheric Bergamo.
Posted by
OP
Charleston, SC, USA
922 posts
Thanks for the replies!
Zoe - we have 7 more nights.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10247 posts
For a cooking class, I highly recommend the one given at Il Caminetto in Varenna (Lake Como). Chef Moreno is entertaining and the class is so much fun. It takes all day, so consider that. Transportation to and from the restaurant located up in the hills is included from Varenna.
Posted by
Boston
1706 posts
Verona is one of Italy's most beautiful cities. We were there last fall and it's magic. Compact and elegant with a youthful population, the churches are knockouts as several date from about 1200. In October the Valpolicello vineyard-covered hills are in color, and we had a great time photographing. Nearby Vicenza is good for the Palladio aspect and the Montanari Museum.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7335 posts
I haven't been to the lakes yet, but make sure that your attractions are still open off-season. (We're particularly interested in gardens, so maybe you won't have any trouble.) Presumably you have already read about the necessity to reserve The Last Supper very long before arrival, whenever your bookings open. I hope to visit a Parmiggiano maker one day, no recommendations to make. Check on "market days" for the smaller cities you'll be near.
Apparently Vicenza is a very important art and architecture destination. I went to an art lecture this year that raved about the Villa Pisani, in Stra (which is not the same as Venice.)