Itinerary dilemma: Milan/Como/Varenna/Lugano/Venice add-on: Salzburg or Trieste?

I love Salzburg, but I wouldn't include it in this trip unless there's a short flight between Venice & Salzburg - too long by train. If you go with the first option, fly into Venice (or opposite direction, fly into Milan), then fly out of the other location. Otherwise, you're wasting time traveling back to the point of origin.

I would fly into Venezia for 3 nights, perhaps Ferrara, Verona or Ravenna for 2 nights, Bologna for 2 nights, Varenna/Como/Lugano (you would take the Bologna-Milano train and transfer to Varenna) for 3 nights, .That leaves you 3-5 nights to play with; you could add Trieste between Venezia and Bologna.

Thanks everyone for your input. My reason to add Salzburg is my husband's love of the Sound of Music...he'd kill me if he knew I broadcast this! additionally it would add another country that neither of us has been to together. Naturally I want to do it all. I will look into flights between Venice and Salzburg.
Thanks again!
Carolyn

Salzburg is spectacular. I drove from there to Venice, through Bolzano and it took about 8-9 hours. A long ways. I would skip it and then plan a Switzerland - Bavaria - Austria trip next time. You will love those three areas.

Milan to Como to Venice makes the most sense. If you want to go to Trieste fine and then train to wherever after that, perhaps Croatia (maybe by boat) to Rijeka? That adds a country to your trip. You have the time.

If your husband love's the Sound of Music then you should spend a couple of days in Salzburg. You might consider researching getting there from Milan on the train via Verona, to Innsbruck and then up and over. To get to/from Varenna from Trieste/Venice/Verona, etc. I'm pretty sure the best way is through Milan. We rode from Venice to Milan then up to Varenna and back to Milan. Varenna is about an hour from Milan. Double check because it's been about 5 years since our trip although I was in Milan again this past April.

Thanks again, for all the great tips and opinions based on your experiences!