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Two Weeks by Train - avoiding major cities

I've visited most larger and popular cities in Europe and for the last few years, I've been visiting smaller cities and towns when I visit. I'm in the planning phase for my vacation in the fall of 2024 and thinking I will travel in mid-September. I have a tentative plan but open to any suggestions and comments. I prefer to use public transportation. Here it goes....

Fly to Milan and take the train directly from the airport to Varenna (Lake Como) for four nights
Take the train from Varenna to Reggio Emilia for four nights with day trips to Parma, Modena and Ferrara or another nearby location.
Take the train to Lucca for three nights and do a day trip to Cinque Terre OR go to Cinque Terre for three nights.
End in Milan or Florence for flights - I may stay two nights or add a night to one of the above and just spend one night.

Please provide any comments or suggestions. Thank you in advance.

Posted by
1253 posts

Cinque Terre is not a major city but people have been saying its been very crowded, and is likely to be so in September. How about a nearby alternative? We visited Lerici about 10 miles south after reading a NYT article about it (behind paywall). Or for a town slightly to the north see the recent thread about Santa Margherita Ligure.

Posted by
2309 posts

Lerici doesn't have a train station but there are buses.