We are finalizing our trip and have 2 unplanned days between Venice and the Cinque Terre. We will have a car and can drive to quaint out-of-the-way places. We are thinking of stopping for a couple of hours in Padua but are uncertain where to go after that. Do you recommend Ravenna? Also, how long would it take to drive from Venice to Ravenna if we stop in Padua for a short visit? Any advice is appreciated! (Also we visited Florence by train recently and are open to driving through if there is another area recommended nearby accessible by car.)
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Of all the cities/towns in Italy you picked the two where cars are totally useless...Venice and Cinque Terre.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Adding to what Tim says, you don't want to drive in Florence either.
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1003 posts
I, too, can't imagine why you'd want a car for that route, but anyway... how about somewhere in Emilia-Romagna? I haven't been to Ravenna so I can't say, but Bologna and Parma are both lovely, unique, and pretty non-touristy, and the food, oh the food. And 2 days would be enough to get a good feel for either. But Bologna is just as car un-friendly as Florence and it's a complete waste in Parma too.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Yep. Let's go over this one more time. Many long-time travelers to Italy adopt this as a rule of thumb: In Italy, if trains go there, the quality of your vacation experience will probably be increased if you seriously consider taking the train.
Get over the fact that you're from western North America and may never have taken a train. It's going to be all right. Renting a car in Italy makes sense for the few areas that aren't well served by trains, such as Tuscany. But if you are renting a car in Italy because that's what you do over here, your first trip to Italy may be the last one where you rent a car for everywhere.
It's different over there. Once you've been there, you'll understand.
Posted by
OP
Metairie, LA
7 posts
This trip we're flying into Munich (great airfare) and traveling to Salzburg, Venice, Cinque Terre, Provence (Les Baux de Provence), then Chamonix on our way back to Munich. It will be for 2 weeks but our last trip was by train from Rome, Florence, and ending in Paris. We're hoping to stay in areas off the beaten path and appreciate everyone's advice. Thanks to all!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17442 posts
Karen, do you want to stay in one place for those 2 nights, or do a nice route with one night each in 2 places along the way?
We really enjoyed the drive between Venice and Lago di Garda, going by way of Trento, past Asolo, then to Riva di Garda, with a detour into the Brenta Dolomites. We stayed on the lake at Malcescine, which is a lovely little town with a cobblestone pedestrian area and a castle. From there you could continue down the lake and connect to the CT area through Parma.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
27 posts
Ravenna is awesome. Fabulous mosaics. A great place to spend a day or 2.
Posted by
Fremont, Mi, USA
74 posts
We took the train from Venice to the Cinque Terre to years ago and it was great. A very relaxing way to get from one to the other.
Posted by
San Diego, CA, USA
7 posts
Since you have the car, take the two days and do the Tuscan hill towns, like Montalcino, Pienza, Montepulciano, Siena etc. Stay in an agriturismo and enjoy la vita dolce.