Where to Spend 3 Nights Between Florence and Venice

It’s nice to see that you have planned ample time in Florence and Venice. So congratulations on that decision! So many travelers spend 1 night at each destination and then don’t really see much of anything.

Bologna might not need 3 nights on its own, but it is a good hub for day trips. I had initially thought to use it as a hub, and then decided to look at Ferrara instead. A little smaller, but a walled city with nice walking areas. If interested in architecture, Padua or Vicenza are good locations for considering Palladian architecture and villas. If still running, you could look at the schedule of the Brenta Canal boat as your transport from Padua to Venice.
There are numerous options with few wrong choices. Rick doesn't give much time or write up about that area, but other travel books do. It may be worth your while to check out a book or two from your library and decide what appeals to you.

For a day trip consideration, Ravenna is reknowned for its Byzantine mosaics.

I think your idea of Verona is a good one. It's different from Florence or Venice and yet has a lot to offer. You could day trip to Vicenza while there (about 40 minutes on inexpensive regional trains). You could stop in Padua on your way from Verona to Venice, or visit Padua as a day trip from Venice (30 minutes by train). I like Bologna but some people don't, so I hesitate to recommend it. Ferrara has recently been getting a lot of good comments and might be another city to consider along the Florence-Venice rail line. You're definitely on the right track with your planning.

I’ve done this two different ways:

• Bologna with day trips to Parma and Ravenna
• Vicenza with day trips to Verona and Padova

Bologna is a large city that is great for a day. The mosaics in Ravenna are spectacular. Food, the Cathedral and baptistery and the Farnese Theatre and Museum in Parma are wonderful.

Vicenza is a small, manageable city with the great architecture of Palladio, especially the Teatro Olimpico, Villa Valmarana and La Rotonda. It’s a short train ride to Verona and Padova. Verona has the well restored Roman amphitheater. Padova has the Scrovegni Chapel, Basilica of St. Anthony and Rick has good walking tours of both cities in his guidebook.

I think that Verona would be a good choice. Lots to see and do in Verona. You could even do a daytrip to beautiful Sirmione and its castle on Lake Garda or over to Vicenza for a day. We went to Sirmione as a daytrip from Verona last spring and took the public bus. It was easy but did involve a fair amount of walking from the bus drop off and pick up point, into the actual town. You could take a taxi into town itself. I was wowed by both Verona and Sirmione. I personally liked Verona better than Padua but that is a matter of opinion. I didn't dislike Padua, I just didn't like it as much as I had anticipated. Padua could also be done as a daytrip from Venice.

You said you wanted something slightly different. You could consider Ferrara. It is on your route to Venice. I liked Ferrara very much. It was very pretty, also has its own castle right in heart of town. Much less crowded. A possible daytrip from Ferrara could be to the small picturesque town of Monselice. (Actually closer to Padua so consider it too as a daytrip if you choose Padua.)

Another option would be to travel to Ravenna on the coast and see the mosaics. All of your options are great choices so you cannot go wrong.

Thank you all for the wonderful ideas!