aliced

ok one more day in Italy via husbands business trip in Padua. should i go back to venice w wives who are going to murano & burano only, or venture over to Vincenza, which we missed on our outing to Verona, which we loved. Was in Venice in Friday and would do again, but lace & glass are not appealing to me. We have covered Padua and cannot get the canal trip to the villas tomorrow, sad to say.
Your quick attention is appreciated!
p.s. these aperol & prosecco spritzs are to die for......

joannay

I tend to get weary of cities eventually and sometimes need a countryside fix. So if you go with the group, when they get off the vaporetto at Burano you could continue on to blissfully quiet Torcello, and have a walk around this furthest island. Read about it here:
http://www.italylogue.com/things-to-...ce-lagoon.html

Andrew

Burano is very colorful and unique. Murano is less so in my opinion but still interesting and worth a visit. I have little interest in lace, a bit more in glass but still found just wandering around the islands rewarding - I'd love to go back again someday especially to Burano.

I've not been to Vincenza to compare.

PalenQ

I was totally awed by Vincneza - more than I expected in this Palladian wonder - a nice nice town and a real town, unlike Murano, one of Italy's most touristed spot and IMO a tourist trap.

Royal

I was in Venice last week and we did San Michele, Murano and Burano. San Michele (cemetary islane) was fascinating and an easy stop on the way to Murano.

I was disappointed in Burano. If you aren't interested in lace the only other items on offer are tacky souvenirs. Murano was surprisingly more interesting and we weren't hassled by anyone to go into the glass blowing factories. In fact the shops were quite lovely and the glass spectacular.

Not sure how much time you have spent in Venice itself which to me deserves at least a week or more. This was our third trip and we spent 8 days and could have stayed longer.

Sassafrass

If you want another day in Venice, which I sure would, don't go with the wives. Just hop on the train and go yourself, very short ride from Padua to Santa Lucia Station, right on the Grand Canal.

I would take Vicenza over Burano and Murano, because it is a lovely town, plus (a very, very big plus), it has Palladio's architecture. IMHO, the stage of the Teatro Olimpico is, singly, one of the most beautiful, and incredible things I have seen in Italy or anywhere else. Do not miss it! It is open Tue-Sun, 9-5. It is worth a trip to Vicenza to see this.

There are nice markets in Vicenza on Tues & Thur, ending at 1:00. If you can see any other of Palladio's work (especially villa la Rotonda, open inside only on Wednesday), or villa Valmarana al Nani, Tue-Sun 10:00-12:00 & 15:00-18:00, that would be great. The hours are quirky though.

Also, don't know what else you have see, but Vicenza is a real Italian town, and I think it gives you a wonderful feeling for life in that part of Italy.

100% Vicenza! If you don't go back to Venice proper.

zoecat

Vincenza is a very nice town to spend a day. There is plenty to explore and some nice shopping, but the stores do close during the lunch period. No problem though- enjoy a nice lunch with the locals. I had one of my favorite meals in all of Italy (in over 25 trips) at this restaurant in Vincenza-

http://www.ristoranteaglischioppi.com/

Or, if you have only spent one day in Venice, you might return and spend more time. Even (especially?) if on your own.

PalenQ

Toricello is a neat backwater in the Venetian Lagoon - a longer boat ride, beyond Burano and with very little tourist schlock - kind of a deserted island with a church as i remeber it and a slew of feral cats lurking all about (as seen also in Venice proper).

But to me the real reason for taking a boat this far out is that when coming back you glimpse Venice itself hovering over the water like some dreamland - and thus you can synthesize ancient mariners bringing in goods from all over the known world to rich Venice - this is how they first saw Venice - exquisite Venice and how their expectations of visiting that then rich city hightened as they slowly approached from across the water.

This is why taking a boat to/from Venice Airport also is a great trip IMO.

Sassafrass

Aliced, Can't wait to hear what you did. As soon as you have a chance, let us know how the day went.

jan47ete

Vicenza is a wonderful little city and great for wandering. If you loved Verona, you'll adore Vicenza.

St. Michael's, Murano, Burano and Torcello are islands very close to Venice. The boat stop was almost opposite our apt, so it was very easy to hop on. So we always saw St. Michael's and we find cemeteries very interesting, and it was. Murano was nice to walk around and then catch the boat to Burano which I LOVED. The houses are so colorful, the window boxes filled with flowers, the 2nd leaning tower in Italy, and I really enjoyed wandering around the island.(our trip was Sept 25-Oct 8)

Torcello was a bit remote, and ancient church and a handful of tourists.

If I had only one place to go to, I'd head for the islands by a very, very slim margin. Verona Vicenza similar. The islands offer almost 4 different places. Enjoy whatever you decide.