el13207

If you had an extra day and night to spend in either Bologna or Bergamo, which would you pick and why?
Background: I'm planning an itinerary for late Sept/early Oct from Lucca to Como and have a day/night to go somewhere in the vicinity of either (trip starts in Santa Margherita Ligure for 4 nights, onto Lucca for 3 more, then up to Como to visit friends for another week, 2nd time there). Husband and I in mid 60's, love art, architecture, walking, and food,

Alec

Either has its own attractions and would satisfy your particular interests. Bergamo is much smaller, intimate, with a charming Upper Town packed with medieval buildings (allow about 3 hours). I spent a week there about a month ago. Bologna is much bigger, a university city with attractive historical centre, noted gastronomy. You would need more than a day to do it justice.

RonZ

Train time Lucca to Bergamo on the Trenitalia schedule is about 5.5 hours, driving a little longer..

Couple of good SML restaurants, Dal Alfredo and La Paranza. Really nice town. Last time we flew into Genoa and took a cab.

Jean

I think if you're only going for an afternoon, night and morning, Bergamo would feel more manageable. IMO, Bologna feels a little tough, with more graffiti, more panhandlers, and it's the only place in Italy in 35 years that we have come close to being pickpocketed. But the food's great, and there's a lot to see.

Would you consider Parma?

http://www.bolognamagazine.com/content/one-day-parma

neckervd

I vote for Parma too. If you like scenic railway itineraries, you may travel from Lucca via Pistoia - Poretta - Bologna....
Pistoia would be worth a visit too
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...a_Tuscany.html
Another gem would be Cremona, just 1 hr by train from both, Parma and Milan.

el13207

Oh, Jean and neckervd, now you have thrown a monkey wrench into my thinking,as Parma does indeed look delightful! Bologna has been removed from my itinerary, but now I have to sort out how to fit both Parma and Bergamo in.
Never enough time to go everywhere I want to go to!

Jean

I don't think you can't see both Parma and Bergamo if you only have one night. Note the travel times, esp. if going by train.

Whathello

Bergame. Of course. Because of this fabulous song from Diane Tell, a great Canadian artist who sings this fantastic song called 'si j'étais un homme'.

'Et, juste à côté de Milan,
Dans une ville qu'on appelle Bergame,
Je te ferais construire une villa,'

the rest on http://www.paroles.net/diane-tell/pa...etais-un-homme.

For those who don't know Diane Tell, she is a great singer and she has absolutely splendid eyes...