Sharing My Italy Itinerary! Part 1 and 2

Since you’re leaving in a few days, I’ll just say “Have a fantastic time!” You’ve been looking forward to this trip for a long time, so I hope everything goes very well! Expect crowds at the popular locations.

“ San Gimignano for a full day....”. If that’s in the town, you’ll only need an hour max.

PART II...

1 day in Valpolicella. A wedding (!!!) of a friend's daughter. Very very nice plans.
A driver will take me to Verona for the evening. The Italian police do not play about that drinking and driving. Neither do I!

3 Full nights in Verona. 4 Full days. I am solo for two days and nights as I have tickets to the 100th Arena di Verona Opera Festival. Can you believe, no one wanted to go? Me neither. Laughs.... I am a subscriber at home, so to not go was unthinkable! Any who.... I am excited about this part of my travels and about my alone time. Note to self: plan to attend more operas while on vacation. SMILE.
Then, half way through my Verona respite, a wild and life-loving friend joins me!

5 Full nights and 5 days in Venice. Lots of museums, restaurants, and a few tickets to evening classical music performances. At home, we have season tickets to the SF and Berkeley Symphony's, so this will be so much fun. She loves to dress up everyday-just as much as I do.
Day trip to Murano and Burano. Padua day trip (I know...choices). All good.

3 Full Nights and 4 full days in Bologna. A slower pace. A full day Cooking class...lots to see and lots of time to just be. An old old friend joins us. They overlap for a day. The energy between them is exact opposite. One is extravagant and a riot of FUN and the other is super duper conservative. Both are well-traveled. One travels with tons of suitcases like me and the other prides herself on traveling with just one pull case. I love them both!

3 Full nights and 3 days in Modena!!! I am excited because on the way, I get a day with the other things I love: fast cars and fine men. Yes. You guessed it! I have tickets for the Maserati, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Ducati Museums. This is a dream day and night. I told my conservative friend, who promptly opted out of this day of memories, please do not wait up for me. GRIN.

2 Full nights and 3 days in Parma. We are carrying our forks and cloths napkins with us day and night! Laughs.... Actually staying on a farm in Parma... Funny!

An early start for a day spent in five churches in Ravenna. Time again for Vacation Baby Jesus! He will probably want to discuss a few vacation-related things with me...(I HOPE!!). GRIN.

2 Nights in Rimini. Laying on the beach and sleeping when not cocktailing....

2 nights in Assisi. Just because this journey is a pilgrimage of many sorts. Gotta end it right! WINK.

Cheers!

Thank you, Jean!

You are so sharp. I am on the fence about a full day in SG... I'll take another look.

Enjoy- you have waited a long time. We just returned, and experienced heavy rain for more than 50% of our trip, so were in lemonade - making mode much of the time. Just be prepared with full-length packable raincoats, ( umbrellas were useless), use water proof spray on your shoes, and perhaps an additional light- weight rain poncho, altho these were sold everywhere on the streets. Italy had been in a drought, then it started raining and raining, much like what happened in southern CA this past winter. There was flooding in the north, but that has abated. Italy is experiencing truly unseasonable weather!
Several days the ferries were canceled in Sorrento/ Amalfi Coast.
We had a good time, but it was a different trip than expected. I truly wish you a great trip with beautiful weather, but be prepared ! Also, mask up, I know, no one wants to hear that, but COVID is still an issue. You probably won't get severely ill, but who wants to be sick on an Italian trip?
Safe travels!

I’ve attended the opera at Verona - wonderful experience to be there under the stars. Bring a light wrap or sweater. Mine ended between midnight or 1pm, I think, and it was nice to extend the ambiance afterwards in Piazza Bra.

I’ve also attended an opera at La Fenice in Venice. I didn’t go in Milan because I wanted to stay my last night near the airport, but check their schedule, too. Also look at what’s happening at the theatre at Parma. I like the Forchetta restaurant there, and Parma has my favorite cathedral interior.

Hello Pat,

Thank you for you good wishes and great packing advice.
The weather everywhere is very unpredictable.

Have a wonderful summer.

Cheers!

Hello Jean,

I am SO excited about the Opera in Verona. That I get that day to myself just adds to the intrigue and more. I am 95% packed, so your and Pat's wardrobe call outs are timely.
I have added Piazza Bra to my manifest, too!

My friend wants to add a second concert in Venice, but I told her I'm all booked out. Laughs.... I am!
My time in Milan (earlier in my journey) allows me to book something on one of my free evenings. I had not considered your suggestion. Thank you. My friend meeting me there will like this, too.

While in Parma, I hope to be wrapped in some fine Italian man's arms.... (LAUGHS!!) That said, my friend with me in Parma and I have requested a dinner reservation at La Forchetta (The Fork of Parma)!! We did score a reservation confirmation for here, too: Ristorante Inkiostro.

I believe after the arm-wrapping, this too will become my favorite (confessional) Cathedral : Cattedrale di Parma. She is stunningly beautiful!

Cheers

Oops,
I googled Piazza Bra RESTAURANT-in BRA, Italy (I will be there, too).

Laughs.... Of course Piazza Bra in Verona-everyday.

Would you please share your restaurant plans for Bologna-we’ll be there in October. Also what tour operator (if any) are you using to go to the Ferrari factory/museum?