Rome, Bologna, Venice April 2026

Hi Chani! So glad you are traveling again!

A couple years ago I stayed at a monastery in Rome ( they don’t care what people’s religion is). The nicest monastery I’ve stayed at. It’s next to Largo Argentina and two blocks from the Jewish Ghetto. Easy walk to all the main sights. Price then was under €90/night. Ask for a room facing the court yard. https://www.romacasaperferie.it/
I really enjoyed Basilica San Clemente for the historical archaeological layers. There’s a good restaurant across the street for lunch. Can’t remember the name but it had outdoor seating.

Are you staying at B&B Corte Campana in Venice? I’ll be there for the third time in September. Chiesa San Zaccaria is interesting because the basement is flooded from the high water level.

I haven’t been to Bologna yet but will be there in September. I reserved a monastery room. Single room is reserved for 3 nights at €70/night. http://www.ospitalitasantommaso.com/wp/prenotazioni/

Have a great trip!!
Kathy

Thanks Kathy. I just sent a booking request to the monastery. I've put San Clemente on my list. The Capitoline looks close by, so I'll probably go there too. And at least one meal in Trastevere

Yes, I'm staying with Grace & Ricardo again and looking forward to seeing them. San Zaccaria noted.

The Querini Stampalia Foundation in Venice is worth a visit. A garden designed by Carlo Scarpa (google him) of Zen-like tranquility. Torcello is a favourite of ours.

In Bologna and Emilia-Romagna there are a lot of places to be visited.
As cities I suggest you to move toward Emilia, since you just visited Romagna's ones. So Modena and Parma, both deserve a full day. Emilia is even plenty of nice Middle age towns, villages and fortresses (Vignola, Vigoleno, Bardi, Castell'Arquato, Torrechiara, Fontanellato...). Unfortunately not served by train, except Vignola connected to Bologna by a local train. April could be nice to visit Vignola, mostly if you can do it at beginning of the month and during the week end, because there is the cherry blooming festival ("Festa della fioritura" is called in Italian): you can visit the fortress and enjoy the several stands to try some local food (including something that you seldom fine elsewhere, like Borlenghi, ciacci, calzagatti....).
If in general you like food I suggest you a food tour to visit some producers (Parmigiano-Reggiano, Ham, Traditional Balsamic vinegar...).
If you like cars and motors don't miss Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani museums and factory visits.
If you are into museums and art (not only paintings!) I suggest the one in Parma (Pilotta) and Modena (Gallerie Estensi).
If you are into music don't miss the Pavarotti museum near Modena and the Farnese theatre in Parma. Unfortunately the Verdi house is still closed.

Aussie, I'm glad you mentioned that. On my last visit, when Covid restrictions were slowly lifted, they wouldn't let me in because of a glitch in my vaccine certificate. I'd forgotten all about that. And the museum is around the corner from my B&B. Thanks!

Ricky What great information! I was considering Modena and Parma so it's good to know each is worth a full day. Do you have specific sight recommendations and/or tips? I'll do some research on Vignola, though I'll miss the cherry festival - my dates are 17th-23rd.

I'm not much of a foodie and I'm vegetarian, but I'm up for wine tasting, cheese tasting too.

Chani--we did this tour this past June. I really enjoyed it. We took a train to Parma and then a taxi to the site. There is a bus but we had trouble finding it. You have to go all the way down the hill in front of the train station. We took a bus back (there is a bus stop right in front of the cheese factory. We had the lunch after the tasting which was lovely.

https://www.caseificiougolotti.com/visite/

edit: here is my trip report which has a lot on places you are not visiting. But if you scroll down towards the end, you can see my description of visiting this cheese factory. It was one of my favorite things we did.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/northern-italy-trip-report-venice-padua-dolomites-and-bologna

Venice is also one of my favorite cities, and every time I visit I turn to this digital guide for inspiration of what to see this time around: https://www.cityscrolls.com/venice/unveiled/

Seeing that you're based in Tel Aviv, maybe you'd like to visit the Jewish Ghetto if you haven't yet. It's a bit of a walk from your B&B, but strolling through Venice is always a pleasure, and you can easily make detours along the way.

One of the most jaw-dropping experiences was an evening tour of St. Mark's. Totally different from visiting during the day... With only a few others around, you really feel the grandeur, and there's that moment when the ceiling mosaics light up from complete darkness... I'm not religious, and even I got serious goosebumps!

For Bologna and your daytrips, I highly recommend the Bradt guide to Emilia Romagna.

Beth I looked into the tour. After I registered, a notice popped up that it is "sold out" - without offering any booking dates. Perhaps it's only offered seasonally. I'll put it on my list to check again in the spring. I will read your entire trip report soon. Thank you!

Dan The digital guide looks intriguing and I can't wait to start exploring. Of course I've been to the Ghetto several times. I usually mooch a Friday night dinner and maybe drop in at the synagog for a bit on Shabbat morning.

I love the idea of seeing San Marco at night. Do you happen to now where to book it. I'd never heard of it before.

Thanks CD for the rec.

Chani (got inspired by your way of 'tagging' people in the absence of a proper @ tag) - I actually discovered it through the guide, on the page for St. Mark's. I see it's available on the main travel booking platforms and I remember booking with GYG back in April. An additional perk is that the tour also takes you to the underground crypt, which is off-limits to daytime visitors.

For Rome:

Centrale Montemartini (https://www.centralemontemartini.org/en/node/1011799) is a branch of the Capitoline Museums located down in Garbatella. There's a Metro station not too bad a walk away. The museum is in a redeveloped power station. It's mostly classical sculpture (not my thing), but there are also mosaics, something I love. There was a temporary mosaic exhibition running at the time of my visit, so I don't know how many of the mosaics are part of the permanently-displayed collection.

I'm also nuts for Art Nouveau architecture, so I loved Quartiere Coppede. It's a nice neighborhood for wandering if you have good weather. Geographically, it can be combined with a visit to the Borghese Gallery.

Post again after you've decided on where you'll be staying and I'll check my map to see whether there's something I enjoyed in the area. I stayed in Monti, which I really liked, but I will admit it's not necessarily an especially convenient place to be. I walked a lot, and some of those walks were really long. As you will already be aware, the Metro in Rome isn't as useful as Metros in other major cities.

Dan (I'm an influencer :-) !! I looked at a couple of links, it's pricey. Not sure I want to spend €140-150 for that experience. But thanks for the idea. It will remain in my head and I might opt for it.

acraven Hi Ann. I haven't found a place to stay yet. I contacted the monastery Kathy recommended but I haven't heard back. I love the Art Nouveau info. That's one reason I fell in love with Barcelona. Centrale Montemartini is on my maybes list now.

...if there's anything special you've done here...

We took the vaporetto over to Giudecca and strolled about this island. Quite a bit different than the main island, and provided a welcome relief from the crowds. One of the high lights was going up in the bell tower in the church there and looking back at the "main" part of Venice. Quite a sight.

You might also consider a day to to Verona and / Vecenza. With an early start and a late return, both can be visited in one (albeit rushed) day.

Wow, Chani, that’s a considerable increase in price from what I paid in April - it must’ve become a very popular tour. I paid a bit under 100 euwo - yes, still pricey - but imo totally worth it.

I like TC’s idea of exploring Giudecca as well. I’d say the eastern part of the island is much more interesting than the western end - with the exception of the famous Molino Stucky and its rooftop bar, which offers great views over the city.

On this note, something I enjoy doing everywhere I go is seeing the city from above (must be all those hikes in the Alps). And Venice is particularly spectacular because of its unique layout of canals and various landmarks you can spot. While most people head to St. Mark's Campanile or maybe San Giorgio, I'd recommend the balcony surrounding the large cupola of La Salute. Getting up there is an adventure in itself - but as an influencer, I'm guessing you're young enough that narrow, spiraling stairs won't scare you :) Once you're at the top, you're so high above (yet incredibly close) to Canal Grande and all that boat traffic to and from San Marco basin. It's captivating to watch all that spectacle and the couple of minutes you're allowed up there will pass in a blink of an eye.

+1 for Palazzo Massimo from me as well.

A somewhat similar place in Venice would be Palazzo Grimani - perhaps the only site in the lagoon with strong Roman influences.

The senior discount for trains still exists.

After some distractions, I am back to planning this trip. The monastery Kathy recommended was €100/night, but it took me 3 days to decide, by which time no single rooms were left, and a double at €170 wasn't in the cards. I ended up with an Airbnb about a 10 minute walk from the Galleria Borghese on a side street just off Via Veneto. It's a 4th floor with a balcony large enough for a table and 2 chairs. Reviews say it's a quiet street and it looks like there are several nearby restaurants. I believe the neighborhood is Ludovisi, a bit far from where I'd like to be, but that's what buses are for :-(

Thanks for the tips. If you have any more, please share.

Laurel Barton, who posts on this forum, also has a blog: Girovaga.com. Her most recent post is about "hidden Venice" and I found it very interesting. You might take a look.

Thanks Janet !

Just popping in to say, I was happy to read this thread and that you are heading out again.

Thanks, Tammy. And contributing to the Forum on other topics too - because of your encouragement.