I will be traveling from Lugano to Venice in early January, but was debating whether or not to add a stopover in a city between the two. I will be taking the train and don't mind going from one destination directly to the next but if there are any interesting cities in between, I would love to see them for one night as I have a little wiggle room with my plans. Which city do you recommend?
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11834 posts
Brescia or Verona come to mind.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8359 posts
I assume that train would take you down to Milan where you change over to a train going east. You might want to go on Trentalia's website and see what towns that train goes through. I would think Bologna would be on the route. It's famous for their exceptional food.
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
Bologna is out of the way. Verona is the obvious choice.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34211 posts
Different trains will stop at all or some of (in order), Verona (a bit famous for Romeo and Juliet, has a pretty good Duomo, nice scenery and a better amphitheatre than in Rome, generally fun), Vicenza (has the Rotunda on which the architecture of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello was based (the nickel coin), Palladian architecture everywhere - that where Palladio came from, a really nice traditional coffee shop, a lovely market but maybe a little smaller after Christmas when people want to stay warm, a great restaurant and club scene with live music outside many restaurants but perhaps most will be inside in January when people want to stay warm, and did I mention the Gelato?, and a great pedestrianised centre), Padova (some people spell it Padua but it is actually Padova, with the incredible Scrovegni Chapel, a pretty good Duomo, and plenty more good stuff), and Venezia Mestre (don't bother to get off unless you need to change trains, this is mainland Venice and not what you are going for) on the way into Venezia Santa Lucia. The view of the Grand Canal from the steps of the Santa Lucia station is breathtaking.
If you take a regional train instead of a fast one you may stop at additional stops like Brescia, Desenzano del Garda (on the lake), Peschiera del Garda (also on the lake, the major town on Lake Garda, but maybe not in January), Soave (where the wine comes from) and others.
As you can see, the choice is vast. It is all what you and yours want to see.
Me? I love Venice so much that even when I have a week in Vicenza (love love love it) I still go into Venice 3 or 4 times in the week. I'd just go straight to Venice, especially with the days so short in January. See it in the light and then see it after dark.
I haven't mentioned that trains from Lugano to Milano often call at Como, where the lake is.
This area is so incredibly full of things to do that I usually have a week or 10 days in the Veneto and Lombardia on trips to Venice. I'm afraid I haven't scratched the surface.
Oh, and of course Milano is well worth several days.