I am traveling with my husband and daughter for 7 nights to Florence and Venice. Essentially would like to spend the day out somewhere without backtracking back to Florence in order to go onto Venice. We would like to stay one night someplace else, nearby. Our criteria is that it has to have hotels near the train station and plenty of stuff to see in a walkable distance since we won't have time to navigate a large area. Or if anyone knows a town that has a bus tour that leaves from the train station. We're looking for a place that's beautiful, easy and not too expensive. We have looked in the guidebooks noting Bologna, Padua, Verona, Vicenza. Are any of you are familiar with these towns? Any other suggestions? Dining and lodging recommendations in these towns would also be appreciated. Also, churches are not a priority for us. We have seen so many throughout Europe...
Thanks.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
Verona and Padua are really nice towns - but I'd stop in Bologna for the food alone.
Posted by
Chicago
8233 posts
Vicenza is nice town break from tourist crowds of Verona Florence and Venice.
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
Padua (Padova) and Vicenza are ideal day trips from Venice, being only 30 and 45 mins away on regular (and cheap) Regionale trains.
Go to Bologna. Hotels at a few minutes from the railway station. Very manageable city centre. And indeed a relief from the crowds in Florence and Venice.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
In addition to the places mentioned above (all good), look at Ferrara, which is between Florence and Venice on the direct trains (no backtracking). It's lovely, complete with castle and moat, and locals use bicycles to get around the center. Plus, there are almost no tourists, which will be a relief after Florence and before Venice.
I also like Padova a lot. Verona is nice, but more touristed, and I'm one of the few people who didn't care for Bologna. I haven't been to Vicenza (on my list for next time).
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16209 posts
Padua and Bologna are stops along the way. Ferrara is too, although not all trains stop there. Verona is a slight detour. All are worth a visit, although Verona or Bologna would probably be my choices.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1898 posts
Verona for the sights, Bologna for the food.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
I didn't find Bologna all that charming, either. But even though I found plenty of charm elsewhere in Italy, I've never found better food in Italy than what I had in Bologna.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
"I've never found better food in Italy than what I had in Bologna."
This is a great example of how everyone can have different experiences of the same place. I certainly had excellent food in Bologna, but it was not "better" than food I've had in lots of other places in Italy. Turin, Cremona, Taormina, and Varenna come to mind right away as places with food that was just as good as what I had in Bologna.
If Bologna seems of interest to you, you should definitely go. Most people like it more than I did, and it's certainly central for daytrips to lots of places like Parma, Ferrara, Modena, and Ravenna.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15798 posts
And I loved the atmosphere in Bologna, but one of the meals I had there (at a restaurant recommended by my hotel) was downright dismal. On the other hand, I found a wonderful place for all-natural granite, though maybe not a priority in January :-)