After wrapping up some business in Zurich, I plan to spend 9 nights -- the first 3 nights in Varenna (Hotel Olivedo) and the last 4 nights in Venice (La Locandiera. That leaves 2 nights in between. My original plan was to go from Varenna to the CT for 2 nights then on to Venice, but that seems like a lot of traveling for only one full day in the CT, so I am considering spending the 2 nights in Padua, Vicenza or Verona before heading into Venice. Any thoughts?
Posted by
Newburyport, MA
683 posts
We have been to both Vicenza and Verona. Both are great places but we would give the edge to Verona bcuz it has more to see and is bigger and has nicer surroundings. You are right that CT is out of your way
Posted by
Arroyo Grande, California, USA
24 posts
We left Venice and stopped in Verona for 1 night...no reservations. We found Hotel Torcolo from rick's book and we had a lovely room....good little breakfast and a wonderful host who made personal reservations with the chef of a good restaurant ( Greppia )to provide us with a marvelous t-Bone steak ! We were impressed with the town, lots to see, less busy and had a very charming feel. It is very convenient from Venice or Varenna.
Posted by
Wilmington, DE, USA
712 posts
We just did Rome, Cinque Terra, then Venice in Sept. The CT was really out of the way. our original plan was to stay in the Venice area. Rent a car and go to Lake Garda and then the Dolomites, and then see Venice. It probably would have been less hectic to concentrate in the areas near Venice and rent a car, but #1 I did not want my husband to drive in Italy from stories I read about Italian drivers, and #2 this was my husband's first time in Italy and with his love of history I knew he had to see Rome at least one time in his life. A friend suggested CT and my husband got exicited from their pictures and the idea of hiking all the trails. We loved our trip, but it was alot of train traveling with trains being late and one engine breaking down on the way from CT to Venice. It turned our train travel that day into a 8 hour many local train change. We were unable to make planned trains. I'd skip the CT this trip and find something you are interested in Between Varenna and Venice.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
If you'll have been in Varenna, you'll have had a lakeshore experience. So I wouldn't go to Lake Garda afterwards.
Verona, Vicenza and Padua are all great. In fact, if you stay in Verona you could stop in one of the others on your way to Venice. I think Verona is where I would want to spend a couple of nights. The midieval center is larger than the others, there are more piazzas, etc.
But after a full day in Verona, get up early and try to spend a few hours in either Vicenza or Padua. Both are along the rail line to Venice.