If you had a choice of using Florence or Bologna as a base for four days, which would you suggest? We will arrive from Venice, and are looking for a good spot for a few day trips before moving to Rome for six days. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
11647 posts
I assume you haven’t been to either. In that case, you should probably visit Florence with it’s many important sites to visit.
. But we love Bologna!
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7915 posts
I would look at what you’re wanting to do. For instance, Ravenna (gorgeous mosaics!) is an hour train from Bologna, but it’s two hours at least from Florence and requires a train connection. Parma has my favorite cathedral interior and wonderful food. It’s a similar situation - handier from Bologna by train.
I like Florence a lot better than Bologna, but depending on your day trips, that could be the deciding factor.
If you happen to decide on Florence and like cooking classes, I recently had a pasta class in Florence that I would heartily recommend - both for the pasta & accompanying sauces…….my husband, too, since I have been making a lot of it since returning home!
, “Pasta Class Florence, The Art of Pasta – Authentic Recipes” with Chef Marco.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5561 posts
If you are only going to be there for 4 days, then I'd pick Florence if it's your first time. Unless you want a food centric visit, in which case choose Bologna. However, for first timers, Florence has so much to offer, I don't think you'd have time for more than one day trip. Maaaaaybe 2.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16166 posts
In parentheses the number of hotel nights spent by visitors in 2019 (Source: ISTAT - Italian National Institute of Statistics):
1. Rome (31 million)
2. Venice (12.9 million)
3. Milan (12.5 million)
4. Florence (11 million)
...
17. Bologna (3.2 million)
The people have spoken.
Posted by
430 posts
Have fun on your trip! I would never do the big 3 (Rome, Florence, Venice) on the same trip, too much of the same. I would pick a place inbetween Venice and Rome that is small and wonderful without the crowds of the big 3. Ravinna is wonderful, so is Orvieto, Assisi too. Bologna is a nice city, if you like motorcycles you can tour the Ducati factory. J
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks everyone! I always get great advice from this group. Florence it is. Happy travels!
Posted by
Upstate NY
2 posts
Art versus food.
Posted by
8398 posts
Florence is amazing, Bologna was OK.
Still, Ravenna is a must see in Italy. From Florence you can visit many wonderful places, like Siena, Pisa, Lucca.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16166 posts
4 days is not a lot, since Florence alone will need at least 2 days to cover the most basic sights, however if you feel that you must see Bologna as well, you can easily visit it in a day trip. The Freccia (high speed) trains take 36 minutes to connect the two cities and there is a train every 15-20 min on average. It is actually faster than going to Siena (75 min), Lucca (82 min), Pisa (50 min), and many other towns in Tuscany. Only Pistoia is a shorter distance.