Venice to Rome via Bologna/Ravenna

Rick doesn't cover Bologna in his books, which may be one reason it doesn't get much discussion here. Go here for a prior discussion of Bologna: http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/17362/bologna.html

I'd not skip Bologna for Perugia. Bologna is easily within reach from Venezia and to Rome (2h10 high-speed trains, 20 departures daily). From Roma Termini, you can take the Leonardo Express train to FCO. Stay in a place near the Due Torri. Bologna is not a particularly touristic city (one of the most overlooked IMO), though it has countless attractions and a medieval core that is very, very interesting. Avoid staying in business hotels in Quarto Superiore or near the highway, they will be very inconvenient to reach without a car.

No on Perugia instead of Bologna. There are 20+ trains daily from Bologna to Roma Termini. Use this Monday 9/13/2010 as your departure day to get an idea of service. You are probably looking at your actual travel date in trenitalia.

No, I'm using a Sunday (the day of the week we'll leave in April) in case the weekend schedule is different, but just a Sunday later in September. At any rate, it is clear that Bologna is the better choice over Perugia, so I'm going to go with it, knowing the transportation is plentiful. Again, thanks to all three of you, Kent, Ron, and Andre, for your valuable input.

Bologna is a lovely destination and has lots to offer. With just an overnight, I don't think I would try to add in Ravenna. on another note.... from your question, it appears that you are planning on leaving Venice or Bologna and making it to Rome FCO for a noon departure. Is that correct? I don't think that is a realistic expectation. Can you fly home from Venice? If you are locked into a Rome/Rome flight, then put the Rome portion of your trip at the end to be closer to the airport for departure.

Kent, I know that Rick doesn't cover much for Bologna or another destination city, Genova, but since many contributors to this site have been there, are well-travelled, and experienced in getting around, this forum still seems like a great resource. I have looked at archived Bologna posts. As far as those last days of the trip Ron, we were going to end with four nights in Venice, leaving Sunday, overnight in Rome on Monday, departing noon on Tuesday. I'm thinking to cut Venice to three nights, and have one night in Bologna, Sunday, return to Rome Monday, leave Tuesday morning. That would give us a good 24 hours in Bologna, with two partial days and the overnight. Ravenna probably not practical, admitted. Every plan leaves SOMETHING short-changed. So, the train or bus south is what I'd like to be certain of. I haven't gotten proficient at Italian transportation sites and will work on that. Am I correct in thinking I could get a train Venice to Bologna that would take a couple hours, and then Bologna to Rome in what, about four hours? Get us back to Rome in time to see a bit more there before departing the next morning. High speed trains? They must still let you see the same places from the windows, just not as many stops?

The train from Venice to Bologna leaves several times a day from Venice Santa Lucia. On the fast eurostar it takes about an hour 20 and costs 28 euro for 2nd class.................... Same thing for Bologna / Rome, several trains daily and the eurostar takes about 2 hours 20 and costs 58 euro for 2nd class.

Thanks, Ron. Do the zippy Eurostars and the slow trains operate out of the same stations (at these places in particular, but all over the country in general)? Do both types of train travel the same routes, with the difference being slower speed and more stops on the slower train? So that (it feels a little silly to ask) would we see the same sights on the fast or slow trains? The specific information in your post was helpful and appreciated.

Yes the trains are at the same stations and if not on the same tracks they are generally the same routes. Some of the newer eurostar services can reach up to 360 km/hour. Other eurostars hit 200 -250 kmph. Generally speaking there are three levels of trains in Italy on Trenitalia, the state railway system. there are the eurostars, the fastest and most luxurious cars and the most expensive. they other first and second class seats. Many people say second class is more than adequate. The IC (intercity) trains are the next level, slower, more stops, etc. first and second class here too. The last is an R train (regional), slowest, hits every stop, less generously appointed and usually limited on the overall length of the run. www.trenitalia.it is fairly easy to use, there is an english option. Most US credit cards won't work for purchasing tickets, but getting them in Italy is perfectly fine. When using trenitalia's website, the distant dates are usually not loaded into the system, so use a date in the current month that is the same day of the week as your future travel and you'll get info.

THAT helped, thanks. Now the information on the site just seems clearer and feels more accessible, following your explanation of much of the same material. The one thing I noted, is that the only option for going to Rome from Bologna seems to be the intercity bus, whereas from Perugia the Eurostar goes to Rome. Do you know Perugia and Bologna, by any chance? Should we just go to Perugia for our one night instead of Bologna?