Looking for a place to spend a night before our apartment in Florence is available (November). I think we'll be wanting to do Sienna and Pisa anyway. RS guide speaks favorably of Lucca as a place to overnight. Coming in from Milan via rail so I think we're looking at an out and back for any of the above. What might be best - or is there someplace else that isn't occurring to me/
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34352 posts
Bologna? Venice? Ravenna?
only 1 "n" is Siena, btw.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Lucca is charming, stay inside the walled city. An overnight in Siena will give you a much different experience than just tripping in for the day, in my opinion.
Posted by
Wynnewood, PA, USA
275 posts
Greg - since you've not shared much of your itinerary (just Milan & Florence), I'd recommend a Lucca as a nice contrast to the size of Milan & Florence. If train connections, etc. are a consideration and Sienna is a better travel destination stay inside the walls for a small city "feel". Pisa is worth a day trip but not somewhere that I'd linger.
Ciao.
Posted by
Granite Bay, CA
1951 posts
LOVE Siena..stay in the walls and walk all the small uncrowded streets.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16243 posts
None of them are along the way from Milan to Florence. Besides all three can be easily visited from Florence in a day trip once you have your apartment. Each is only about 50-75 min from a Florence.
Along the way from Milan, for just one night, the most logical choice for me would be Bologna. Parma would be another.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17601 posts
I like Nigel's suggestion of Ravenna. It is off the path ( coming from Milan,, you would change trains at Bologna) but still is a shorter journey than going to Lucca or Siena. That is something you might appreciate after your flight to Milan.
Ravenna is a very welcoming city with great lodging opportunities and a really fun restaurant ( Ca' de Vèn). The mosaics are stunning and eight buildings have been designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. Most of them are within the downtown core, within walking distance of each other. You could visit some on the day of arrival and others the next morning before departing for Florence.
We spent two nights in Lucca on one of our Italy trips and it is charming and relaxing, but has nothing to compare with the mosaics in Ravenna.