Soliciting Suggestions for 15 Day Mid May trip to Northern Italy

I haven't been to Verona (yet) myself, but have been reading great things about it on this forum - have also learned that it has buses to various towns on Lake Garda.

I can second the recommendation for Verona. We spent three nights there in 2012 and really enjoyed our time there. The Piazza Bra is great for people watching and just hanging out.

Buon viaggio,

Do you have two weeks again next year?
Below are some of the top destinations popular with the Rick Steves' tribe.
LAKE MAGGIORE and LAKE ORTA.
This destination is really close to the Malpensa airport, therefore it could be a good choice for a few days before your flight back. I recommend Stresa as a base to visit the Borromee islands, Cannobio, Orta San Giulio (on lake Orta), maybe Locarno (CH) and the Centovalli railway to Domodossola.
LAKE COMO
Mid lake is the best IMO. Varenna, Menaggio and Bellagio are the top towns in that area. But there are numerous more which are less known and smaller. Varenna is Rick Steves' favorite. Laglio is George Clooney's favorite. The Como branch is prettier than the Lecco branch.
LAKE GARDA (aka "Il Mare dei Tedeschi", or the "Germans' Sea")
Closer to the Dolomites and to Verona. My favorite part is the north lake (Malcesine, Limone, Riva, Torri, and many more) particularly because of the majestic mountains rising up from the lake. The lake is very popular with German tourists and the south lake is more full of tourists, especially Sirmione (pretty by crowded like Disneyland). Peschiera is a nice big town on the south side which has a train station. Verona is just minutes away by train (in case you don't have a car, this is a good base).
DOLOMITES
Beautiful everywhere. But I fell in love with the Val Gardena in youth, and it's still my favorite (you know about the first love). Ortisei is the biggest village in that valley. Cortina is also nice, but I can't stand the stuffy billionaires hanging out there.
NORTHERN CITIES
Venice, Verona and Padua are the best in Veneto. However, if you are into Palladian architecture, or if you like feline cuisine (gatto arrosto) Vicenza is for you. Bergamo and Mantua are probably the best in Lombardy (you've seen Milan already). The Certosa of Pavia is also a popular destination.
Emilia has several pretty cities: Bologna, Parma, Ravenna, Ferrara are probably the top choices.

Two weeks is not enough to see everything listed above. I would recommend a minimum of 3 nights for each location. For the cities I would visit only 2 or 3, preferably from one base.

A rental car is a good idea for the lakes and the Dolomites.

if you have a car, and are headed towards the dolomites, consider adding this as an afternoon stop http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/825/ ancient mosaics.......

I can also affirm that mid lake Como is lovely, we took the train up from Milan and rented an apt....

Verona is one of my favorites. Look at the Verona Card website for the attractions. As RB said, it's really lovely at night, after dinner when the locals come out for the passegetta (sp?).

I really enjoyed my first visit to Bologna (this spring). There are no "major" sights but it's got a different look and feel than other cities. It's a very good base for day trips by train to Padua, Ferrara, Ravenna (stupendous mosaics).

Thank you to everyone for their prompt and informative suggestions!

If anyone has recommendations on outstanding lodging suggestions they've enjoyed
in Northern Italy, please share them.
We prefer B & B's, agriturismo, or small hotels . Its a great way to meet people
and assimilate the culture.

Best!

Hi Richard,

My suggestion would be to visit the Dolomites as close to the end of your trip as possible and preferably have a car for your visit. Cable cars generally do not open this early, but one in the Val Gardena does open by mid May, this being the Mont Seuc/Seiser Alm cable car from Ortisei (Val Gardena) up to the beautiful Seiser Alm/Alpe di Siusi. You can walk (paved paths), hike or just soak up the amazing Dolomite scenery.

www.alpedisiusi-seiseralm.com/index.html

As where to base, that's tough. We like the Val Gardena and our stay at the Garni Ariston in St. Christina, but loved our two stays in the Alta Badia at the Ciasa Montanara in La Villa. The Gardena Pass (terrific drive among stunning, up close Dolomite peaks) connects (or separates) the Val Gardena and Alta Badia. Even though most cable cars are closed at this time, driving a few passes gets you up close to all the amazing scenery. There are plenty of passes to drive (Gardena, Sella, Pordoi, Campolongo, Giau, Falzarego, etc ) and stop along in a relatively small area based in either the Val Gardena or Alta Badia.

www.garniariston.com
www.montanara.it

For up close spectacular views of the Dolomites by car, this is our own "Best of the Dolomites Drive". It can easily be done in a day and covers drives over 4 Dolomite Passes.

It can be started/ended from any point really, but I'll use Val Gardena:

Head to Selva and over the amazing Gardena Pass to Colfosco and Corvara (Alta Badia). Here, take the Campolongo Pass to Arabba. From Arraba take the Pordoi Pass towards Canazei. Before you get to Canazei, take the Sella Pass (or stop in Canazei and go back a bit to continue). Take the Sella Pass and at the end, get right on the Gardena Pass (they branch off one another) towards Selva and the Val Gardena. There's a cafe/restaurant/rest stop at the "top" of the Gardena, Sella and Pordoi Passes. You'll also notice a few small places to park along the passes to get out and walk among the Dolomite peaks.

For some info and photo's of the passes, check out:

www.alpineroads.com/dolomites.php

Some are listed under the German and or Italian name:
Gardena Pass - Grödnerjoch
Sella Pass - Sellajoch
Pordoi Pass - Passo di Pordoi
Campolongo Pass - Passo di Campolongo

Rainy day options could include the old towns of Bozen/Bolzano (and the excellent exhibit on the "Ice Man" at the Museum of Archaeology) or Brixen/Bressanone (and another good museum, the Diocean Museum). There's also Klausen/Chiusa, Sterzing/Vipiteno and even Bruneck/Brunico.

www.bolzano-bozen.it/en/
www.brixen.org

We have photo's of our Dolomite trips, among others, at:

www.flickr.com/photos/pjbassplyr/sets

Paul

In Ortisei, very close to the Mont-Seuc lift mentioned by Paul is Hotel Garni Walter. This is a family run hotel with a great breakfast. Georg and Sylvia will make you feel very welcome. We always use public transportation, but the hotel has parking.