cmlyons

Hi -

Looking for a 3rd location to visit in Northern Italy in early/mid September. We will be going to Lake Como and Venice as well. We are 2 women, 40's, looking for good wine, good food and some sites. We'd love to stay at a winery, or in an area where we might be able to book a day or 2 of winery tours. Any suggestions? We've already been to Florence. Is Bologna worth visiting? Parma? Thanks!

cmlyons

That should say 3rd City to visit

isabel

Bologna would be a good choice as would be Verona. Other towns between Lake Como and Venice that I've been to and love include Bergamo, Mantua, Ferrara, Modena, Padua and Vicenza. There are plenty of others but other than taking a wine tour you don't say really what you are looking for.

Here are my photos covering those and other towns in the region.

Mantua, Bergamo, etc - http://andiamo.zenfolio.com/f418766414

Verona, Vicenza, Padua, etc. - http://andiamo.zenfolio.com/f176319487

Bologna, Ferrera, Modena, etc. - http://andiamo.zenfolio.com/f600116703

frencharmoire

The best wines convenient to your itinerary are those produced around Verona. You can either stay in Verona itself & do wine tours, or there are many wineries and farms in the countryside where you could stay and visit Verona as a day trip.

If you scroll down in this article you will find 2 recommendations of farms where you can stay in the wine country

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...ona-wine-route

The website of this tour operator in Verona has extensive information about local wines, their history and winery tours

http://www.veronissima.com/sito_ingl...l/wine_ing.htm

PalenQ

Bologna is fantastic! Especially its food and not just baloney!

But Verona is great too and more on your route Varenna to Venice. Going by train? If so eschew the fastest trains on those fairly short routes and just buy regional train tickets as you go along - dirt-cheap -no need to pre-book -no reserved seats even available. For lots on trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

jangita

If I were you, I would choose Verona. In addition to food and wine, Verona offers a beautiful shopping street (via Mazzini) and the unforgettable arena.
For small group wine tours, look at Pegasus wine tours in Verona area.

But--all of the cities in Isabel's list above have something wonderful to offer. I would include Brescia in that list, too.

PalenQ

I would include Brescia in that list, too.>

I was surprised how nice Brescia was - I would stay in Verona but maybe if there some days do a short day trip there and or to Lake Garda too. Parma too I was very pleased with.

Southam

Another vote for Bologna. Scenic architecture, wonderful restaurants, more students than tourists, good train connections and useful airport.

basingstoke2

You cannot go wrong with either Bologna or Verona. They are both wonderful but in different ways. Bologna is a good sized city with all of the good and bad that brings. There is a lot to see and do there and you will not be bored. The many portico covered streets are picturesque, and of course if you have rain, they will keep you mostly dry. And as others have said, the food there may well be the best in Italy although like other big cities, there are plenty of not so good restuarants also. We enjoyed Bologna and only wish we had scheduled more days there. There are also trains from Bologna to other towns of interest and beauty. We thought the old medical school was well worth a visit.

Verona, within the walls, is a beautiful and historic and of course Romeo and Juliet is a cottage industry there. There are excellent restaurants there as well but IMO not in the class with many of those in Bologna. There is also much to see and do there but best of all walk around, examine the architecture, enjoy its setting, visit some of its museums and churches, visit the arena and take the evening walk down the via Mazzini with what seems to be everyone else in the city. It is something we did not get tired of doing. Many tourists go to Verona as a day trip and that is a shame. Verona at night is lovely and a shame to miss if you are there. It is a good walking city as well.

With either choice you will be happy, it just depends on your tastes. Winery tours are available from either place, perhaps more so from Verona. Food tours are popular in Bologna too.

If you click my name you will find a TR that describes our experience in both cities.

massimop

While Bologna has a lot of attractions, it certainly does not have good wine or easy access to wineries and vineyards of any note.

The cuisine and restaurants in Verona and Bologna are very different. They really are not comparable. There are many restaurants in Verona that are the equal of restaurants in Bologna, in the same class, but they serve much different food than people eat in Bologna. In Bologna, people eat pasta -- a LOT of pasta. In Verona, they mainly eat polenta, gnocchi (from potatoes) and rice dishes, although pasta is also in many restaurants

I have spent many days in Verona and have never been to the "Romeo & Juliet" tourist sites there. They are easily skippable if you have no interest. Verona has oustanding Roman and Renaissance sights that Bologna (which retains more of its medieval architecture) does not have.

I am equally fond of both cities. But since you mentioned wine, it is simply a fact that the area around Verona produces world-class wines and every year hosts VinItaly, one of the most important wine fairs in Europe. Bologna is not a wine destination, but it is convenient to Milan and Venice if you decide you wine isn't really all that important to your trip.

PalenQ

But if you like baloney?

ira

Hi C,

>Is Bologna worth visiting?

Yes.

PalenQ

Bologna is said to have more historical medieval buildings in its center than any city in Italy - not sure that is so but what I read from tourist office literature once.

cmlyons

Thanks all for your responses! Much appreciated!!!

PalenQ

Wonder how the spag bol is in Bologna?

massimop

Genoa is usually said to have the largest intact medieval center in all of Europe, and the most densely populated. Bologna was more extensively bombed in WW2, whereas Genoa was more selectively bombed and most of the old city escaped damage.

jangita

You are getting good advice. It's really a chocolate or vanilla choice--in other words a win/win.
I just wanted to say the small group wine tours are Pagus http://www.valpolicellawinetours.com/
not Pegasus.

Sorry for the misinformation.

PalenQ

Verona is a wine center - gotta be tours from there.

cmlyons

Thanks, jangita!