Italy: Cremona - Parma - Modena - Bologna - Ferrrara - Ravenna

My husband and I spent time in Modena in the summer of 2018. Absolutely loved it - not many crowds which makes it nice. Great places to eat, stroll around town and of course a visit to the Casa Enzo Ferrari Museum in town. You can also visit the Formula One Ferrari Museum on the outskirts of town. Even if you are not a car aficionado- it’s a great place to visit.
Love that all the cities end in an “a” - how about Verona - that’s lovely, too!

Don't forget that James Bond movie with the scenes shot in Carrara.

I've been to all of those and they are all "worth while". I would not suggest 2-3 (or any) nights in Ravenna. The basilica is amazing but the town is not on a par with the others IMO. Plus it is possible to visit it as a day trip from Bologna. I would probably spend all my nights in Bologna and do day trips to the others. Besides Bologna itself, my favorites are Modena and Ferrara. Cremona was nice, spent a couple nights there but you could see it as a day trip- although it's the furthest from Bologna. Everyone seems to love Parma but it was my least favorite (besides Ravenna) of your list. And yes, Verona is lovely as well. Mantua is another great place.

How many nights total do you have? Train or Car?

Here's my photos of all those places - https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/f600116703
https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/f176319487
https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/f418766414

I visited all of the towns on your list last summer, staying in Bologna as my home base. Cremona was the least interesting on the list to me, but I would highly recommend making the trip to San Marino. You can take a train from Bologna to Rimini and catch the bus across the street that goes straight to San Marino. Very worth it. All the others are great and should definitely try to get to them all.

Of the cities on your list, Ravenna is #1, in my opinion. It has many sites with stunning 5th c. mosaics. Parma has a a a marvelous duomo with a beautiful baptistery. There is some pretty good food available there, too. Those would be my top two.

When will you be going? The reason I’m asking is that I will be staying in almost all of those locations in June. I always post a trip report about a week after I’m home, so it would here around July 4.

Here’s my itinerary a one of the reasons why I will be at your locations:

Milan
Stresa
Cremona - the violin museum & hopefully a concert (if going, check which days it’s open)
Parma - my favorite cathedral in Italy; an ebike tour out to the beautiful Torrechiara Castle
Bergamo
Mantova - the Ducal Palace
Modena - a food tour; cathedral
….and 3 other locations

Previously, I’ve stayed two nights at Ravenna. I enjoyed viewing all of the mosaics the first day. The second day, I went to the museum which has lots of nice exhibits and shows details of how the mosaics are created. I also saw the underground excavated mosaics. I was glad to have two full days there. The mosaics are stunning!

My husband and I stayed a couple of nights at Bologna, and neither one of us liked it as much as all of the other Italian cities we’ve visited.

I will be in Ferrara in September. I was supposed to be there in 2020, then 2021. Hopefully this year! If you like to bike, it’s a great city for it.

I see you also mentioned Verona. We love Verona! It’s such a wonderful city for tourists. It can get pricey during Opera season, but if you like opera, don’t miss the experience to attend an opera in the outdoor Roman Arena!

Thank you, Jean

We'll be in Cortona, Bologna & Ravenna the last 10 days of June.

I'm the guy with the camera (also tall, bald, and wearing a photo vest)

We'll use Bologna as a base for visiting Ferrara and seeking suggestions for Cremona, Parma & Modena (though likely only 1 or 2)

Ravenna - 1 day for Byzantine Mosaics (We loved Hagia Sofia & San Marco) and possibly a day trip to San Marino

Milan
We really enjoyed it - be sure to visit Duomo and Galleria in the morning twilight- it's magical.

Last Supper
Book Ahead or join a reseller, Da Vinci's vineyard across the street was very interesting

For Architecture & Design
We were fascinated by Achille Castiglioni Foundation - tour led by his daughter
Loved ADI Design Museum - https://www.adidesignmuseum.org/ and Pinacoteca di Brera
Awed by Villa Necchi Campiglio (it was in the Gucci movie)

Had a nice walk by Navigli Milano

Have a great trip

Being fond of architecture and modern style I suggest you the Cirulli foundation, near Bologna. A lot of masterpiece of the beginning of XX century (Futurism).
You should visit even Forlì, considered one of the best place for the Italian Rationalist architecture.

Being fond of architecture and modern style I suggest you the Cirulli foundation, near Bologna. A lot of masterpiece of the beginning of XX century (Futurism).
You should visit even Forlì, considered one of the best place for the Italian Rationalist architecture.

Oh WOW - Thank you!

That is right up my alley.

https://en.fondazionecirulli.org/

We're planning a day trip from Torino to visit the Wolfsonian in Genoa.

I've been fascinated by Antonio Sant'Elia, and Rationialist Architecture (saw some in Milan and also Buenos Aires)

Ira