jenqgn111

Hello to all! My fiance and I will be spending 4 nights in Venice next month and would like to take a day trip to either Verona, Vicenza, or Padua. We are in our late 20's and love architecture, food, and culture...we don't need to see any museums as we will be visiting them while in Paris, Florence, and Rome. Out of these 3 towns, which would you choose and why? Thanks in advance for your help! Jen

Eloise

If architecture is a principal interest, I would suggest Vicenza, which has the highest concentration of buildings by Andrea Palladio to be found anywhere. Most of them are city palaces, but they also include the Teatro Olimpico, the Palazzo della Ragione, the Loggia del Capitaniato as well as his probably most famous villa, the Villa Rotonda.

Check out the following Web site for opening hours:
http://www.cisapalladio.org/veneto/i...mp;ordine=alfa

Very close to the Villa Rotonda is the Villa Valmarana ai Nani, which is not by Palladio, but whose "guest house" has some lovely frescoes by Giandomenico Tiepolo (son of the more famous Gianbattista).

Jocelyn_P

I have not been to Padua so I can only contrast Verona and Vicenza. They are both stunningly beautiful cities that we liked very much. Vicenza is smaller and seems to have more green space. Vicenza is also less touristed, which would give you more of a contrast from the other cities you're visiting. Verona gives you the "Romeo and Juliet" thing, which would be pretty cool for a honeymoon (we spent 8 days there for our 10th anniversary). Although I personally did not find any one attraction in Verona that impressive, the city as a whole stole my heart. I don't think you can lose with either of those two. We did not take the time to go to Padua, as our research led us to believe it was grittier than the other two cities.

RufusTFirefly

With only 4 nights in Venice, you'll be hard put to see the most important sights AND take in the interesting architecture of La Serenissima alone.

Postal

If you can tear yourself away from Venice (four nights is not a long time), I suggest Verona. The arena is amazing, and the piazza there is full of wonderful little cafes. There is excellent strolling (and shopping) in the same area. It's only about 30-45 minutes by train.

artlover

The Roman theatre in Verona is very impressive as are the sites mentioned in Vicenza, but I agree with Rufus--with 4 days, Venice is so magical, you'd be best spending all 4 days there this time.

jdraper

With only four days in Venice I wouldn't leave at all. That is not nearly enough time to see all of the sights, especially if you plan on going to the islands of Mirano and Burano while you are there. I would skip Verona all together. We have been twice and neither time was spectacular and the throngs of tourists left us with no feeling of the charm of the old city. Why bother when you have all of Venice to explore. Have a great trip!

ira

I also think that with only 4 nights, there is no need to leave Venice.

Surfergirl

Taking Jocelyn's advice (based on her earlier trip report), we took a day trip from Venice to Verona (passing Vicenza and Padua on the way -- sorry, next trip) because we also had 4 days in Venice, and we'd all been there before. I guess that's the caveat -- if you have been to Venice before, you might want to do the day trip; if not, I'd just wait and see how you feel about it then. It's easy to do a spontaneous day trip -- even for us in the middle of summer -- there's trains leaving and returning every hour, so you can play it by ear.

We loved Verona. You might want to check to see if they are still doing operas at that time at the Arena there. In summer, at least when we were there, you couldn't get inside the arena because they were setting up for a production that night of Aida. The architecture in the town is pretty amazing, even aside from the arena, which is spectacular.

Jocelyn_P

True, if Venice really captures your heart, there's no need to leave, although it can't hurt to have a Plan B in place. Have a great honeymoon.

Eloise

If you go to the islands of Murano and Burano, first go to the island of Torcello (as I recall, five minutes -- with a different boat -- from Burano. A lovely Byzantine cathedral, built when Torcello was the first inhabited island in the lagoon, with stunning mosaics. Have lunch (I seem to remember that the churches -- there's also a tiny circular church of Santa Fosca -- close at noon) at Da Romano on Burano on your way back; their risotta alla crema di scampi is wonderful. Then see Murano in the afternoon, if you must.

Omsam

We were in Italy in March and had a wonderful day trip to Padova. There is much to see in this beautiful town.

Lots of parks and gardens, fun markets and great reataurants.

Their ancient University was the first to graduate a woman scholar and you can tour their medieval Bo building where Galileo taught and where their famous dissecting theater is. There is also the very famous (and recently restored) Scrungvi Chapel, one of Giotto?s masterpieces.

jenqgn111

Thanks for all your replies. After reading your suggestions and previous posts pertaining to Venice, we have decided to play it by ear while in Venice. Thanks again! Jen

artlover

Omson,

Do you have any recommendations for restaurants in Padova?

Omsam

Pdova Restaurants:
The ANTICO BROLO is supposed to be the city's best. Across from the theater -(Teatro de Padova) on Corso Milano.

I had a nice fish meal at Osteria Speroni on Via Speroni near the cathedral.

baldrick

Padova has 2 top restaurants; Antico Brolo, mentionned before and Belle Part, via Belle Parti 11, in the old city center.
A very good trattoria, local cuisine is Trattoria Ai Porteghi, Via Battisti Cesare, 105

artlover

omsam & baldrick,

thank you for the information.