Hi! We're driving from Genoa to Bologna mid February and have a free night in between. Any recommendations? Had thought about Verona, but Olympics are happening there and may be too crazy. Should we stay along the coast or is it pretty closed in Winter? Or stay in Parma for one night before heading to Bologna? We will be based in Bologna for five nights and doing day trips to Modena and Venice. Would love your advice. Thanks!
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
2024 posts
One of our favorite towns in Italy is about halfway --- Pontremoli. You would be in for a treat. You may even have time to visit the stele museum in the castle. Great food, bridges, narrow streets. Eat torta d'erbe and testaroli with pesto. It's in a valley in an area called the Lunigiana and has a different cuisine.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks for the tip on your favorite town!
Also curious about Lucca. Yes, for a one day visit? Thanks!
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1887 posts
Hello vjprain, and welcome to the forum,
If you take the northern route Parma could be a good choice - interesting city to visit and about 1.5 hours to Bologna the next day.
Southern route Lucca or Pisa would make good choices. A little further to Bologna the next day - probably 2 hours.
Lucca is not car friendly so get instructions from wherever you're staying as to where to park on the ring road before approaching the city. Even Florence is an option if you are willing to stretch your drive times. But all the warnings for parking go triple for Florence so have a plan on where to park and clear route.
That early in the year I don't think you'll need to worry about beach related traffic on the coastal route.
Usual driving caveats - read up on ZTLs, make sure every driver has an IDP before leaving the states.
Have a great trip,
=Tod
Posted by
Houston
3 posts
Hi vjprain!
I'm contemplating a very similar trip. I'd like to go to Genoa for about a week in October and am trying to figure out if I want to spend my other week of vacation in Liguria or if I'd like to go to the Veneto. I'm leaning toward Liguria (today at least) partly because I've been inspired by the listing of Orange Flag Villages in Liguria put together by the Touring Club of Italy. Here's a link if that's helpful: https://www.italia.it/en/italy/orange-flag-villages-what-to-see-do
Posted by
Denver
905 posts
I would second Lucca if you take the southern route. It's a delightful small city, and the walk on the walls would be great if the weather is good.
Parma is also good, but very easy to visit from Bologna as a day trip, so you may want to save Parma for when you're based in Bologna.
Another possibility, depending on your interests, and it's a bit out of the way, is Cremona. We visited for the first time two years ago on the way to somewhere else, and liked it so much that we returned the following year for an overnight stay. Another beautiful, small city, less touristy than Lucca, Parma, Bologna. And if you like violins, you're in for a real treat!