Visiting Parma and Ravenna?

Hi Carol, the mosaics in Ravenna are wonderful! They are spread around several sites in town, all easy to walk to, plus one or two outside of town, a short bus ride. On a day trip, I stuck to the sites in town. Ravenna is very flat and easily walkable. There are also more bicyclists of all ages than I've seen anywhere outside of China, using their bikes for basic transportation not just recreation, so I imagine you could rent a bike if you like. I would advise you have a book with pictures or guide to really understand and appreciate the mosaics, especially at the Basilica di San Vitale. As a book, I recommend "Ravenna, Capital of Mosaics", a largish paperback by Salbaroli Publications, available in English, which has many large and excellent photographs. I bought mine in Ravenna. Ravenna is just a one hour regional train ride from Bologna. The station is about a ten minute walk from the center of town. I actually made a day trip from Verona, a little long, and stopped in Bologna for a quick ok and bolognese dinner. A leisurely overnight in Ravenna, and clearly more time in Bologna, would be even better. Had lunch at the very traditional and fun Ca de Ven in Ravenna.

You can have Bologna as a base. Last year I ended a trip there and found the city so agreeable that I plan to have it as a start for my next Italy trip. Ravenna is under 1,5 hrs from Bologna by frequent regionale trains. Parma is less than one hour away and Ferrara not even half an hour.

carol,

Ravenna would be a great stop for a few days, both to see the Mosaics as well as explore the town a bit. It's very easy to reach by train (that's the method I used). I stayed at Hotel Italia, which is only about a five minute walk from the train station.

We're also train travelers. We loved both Ferarra and Ravena - haven't been to Parma. We weren't so taken with Bologna, but maybe we need to give it another chance. Happy planning!

Hi Carol, have you also considered Verona? It's a wonderful town with a Roman arena, Romeo & Juliet "balcony" and nice piazzas. It's on the main train route from Venice to Milan. We stayed there for 3 days before joining a RS trip in Italy, and really enjoyed the town.

Padua has the beautiful Scrovengi Chapel and a nice museum & St. Antonio's cathedral. We stayed there 5 days (took some day trips). I would rate Verona over Padua.

We're going to Parma this year. I booked a room at Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati. They've been very nice to contact me with some nice suggestions - even though I booked their room through Expedia.

We stayed in Bologna two days. Our personal impression was that it didn't have the character that we enjoyed so much in the other towns.

I ditto everything that has been said about Ravenna. I've been there twice, and it wouldn't take much to persuade me to make another visit.
Parma is also a lovely town. It's, of course, a beacon for good eating. The duomo has a wonderful dome frescoed by Corregio, and the baptistery is exquisite.
Like several others, I wasn't grabbed by Bologna.

I love Bologna, and it makes a great base because of excellent transportation connections. I was last there during university graduations, and the new PhDs were walking around wearing laurel wreaths. A few nice museums and very good shopping around Piazza Cavour. And the food!

My favorite places nearby are Ravenna, Padova, Ferrara, Parma, Verona, Modena.

The Juliet thing in Verona is truly a tourist trap, but there are quotes from the play scattered all over the city, including one by Romeo on one of the city gates that begins, "There is no world without Verona's walls..."

Okay, here's your problem - there are simply too many great towns to visit in one trip. You'll enjoy all of them.

My personal favorite is Verona. Padua didn't "do it for me" but it certainly has worthy sights enough to fill a full day, and of course Giotto's Scrovegni Chapel frescoes. Ravenna is a lovely little town and the mosaics are breathtaking. An overnight is better than a day trip (from Ferrara or Bologna), but a day trip is better than nothing. If you go, be sure to take the bus (or bike) to nearby Classe for the mosaics there too. I enjoyed Ferrara's sights and it's nearly carless in the old center (everyone rides bikes there), but an overnight stay was enough for me. I also enjoyed being in Bologna very much and it's so convenient for day trips.

Thanks so much for all the replies! There ARE too many beautiful places to visit! We were in Verona last March and loved it! We also visited Bologna in 2013 and it wasn't a favorite. Maybe it was because we were there on a Sunday so not everything was open but it is a great hub for trains. I think we will try to visit Parma and Ravenna. As our plans materialize, I'm sure I'll be back on the forum with more questions! Thanks again!
Carol