Single Senior Lady - Travel in Northern Italy Suggestions

The lake region is certainly beautiful. Also, Verona, Bolzano, Castelrotto might be great destinations for you.

I loved the Dolomites in mid-summer. I'm not sure what sort of weather you could expect in April. Bolzano (not in the mountains) does have a number of worthwhile museums for bad-weather days, including the one housing the Iceman.

Between Verona and Venice there are the attractive cities of Padua (larger) and Vicenza (smaller).

Bergamo is an easy side-trip from Milan.

Go to Venice, you won't be disappointed.

I had another thought. Switzerland.

I'm a not-quite-senior woman and I very much enjoyed my solo travels to Padua and Trieste. Venice was more of a mixed bag - fascinating place, and lots to see but solo senior women seem to be invisible - or worse - to waiters there. If you go and stay overnight, book a full service hotel and ask them to make restaurant reservations for you.

the lakes are so lovely. sermione on lake garda is a special place and can be reached by train. verona, venice, too.

Of the spots that I know, I would certainly recommend Varenna on Lake Como, and various places on Lake Garda. Of all of the many places I have been in Italy, I think Verona best combines an ancient city with a very modern lifestyle, and is a very enjoyable place to stay for a few days. Easy day trips from Verona to Lake Garda, Vicenza, Padua and others, even to Venice if you want to do that as a day trip. If you have never been to Venice I would certainly recommend a few days there, including the lagoon islands of Burano, Torcello, etc. So much depends on your own individual interests.

If I had 20 nights to mooch around the north of Italy.

Verona (3 nights)
- possible days to Mantova, Vicenza, Lake Garda

Venice (4 nights)
- possible day to Padova, Murano+Burano

Bologna (4 nights)
- possible days to Ravenna, Ferrara, Parma, Modena

Florence (5 nights)
- possible days to Siena, Lucca, Pisa

Milan (4 nights)
- possible days to Lake Como, Bergamo

I would also vote for a few days on Lake Como at Varenna. It's so easy to get to from Milan, the train is only about an hour, and then you can go by boat to visit Bellaggio and other places around the lake (I believe also Villa Carlotta). It is stunningly beautiful there.

We stayed up at the Eremo Gaudio, but it's very high up (we had a car) but the view is absolutely spectacular.

If you don't want to rent a car, you'll want to stay in the town, I'm sure there are plenty of recommendations here on the Forum of other favorite hotels.

You can get to the major lakes, but I would also carve out time for Ravenna, Ferrara, Padova...David's itinerary suggestions are very good.

From another single, senior woman to another: Go to, at least, one lake. My favorite lake is Maggiorie (on the border with Switzerland). Stresa and Cannobio are great towns around the lake. You are also close to Locarno, Switzerland. You can ride the ferry to islands on the lake for lunch or touring the mansions and museums on various other islands. Can also do a daily trip that encompasses train and ferry travel with lunch on the train. Verona is also a great city to visit that is close to Milan by train. Great Roman ruins and amphitheater, good walking city with two wonderful piazzas...Bra and Erbe for shopping, people watching and strolling. Cooking classes are another great thing to do. I took one in Lucca on my birthday a few years ago and it was wonderful. Most memorable day of my trip. Bologna is another favorite city of mine. Great university city with wonderful food.
David had great suggestions for dividing your time, as well.

I'll join the chorus. Well done, David. I would try to spend 1-2 nights in Ravenna to give you enough time to see all the sights and enjoy this pleasant quiet town. Verona's one of my favorites. I could easily spend a week in Venice, enjoyed Bologna and Ferrara. If you enjoy Renaissance painting, sculpture and/or architecture, you'll want 3 full days in Florence. If not, you can see the highlights in a day trip from Siena or Bologna.

Someone mentioned Switzerland and the Dolomites. April is not a good time to go, too late for skiing, too early for hiking, and a lot of the cable cars and tbars are down for annual maintenance.

I would definitely spend a day on Lake Como. Use Bellagio as your base and take the ferry around the lake getting off at whichever town(s) strike your fancy. Bellagio is a great place to buy silk.

You might also consider seeing Da Vinci's Last Supper (Il Cenacolo) while in Milan. If you do decide to see it be sure to reserve your ticket months in advance - it is very popular.