We're thinking of visiting northern Italy (only, as we've been south before) meaning we'll probably visit Milan, Cinque Terre, Modena (Ferrari), Lake Como area.
We're now 65+ years of age and my wife is a little nervous of me driving everywhere - since she's seen how busy the roads are - so we're wondering if there would be a suitable alternative or perhaps a combination of modes?
If you're a reasonably good driver, there's no reason to think you cannot navigate your way through Northern Italy. I assume that you're flying into one of the Milan airports.
I would suggest you wait until leaving Milan to pickup the car. It's less than an hour to the incredibly beautiful Lake Como area. You'll do best to leave the car somewhere and take a local train into the C/T.
As in many mountainous areas, trains don't go to all the great tourist sights and cities. Northern Italy is best seen rambling through the countryside with a car. You can just see so much more, and be much more efficient in your travels. Roads are well paved and well marked.
If you fly open jaw out of another city, you may can take in other cities (Florence or Venice.) Many car rentals in Italy can be dropped off in larger cities without any drop fee.
If that is all you want to visit I'm not sure you need a car. A car is a useless hassle in a city (especially Milan, but also Bologna or Modena). The Cinque Terre is another place where a car is totally useless. You can reach Monterosso by train from Milan with no hassle and also no train changes. Once there the villages are connected by frequent trains or boat (in summer).
Lake Como can be easily reached by train, both Varenna on the Eastern shore and Como on the West are a quick train ride from downtown Milan, then once there, all those lake towns are all connected by frequent bus or ferry. Parking isn't even that plentiful in those towns. In Varenna you won't need a car and it's a good base for visiting the lake.
However of all places you mentioned only lake Como is a place where a car could be of use, primarily to venture into the mountains around there.
I would limit the car rental only to the countryside or the mountains, if you intend to do any visiting outside of what you mentioned.
Thank you, David and Roberto. It sounds as if train/bus travel, with some side excursions by car, would be the best way to go.
