We are flying into Milan from Croatia on 2nd July and need to be in Lucca on 13th July and have 10 days to fill in. We have been to that northern part of Italy a couple of times -Lake Como-Venice-Florence -Siena-Cortona and Lucca and love it it all but are keen to discover other places. We are thinking this time to train and not hire a car (although we could taxi from train stations if needed). We adore old towns and would not be adverse to spending time in Siena again but know its a busy time of year.
We are thinking of training through Verona (spend a couple of nights there),Bologna (spend a couple of nights there) and need to fill in for another week before we get to Lucca. Has anyone been to Barga? Would this be a place you could stay for 1 week? Or Volterra?
If anyone has any good ideas and suggestions would be much appreciated also of things would should defintely do in Volterra and Bologna? Thanks heaps
Posted by
Hayden, Idaho, USA
7229 posts
You will be in Verona during their opera season. If you enjoy opera, it’s amazing to sit outside under the stars in the Roman Arena and hear opera performed in Italian in Italy! But, if you don’t, just a heads up that the hotel rates are higher due to the opera season.
I’ve been to Italy several times but not in July. I’m looking up festivals because those are so fun & interesting to attend. Hmm, the Stresa Music Festival which I’ve attended begins when you’re in Lucca, along with another I was going to recommend. Just Google “Festival July Italy” and see if any interest you.
Here’s a couple of trip reports with locations that would fit your wishes:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/solo-trip-to-italy-2018
Posted by
North Carolina
2444 posts
Have you visited Ravenna? How about Ferrara?
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thank you Jean for that info. I will look up the festival website. Yes I thought of going to the opera in Verona although my husband not super keen but I think it will be on the list! We are actually booked to go to Norah Jones concert when we are in Lucca.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1385 posts
My opera-loving husband was very happy to got to the opera in Verona and I was very happy to stay in the apartment and hear all about it in the morning.
We went to Barga from Pisa last fall to see the church and, on the way, the Ponte del Diavolo (not the very best devil's bridge, perhaps, but one of the best in Italy). The church was great, but it was raining so we didn't explore the town much, just had a good lunch there.
Barga seems a bit small to stay in for a week, but more importantly, if you don't have a car the bus to Lucca takes more than an hour and makes SEVENTY stops. Volterra to Barga takes more than 4 hours on several trains and buses. We had a car.
Volterra is lovely and we stayed there for 4 nights --- it was plenty busy in late September, so I imagine it would be even more visited in summer. Likewise, we found this to be the case in nearby (by car) Tarquinia, Massa Marittima, and Pitigliano. None of these towns are off the beaten path or hidden gems or anything --- they are heavily touristed for good reasons. Just not so much by Americans.
Your best bet, I think, if you want to use trains and buses, is to take advantage of the great train system running from Milan to Ravenna, with all sorts of side trips (like to Ferrara) possible. Parma, Modena, Bologna, Faenza if you like ceramics, Ravenna (for which you change trains once). Go where the trains are.
The towns in the Veneto are likewise well connected by train, so Verona, Padua, maybe Treviso, etc. (I'm only listing towns we have stayed in for several nights and really liked a lot.)
Both regions will give you a different feel, look, art, and food from Tuscany. I would be inclined to pick one region rather than hop from one to the other, but that's just me. Pick a home base or two and make day trips. It will be hot in the summer so be sure to get a place with AC.
Posted by
4302 posts
I visited Barga on my first trip to Italy many moons ago. I loved it, and we were fine without a car but were only there a few days, and we are avid hikers. With a week, I would want a car for sure!
Speaking of opera, there is an opera school in Barga, and a restaurant owner there married a singer, so at dinner one night we were treated to an impromptu song, which made it extra special.
With your itinerary in mind, I would find somewhere in Emilia Romagna, as there are so many day trips you can do by train.