I am interested in stopping for a few hours in either Padua, Bologna, Lucca, or Pisa on my way from Venice to Riomaggiore by train. I will probably also visit Lucca or Pisa on my way back to Florence. Milan also sounded interesting but I'm not sure how I feel about getting on metros and such just for a walk around town and a visit to a major site. Does Padua or Lucca have good markets? I'm a big foodie but not sure I want to stop in "big" Bologna.

Padua has a wonderful large market and the Scrovegni Chapel of course, well worth booking to see.

It seems to me your plan hinges on whether rail stations have a luggage store - not sure about Padua but definitely NOT in Lucca.

Www.lucca.info prettier better food markets than Padua

Train there then on to CT

The central area of Bologna is by no means enormous -- very doable, and the main square is very pleasant. There's a very nice market street just off the main square there -- it's a serious hoot in the late afternoon when several of the merchants give away samples of mortadella, cheese, etc, and the locals jockey for a good place to get some. Caution, though -- the elbows of the little old ladies can be sharp!

Don

another vote for Bologna, especially for a foodie.

tarquin, I had already eliminated Parma as an option due to the lack of luggage storage at the train station, I didn't even think about looking to see if Lucca has it. I know Padua & Bologna have left luggage facilities though. Sounds like Padua might be easier to take in and I have read some posts from people who don't really like Bologna (though I have never heard this about Padua!).

You can easily walk from Padua train station to the market area, and the Scrovegni Chapel is conveniently halfway along that road. I think Padua food market is one of the best in Italy, not that Bologna isn't very good as well.

The only problem I see for Padova is that you will have just begun your trip and it will be time to get off at Padova. It doesn't really break up your trip. You'll have the majority of your trip left after you leave Padova.

I wonder who said they don't like Bologna—no one I know—especially since you are a bit of a foodie. It is an interesting city with fabulous food, a good stop even on a rainy day because the sidewalks are covered with porticoes. t would break your trip a bit more in half.

Thank you all for your feedback. I wish had time for both!

Help! I need my glasses! When I first read ellenem's latest post, I thought she'd written that Bologna's sidewalks are covered with potatoes.