Northern and Central Italy-suggestions needed

Lake Como in October? I don't know - maybe too cold? I hope others who have been there at that time of year will weigh in. Lucca is wonderful, but with ten days I might stick closer to Milano to keep travel time to a minimum. Here are some places we've enjoyed that meet that criterion: Bergamo, Genoa, Verona, Ferrara, Cremona, Ravenna. We do it all by public transportation. Congrats on the airfares!

Ravenna is really, really special. Aside from all the mosaic sites (six or seven of them), it has a very pretty historic district and should be a nice place to spend the night if you opt not to visit it on a day-trip from Bologna. Bologna itself has a huge medieval quarter that's very lively; it's a major university city. A plus for an October trip (in case of iffy weather) is that most of streets in the historic district are arcaded.

I also liked Padua and Vicenza, which are a very quick train trip apart and not terribly far from Bologna. However, if I wanted to visit both I'd prefer to spend three nights in Padua (the larger of the two) rather than making repeated trips from Bologna.

Aside from Bergamo and Lucca (both good suggestions), I haven't visited the cities Janet mentioned, but the swath of Italy between Milan and Bologna includes a bunch of cities that have been suggested by posters here. You certainly will be able to fill your time without going very far afield.

Italians might not go to a resort area like Lake Como in October, but we still do. I was not cold on my last couple of tour visits (Oct. 6 and 10) and the latter date had super clear mountain visibility.

There is no shortage of great places to go starting/ending in Milan. We really enjoyed Verona (went twice, for a total of 6-7 nights), Bergamo, Padova. Trains will get you everywhere.

In Verona, we loved staying at this place, just on the other side of the river from the historic center. http://www.residenzacarducci.com/#/ (Best breakfasts we've ever had in Italy. The owner Giovanna will make you feel like long-lost family.)

Ravenna is great for the mosaics and the fact that it's easy to walk around because it's flat but it's a little harder to get to since it's off the main rail lines. (There is a direct train from Bologna, though.)

I recommend you grab a copy of Rick's Italy book and read about northern and central Italy.

Happy travels.

Thanks for the info everyone. I have the RS Italy book and am reading it now. The problem - too many places and not enough time! Also, I looked up conventions in Milan during our time there. Seems to be one the 12-14, 13-15 and 20-24 of October. Must plan strategically!

Bologna is a great launching pad for train trips to Parma, Modena, and Ravenna. In addition, it has good art, interesting history, and wonderful food. From there you could spend time in Ferrara for a totally different take on Renaissance history, art, and cuisine that is steeped in the food of the Este household. Travel to Padua from Ferrara is easy and inexpensive via regional train. Finally, a night or two in Bergamo will provide another charming city and an easy return to Malpensa. Travels beyond the Rome, Florence, Venice routine provide a wonderful exposure to another layer of Italian history and culture - with fewer tourists, I have found Italians to be extremely gracious and helpful.

What lizth said. Bergamo was a real joy, Ravenna and Ferrara are two of my favorite places.