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Help us decide-- Ferrara, Mantua, Padua, Verona, Vicenza?

Help us decide-- Ferrara, Mantua, Padua, Verona, Vicenza?

Old Jul 27th, 2017, 06:37 PM
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Help us decide-- Ferrara, Mantua, Padua, Verona, Vicenza?

My family is trying to quickly piece together an itinerary for a trip to Northern Italy in August and we need to scale back the number of towns on our list. We love art, historic architecture, and good food, and also appreciate being in towns that are atmospheric and not overrun with tourists. We've already got Turin, Parma, Bologna and Ravenna on our list, and we need to decide which of the following towns to add: Ferrara, Mantua, Padua, Verona and Vicenza. Please share your impressions of these towns, particularly if you've stayed in them. If you could only go to two, three or even four, which would you choose and why? Which would you recommend for overnights vs. day trips? Also, are there any towns on the Ligurian coast (near Genoa) that we should throw into the mix -- Genoa, Chiavari, Santa Margarita, Rapallo, Zaogli? Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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Old Jul 27th, 2017, 08:10 PM
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I would NOT include Verona in the first part of any August. Why? Because the opera festival will be concluding and there will literally be thousands of "tourists" from many places in the city and since you specifically said...
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Old Jul 27th, 2017, 08:35 PM
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The only one I've visited is Ferrara, but I liked it enough I went back. I used it as a base for a day trip to Ravenna, no need to stay in both.
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Old Jul 27th, 2017, 10:15 PM
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I have been to Verona, Padua and Vicenza.

Of the those three, I would choose Vicenza hands down. If for nothing else, the Palladian architecture is so beautiful and Vicenza is blessed with a whole collection. IMHO, if you saw only the Teatro Olimpico it is worth the trip. I have often raved about it on Fodors. It is the most perfect space I have ever been in and the stage is so amazing, it leaves you speechless.

Vicenza is a small town by comparison with Padua and Verona and the old city center, with a maze of narrow streets, is lovely for walking. It also has a wonderful market with lots of local produce, cheeses, etc. if you choose Vicenza, check hours and days when different things are open. They are all very limited. Many will be open, say, in the afternoon, M, W & T and others W & F morning, or in the morning for 2 hours and the afternoon for 3 hours. If you walk (or taxi) up the hill above the train station, there are beautiful views of the city and the countryside. There is also an Interesting and charming hotel up there. I would love to return and would stay at that hotel. There is a pretty church on the hill. A service there is a lovely local, cultural experience and the local people were very welcoming. City is extremely quiet and closed down in the evening.

Verona has a nice center for walking and, of course, a fabulous arena. You could spend an hour or two just exploring that. If there is an event there, it would be great to get tickets and be part of history. The area around the arena is open and spacious. All the food we had in Verona was really good. Nothing pulled at my heart though in Verona. I would not likely return except for the arena and an event there. No explanation for that - personal I guess. If you do go to Verona, stay near the the arena area, not near the train station. It is not bad and is safe enough, just not pretty, and it would be nicer to walk right out of the hotel for sights, restaurants, etc.

Padua has, of course, the Scrovegni Chapel, which is a big draw for some people. That depends on interests. I was an Art history minor so it was of great interest in that respect. Friends,with me were quite moved by the religious aspect. Near the chapel are narrow little streets and nice shops and tiny, excellent restaurants. The center of Padua is beautiful and exactly the opposite of Vicenza. It has spacious streets and large, impressive buildings with some large, beautifully designed piazzas. Lots of people out in the early evening. I would have liked a few more hours there.

I hope this helps in some way.
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Old Jul 28th, 2017, 03:32 AM
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My choices would really depend on whether I was driving or taking trains, and how many days the overall trip is. I wouldn't go to Mantova or Vicenza unless I had time to spend 2 nights there (and I wouldn't go to Vicenza unless I had a car). Although I wouldn't care, I tend to think the only people hanging out in Mantova or Ferrara in August are tourists because it is so humid in those places. Anyone who can afford to get away to the sea or the mountains will.

As to the question of daytrips vs overnights, that depends on what you want to see, and how you are traveling (train or car?) A great many sights of interest in Parma are only open in the morning. I think spending a night there is the only way to have enough time in the morning to see them all. Just in general in Italy, many important churches and sights close for the long lunch hour. So if you need to plan daytrips carefully, especially if you are traveling by train.

Finding family accommodations on the coast in August at this late date will end up dictating where you stay if you decide to go. If you have a car, you MUST get a place that guarantees you parking. If you want to go sightseeing along the coast and you have a car, park it and take the trains or boats unless you are going into the hills.
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Old Jul 28th, 2017, 05:08 AM
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Ferrara, Mantua, Padua, Verona and Vicenza

Of these Ferrara is a nice little place, great walls, easy access to the PO, a great bike culture and easy access to local bike routes

Mantova is similar but of course the walls are moats

Padova, in the historic centre is just lovely, a walking town with some excpetional buildings

I can leave Verona and Vicenza to others, just packed with tourists looking at very little.

There are some nice walled cities hidden away between Padova, Mantova and Ferrara, nothing excpetional but lovely just the same, especially in the evening

Genoa, unless your idea of heaven is a cross between LA and Damascus (Syria) built into a small costal zone with cars trying to rush through it, "a motorway with a town wrapped around it" I'd leave alone. Of the Ligurian coast the zone in towards the CTerra are lovely but much of th rest is just packed with Italians trying to keep out of the plain heat of the rest of Italy while eating Gelato. CT in August will just be packed with Americans and Chinese who didn't get the email "we are full".
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Old Jul 28th, 2017, 05:16 AM
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All above descriptions of Italian towns are really off the mark, designed to get a laugh from the peanut gallery on Fodor's, but of no use to anyone unless the are traveling by bicycle (which is that poster's interest in Italy, other than what he can find cheap). I'd dismiss them entirely.
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Old Jul 28th, 2017, 05:21 AM
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Massimop, not at all they are exactly as I see those places.

"which is that poster's interest in Italy, other than what he can find cheap"

Is also untrue.

Have a great weekend
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Old Jul 28th, 2017, 05:52 AM
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I'm sure that's exactly how you see them. But that's not what they are. Since the OP will going to considerable expense to take this trip, he or she deserves to know. Have a nice weekend!

To the OP:

If your interest in traveling to these many towns is less about sightseeing, and you aren't going to be researching the opening hours of churches, palaces, etc, but instead are looking for the kind of experience of Italy that is more about strolls in old neighborhoods, cafes, lunches, scenic settings, then you might want a different set of smaller historic towns along those routes where it is easier to find parking and there are fewer tourists, but loads of lovely streets & piazze & pastry shops etc. Those towns would be Pavia, Lodi, Reggio 'nell Emilia, Vignola, Brisighella, Dozza, Castelvetro in Modena and many towns in the Euganean hills near Padova. The first 5 I mentioned are reacheable by train, the remainder need a car.

Because it is so hot in August in the Italian interior, if the point of your trip is to enjoy strolls and cafes, etc, then it makes sense to spend the night in as many towns as you can. You can enjoy cooler strolls in the evenings with the locals, plus see a few sights in the mornings. Air con highly recommended for whatever you book.
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Old Jul 28th, 2017, 06:10 AM
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I spent five days in Vicenza without a car. I arrived by train. The train station is right at the edge of the old town, about five minutes walk from the beginning of the old town. The old town is small enough to walk everywhere, but there is an excellent shuttle bus service that loops around old town and connects to areas outside the old town if you need it. In five days, we used it only once around the old town just to see the perimeter. Really, for the old town area, I do not recommend a car. There are also taxis available even for short distances. We took a taxi up the hill of Monte Berrico in back of the train station and walked back down.

Agree that you do need to make absolutely sure of the hours things are open!

Nothing to see? Vicenza is a world heritage site, based on the amazing architecture of Palladio. I won't even get into details. Read about it and look at images of some of the buildings.

Tourists. I was there in September, so can't speak for Summer, but being there for five days, some days the streets were nearly empty. Some days they were busy, but nothing like Lucca or Siena.

I went to Vicenza primarily for the architecture, but found I liked the size and intimacy of the old town.
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Old Jul 28th, 2017, 07:03 AM
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But there are better Palladio along the canal from Padova towards Venice.

Mass, we have a difference of opinion, that is fine. Not a difference of facts. I'm fine that you have your views. The Op has to make up his/her own mind. Attacking my views is just ... well not done

I do agree about the intimacy of Vicenza but some of these smaller towns to the south are just the same if not nicer, or as perhaps I have to write, In My Honest Opinion.
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Old Jul 28th, 2017, 10:31 AM
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I'll throw in another choice: Trento, not far from Verona.

It's so pretty, lots of big pretty trees. Take the cable car ride up the bluff to the far side of the river for a spectacular sunset.
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Old Jul 28th, 2017, 12:52 PM
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Been to all of them, would go back to any of them. Actually I have been back to all of them except Ferrara more than once, and I would certainly go back there too.

Have a look at my photos, they describe the places better than my words do - http://andiamo.zenfolio.com/f739967755
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Old Jul 28th, 2017, 01:34 PM
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Isabel, I have seen some of them before, but am always stunned by the beauty of your photos. You are so talented and obviously dedicated to your art. Thank you for sharing all of these. I've not had time to look at every one, but love the picture of Windows with blue shutters in Padua and the one of all the laundry on Naples.
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Old Jul 28th, 2017, 09:29 PM
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Sassafrass - thanks so much for saying that. I love to take photos (some say I am addicted to it) and photos help me so much when deciding where I want to go.

Actually I am currently in Spain and just yesterday we were deciding if we wanted to go to one more place on a day trip, and I had a seen a photo of this monastery on a lake so we said 'why not' - it turned out to be amazing and so glad we went. But had I not seen that photo, based just on the description of yet another religious building we probably would have just gone back to the hotel.
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Old Jul 29th, 2017, 09:13 AM
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Thanks to everyone for your helpful suggestions. And Isabel, your photos are, indeed, spectacular.

It sounds like some towns will be hotter in the summer than others, especially during August when we'll be traveling. Massimop, is there something about Mantua and Ferrara that make these towns hotter than other parts of Italy? We are pretty tolerant of moderate heat, but if these towns get unbearably hot, that would be good to know.

Bilboburger, which smaller towns do you like south of Vicenza and what about them makes them appealing to you?

All -- I was hoping to stay one of the Ligurian coastal towns for one night. We're not big beach people, but since our trip will be heavily geared towards seeing art, architecture and places of historical interest, I thought it would be nice to build in a little time to enjoy water views, a coastal walk, and fresh seafood. Any suggestions on which town would be a good choice -- either Rapallo, Chiavari, Zaogli or Sesti Levante? Recommendations on affordable (e.g., under $130ish/night, if possible) would also be appreciated, since I'm finding that hotels and B&Bs in these towns are pretty heavily booked and tend to be more expensive.

By the way, we'll have a car, so please let me know if that changes any of your comments or recommendations, one way or another.

Thanks, again!
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Old Jul 29th, 2017, 09:34 AM
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Hi baloney, I really like Montagnana, the whole thing is walled the central squares are lovely and the passagiato (the evening wander) is fine. We found a nice little 4star hotel in the centre and it was just so pretty.

The Pargco regionale dei colli Euganei is a cool place with fine views onto the plain of the PO plus it has its own docg wine area.

Moselice is tiny with half of the town walled, probably only worth 4 hours, the beauty is in its decay and history (the howitzer was invented just down the road and the guy who did built a mansion with the money.

Este a bit simmilar to the other two but again just so reminiscent of a certain 1500 to 2100 italy.

Going south Rovigo, despite a dull outway, has a nice little centre.

Chioggia, if you cannot be bothered to get into Venice and like fish then have lunch here.

There are other little places but each is maybe too much into my interests, great food, wine, vistas etc and maybe too small just to drop by.

Ferrara is very much laid on a grid pattern with an Este family castle in the centre. Monday (like most things closed) and around the castle you have the duomo and the odd war memorial (all fitting monuments) but to the north you get to see more civil buildings (not all open) and a park. All in all, and especially on a bike (sorry but that is what Ferrara is famous for) is just a very calm, friendly place with no noisy cars except on the main east west drag. (CParks are outside for those who need them).

You might also like to go down to the Parco regionale veneto del delta di Po (or some such) there are boat trips or visits with English speakers and understanding how the po works is fun.

Pumping stations all over the place which you can normaly visit but in Italian only, then of course going further south are the food cities of Parma, Modena and Bologna. Mantua is especialy nice while if you are into pottery then Faenza has a world class pottery museum which was empty when we visited it.

Ravenna, up to you, wiki covers it well.
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Old Jul 29th, 2017, 10:09 AM
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Hi Baloney:

I am investigating all of the above towns for an upcoming trip in late September, so thank you for posting. I am really struggling between Vicenza and Padua as a base, but think the answer might be Padua due to its superior train links, as I am not driving.

Thanks to all that have responded.

I am sharing the travel links I have read and saved so far.

Regards … Ger

Vicenza
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...ds-Venice.html
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...hitecture-food
http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/veneto/vicenza.html
http://www.vicenzae.org/en/
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-day-trips.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...or-vicenza.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rom-venice.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ice-please.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...a-or-padua.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ith-no-car.cfm

Padua
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...ity-guide.html
http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/veneto/padua.html
http://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/02/tr...-painters.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/pete...b_8102526.html
http://www.italymagazine.com/feature...day-trip-padua
https://www.sawdays.co.uk/find?Searc...#!display=list
https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/padua-l388/
http://www.toscanelli.com/en/
http://www.planetware.com/tourist-at...ua-i-vn-pd.htm

Ferrara
http://www.ferraraterraeacqua.it/en/
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...nvents-holiday
http://www.planetware.com/tourist-at...ra-i-er-fe.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...-remember.html

Palladio Villas
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...aly-open-doors
http://www.italiantourism.com/villas.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...ural-tour.html
http://www.ilburchiello.it/en/
http://ville.inews.it/eindice.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/ar...9palladio.html
https://www.isango.com/venice/villas...om-venice_3846
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUs...ce_Veneto.html
http://www.robertaparlato.com/index_en.html
http://www.theothersideofvenice.com/?page_id=56
https://www.isango.com/venice/villas...om-venice_3846
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Old Jul 29th, 2017, 11:18 AM
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Ger, Thanks so much for sharing these links. I'll keep an eye out for any postings you make as you firm up your plans.

And Billoburger, thanks for the various suggestions about smaller towns to visit. I'll see if any of them would fit into our itineary for a short visit.

My head is swimming with all the wonderful possibilities. It's hard to scale things back! My current dilemma is whether we should skip Verona. Dukey1 suggests will be overrun with tourists because of opera season. But Sassafras and others still seem to recommend it. Would it be a good stop for part of a day?

I'm also struggling to figure out where to overnight. If you had to choose to stay overnight in Mantua, Parma, Padua or Ferrara (I need to eliminate an overnight in one of these towns, but we could still visit them all) which would it be and why?

Thanks, again, to everyone for all the planning help!
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Old Jul 29th, 2017, 01:21 PM
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The microclimates Ferrara and Mantova are more humid because -- they just are! Foggy in winter, humid in summer.

How many days will you be traveling?
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