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Where to go with just an extra 3 days in Italy

Posted by on

My family and I have plans to spend a week in Tuscany with friends the last week of June/first of July 2025. We will end in Rome for 2 days and are looking for the best way to spend about 3 days in Italy before going to Tuscany near Cortona. We could fly into Milan and then head to Cortona via a few days in Bologna, Parma, and Modena, or we could go to Venice for a few days and head from there to Cortona, possibly with a stop in Ravenna? We are happy to travel by train though could possibly rent a car. We love food, culture, history, art, nature and tend to prefer the off the beaten path authentic local experiences when possible. There is so much to see and do in Italy we are just trying to figure out the way to maximize our snippets of time. Any suggestions are very welcome.

Thank you!

Virginia

Posted by
7877 posts

If your priority is off the beaten path, then I would avoid your Venice & Ravenna option.

Here’s a few others to consider that all have wonderful food & authentic atmosphere:
Cremona - especially if you like violins, the town of Stradivari
Mantova
Torino, if you like excellent museums & palaces

A close one to Cortona is Arezzo.

Posted by
5097 posts

Any of those options would be good--just one destination though, as two full days is really not that much. Yeah those are not off the beaten path, but I would not let that be the deciding factor since you have the week for that balance.
Have you polled the group?
Do you plan to get a car for your time in Cortona or is that part covered?

Posted by
8322 posts

You could fly into Florence and do that city if not already in your Tuscany itinerary.

Also, you could visit Umbria, not far from Tuscany. Take in Perugia, Spoleto, Assisi and Spello.

Posted by
725 posts

The Ravenna mosaics are beautiful. I very much enjoyed seeing them. If you have never been to Venice that is a good option. Ferrara is also on that route.

If you fly into Milano look at a visit to Bergamo or one of the lakes. Verona is also a great destination with lots to see and do and from Verona you could do a daytrip up to Sirmione on Lake Garda and see its picturesque castle. Have you been to Florence?

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