shocked noone saw the graffitti, it was everywhere we went. and the kids were not just around the train station, they were all over the place. we were there in October. i just found nothing charming about it. the food was either geared to students (cheap and not so good), or expense accounts. and we really researched the food, and have alot of friends who go there and they felt the same. Maybe outside of Bologna is a different experience, but to stay in town, not for me.

Wonder if we're getting jaded about grafitti! I don't remember it either.

Don't know if it will be convenient, stoweflake, but DH and I ate at the following:

http://www.ristorantedabertino.it/

I'll top my TR so you can read about that trip if you want. 2002 so things may have changed. I didn't see the grandfather's photo on the site above.

Have a super trip!

My wife and I spent a week in Bologna a couple of months ago after a few days in Florence. One of the amazing things about Bologna was when we began a conversation in our pigeon Italian, contrary to what happened in Florence, almost no one tried to counter in English. We found that refreshing.

FWIW, VRBO #1084188ha is the finest apartment we have rented in 15 years of Italian travel. 50 meters from the due torri.

Jamie:I simply asked the OP about the rationale for Bologna in order to ascertain whether or not the interests might be better served in Bellagio. I do not recall IMPLYING or SAYING the OP should not GO there.

We were in Bologna in summer 2012 and didn't see graffiti or beggars, loved it and will return for a longer stay. I remember omnipresent graffiti in Brussels but not in Bologna.

Dukey, I think things translate differently in print

It is interesting ,but not surprising , that travellers have different impressions
of a city .The reasons can be : interest, hotel location, weather, time spent. etc.

I was in Amsterdam in July for three nights....I was tired ,it was unusually hot ( (32C),
the city seemed dirt and over run by backpackers and cyclist zooming around like mad.
Luckily , it was not my first visit to the city I normally like, but if it were, I would not have left with
a positive impression at all.

lake town vs college town. just really, really different. we are fans of both... for us, bellagio is a town to see, but bologna is a town we always want to return to. (we are somehow fitting it in on our trip to switzerland this coming spring!)

Bellagio is the perfect town in which to end a vacation; that is, do absolutely nothing and relax. Yes, you're on Lake Como, can take ride over it and get bus to Lugano, walk uphill into the little town, but aside, there are no sights. We loved it for the end of a Paris to Venice busy vacation. Got there via train from Milan, believe into Varenna then changed to Bellagio. Hotel du Lac had great views, good food, best Manhattans outside of Manhattan! But we were there in October and the weather was sublime, not sure how May up at the mountains would be, not the best for sure. What are your chances of getting back? If you're not sure, go where you've not yet been is our motto.

Thanks for all your thoughts. I booked Bologna for three nights at the Albergo central. Just wanted to stay in a basic hotel but will finish up the trip in a nicer hotel. I'm thinking of Varenna after seeing Rick Steve's video and doing a day trip to Bellagio. After being in a bustling city like Bologna, I don't think we will mind a quiet town like Varenna rather than Bellagio.

wow, so many, and varied, answers for you. Sounds like you've made your plans, but was just going to say that we stayed for 3 nights with our young-adult daughters a few years ago- we all loved it. Consider an easy train day trip to Ravenna for the mosaics- fabulous. A different day, we had a guide, art history professor I think, who showed us the town center- very worthwhile.

stoweflake, the ferry goes around with enough frequency for you to visit several lakefront towns in the area no matter where you stay. When I "topped" my TR, I re-read that portion and saw that I thought Varenna was even prettier than Bellagio. But to each his own.

I'm putting your ideas in my notes to take along. nv325 and TDudette thanks!

You will love Bologna... and don't miss (what I consider to be) one of the best gelato (and fresh, delicious granita) i've ever had. Galliera 49 at that address. (they changed the name recently from "stefino" to avoid confusing with 'san stefino'... don't miss it! (not a sit-down place, just a window... a few blocks from pz Maggiore toward train station.) While we're on the subject, here's a pretty good blurb on Bologna's Gelato places...) http://www.seriouseats.com/2007/10/g...n-bologna.html

Thx kawh. Putting in my notes

Just wanted to tell everyone on this thread that we decided that we were trying to fit too much into our second week so we will be staying in Bologna for 5 days! No we won't feel rushed about visiting many of the local towns, doing a food factory tour and a home food dinner.
I will let everyone know how it all went.
Thanks all

Now we have to wait until May?

TDutte
Not sure if you wanted to see outpr itinerary in advance? Or if you were just kidding?

Was being flippant. I'll wait until you actually take the trip. LOL