Hello!
We will be in Italy for about 13 days in June. We are very interested in being near Parma, Cremona, and Modena for 3 days. We are coming from Venice and thought it might be fun to have a car to move around between these cities. I think we will be staying in Parma. Is having a car to move between these cities a good idea, unnecessary, foolish, etc? Most of our trip is in big cities, taking the train from one to the next. I thought it would be nice to have a car and be a bit more laid back and flexible during these few days.
Thank you for your suggestions and thoughts!
Posted by
Green Bay
21358 posts
Since Parma, Cremona, Modena all have ZTL's in the center of the cities, a car, far from being laid back and flexible, will cause stress and needless anxiety, as well as expense. Enjoy life and travel on the frequent trains that connect these cities. Come and go as you please for cheap (like 6 EU per trip).
Posted by
1 posts
Bonjourno! We landed in Milan four years ago, took the train to Parma and stayed there for a few days. It was fun to see how they make the prosciutto and the parmesan cheese. It is a beautiful college town, very old. Then on to Bologna where they have the oldest university, the beautiful porticos, and it is the center of Emilia Romagna, the breadbasket of Italy. You will find there bolognese sauce, mortadella, and some of the best wines and cheeses. I would love to go to Modena, the home of balsamic vinegar, I love to see how they make things. We used trains and other public transportation, you get to meet the locals that way. Have a great time.
P.S. We just got back from Italy last week, had Capodonno there (New Year's), what a way to celebrate. We landed in Rome, took the bus to LeMarche on the Adriatic, which cost $5 each way. No Americans go there, which is just fine. They feature great seafood there along with fried olives and the beaches are beautiful in the summer. We stayed there for one week, then three nights in Rome. If you stayed six months in Rome, you would not see it all. We try to be travellers, not tourists.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
8005 posts
If you're planning a hotel in the town, I would just use the train to go between locations. But, if you decide to select a location in the countryside, then I'd consider a car for just those few days. Or, you might want to check out the local mini-van type tours such as a food tour.
By the way, my favorite church interior in Italy is the Parma cathedral.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1773 posts
For Parma and Modena a car is not necessary; trains are good. Cremona is less well connected by train, but not impossible.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I visited all three by train, very easy and stress-free. If you had more time and wanted to dtop in small towns along the way, a car would be nice. But for the trip you describe, it will be a bit of a hassle. There are good "food tours" (balsamic ingest, cheese, prosciutto) that you can take and not worry about driving (lunch includes wine).
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Thanks everyone for your replies. We decided just to use the train! We are so excited!