hey hey betsy810
just adding my 2 cents into other towns to check out.
will you have a car for any of your travels? if so, make sure you get an IDP (AAA.com/IDP). we drove from venice to bardolino on lake garda for their annual wine festival, late september-early october. (tourism.verona.it/bardolino wine festival 2025)
we stayed at hotel nettuno on sunday, last day of fun festival with fireworks in the evening. parade, grape stomping, yummy food (bring euros), wines of bardolino, at entrance bought wine holder necklace E20/souvenir wine glass, music & dancing, roaming the small villages with shops, cafes, restaurants.
took a short ride up along the lake with small villages, the ferries or sailboat rides around the lake, back to pescheira del garda for lunch in main city center then drove back to venice. was a great weekend with lots of fun, so worth checking it out.
few years back had good friends living in vicenza for couple years while she was a civilian worker at the air force base serving her time before retirement. her husband would travel all around on the train to different small towns while she worked. he would send us pictures and notes of great places, food & restaurants, markets to enjoy his day trips. they absolutely loved this small non touristy town.
rossiwrites.com/destinations
click italy scroll down to cities to see what they offer
day trips from vicenza: over 90 of best destinations
my own opinion, since you've spent time in florence and bologna, research some other places/villages/towns around the area. i always like to check out new towns, especially getting away from crowds, places not many know of or want to see the countryside.
few years ago we took a train from venice to susegana, met our fabulous private tour guide for prosecco hills and the road thru vineyards/wineries for tasting with gorgeous views plus lunch at family own restaurant (yummy) plus this is the area known for tiramisu, good luck, have fun and enjoy
aloha