We will be traveling from Paris to Bologna end of Sept., ending our trip in Rome. Since Paris & Rome can be busy & urban (been to both cities many times), we are thinking perhaps staying in a nearby town instead. Looking for food, local vibes, accessible trains. Will be there 4 days. Thank you!
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188 posts
spent a month in Northern Italy with Bologna one of the cities I visited. I love, love love Bologna. to Rome many times and to Paris sometimes 2x a year. Bologna is not to be missed and it should be experienced in the Old Town or city center. Stay in rather than out.
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San Diego, California, USA
874 posts
There are a series of towns - each famous for their own food specialty - in a line with easy train access to Bologna.
Modena - balsamic vinegar - is about 20-25 minutes away by trains and is very pretty. Reggio Emilia is a few minutes further on and Parma - famous for their ham - a few minutes beyond that. Most people like the following towns more because there is "more going on" but it sounds like Modena is probably what you're looking for.
That being said while I find Bologna kind of "bustling" with the university students and people going about their lives I didn't find it assaulting the way Rome can be. Traffic is largely kept out of the city core and you walk everywhere under the porticos so there is little of the bus or taxi hassle. For it's population size being larger than Florence I found it to be a much smaller and less hectic feeling place than Florence.
I would also advocate for staying in Bologna and feeling the city out, but if you want something smaller and nearby there are alternatives.
Have a great trip,
=Tod