In light of our request for an endorsement of a visit to explore the cuisine, art and architecture of Parma, I am providing our draft of our itinerary.
We will landing in Milano, late July 2018 to launch 14 nights in Italy, our "3rd time's a charm" excursion. We are 66 and enjoy train travel in Italy.
After 2 nights rest in Varenna, we will train to Parma (or another village based on the recommendations shared in response to our inquiry). This is the only place on our itinerary that is unfamiliar to us.
From Parma we will train to Lucca for strolling the wall and the Puccini concerts at the San Giovani Cathedral. We are considering a side trip to Piza for lunch with a look at the cathedral and baptistery as well as the Tower, of course. My husbands father served in the American army there for the first year of the occupation post WWII, as did the father of our kind host at the Arena di Lucca.
From Lucca we will make a 1 night sojourn to spend a night at the Villa Sermoli, Borge Buggiano, Pistoia. Two years ago we thoroughly enjoyed our stay there and vowed to one another, we will return.
The next day we plan to revisit Firenze for 3 nights to deepen our explorations and love for this Renaissance city.
A morning train trip (non too early) will take us to Ravenna for a daytime and Friday nighttime with lights experience of the Byzantine mosaics, complemented with a one night stay.
The next morning we will train to Fano and catch a ride to Cagli, our newly established home town Sister City, for the Palio. A 2 nights stay will give us time for a reunion with our dear friends and a refreshing soak in the gently cascading brook that boarders this rather remote and endearing Italian village.
So, Parma or elsewhere coordinating with the geography and chronology of our itinerary? We have spent 1day&night in Sienna and loved it. A magnificent Tuscan city of art and culture. Yet we found it was quite touristy, with less than the personal reception in the restaurants than we have found elsewhere.