En route to Venice from Assisi
 

In October, after spending a week just outside Assisi, my husband and I will head to Venice (via car) for a week there. However, we need to spend a night somewhere en route, as the Venice apartment is not available until the next day. The gentleman from whom we've rented the apartment has kindly suggested some options for our layover:

1) Ferrara, with dinner in Comacchio
2) Bologna
3) Padua

We'd been planning a day trip to Padua, so that idea is appealing. But I welcome opinions about these ideas, as well as any other suggestions -- and suggestions for lodgings are also appreciated!

Thanks so much in advance.

Hi Kagoo - Any of those are good.

Alternatively ... Florence?

If you are taking a more easterly route - Ravenna?

Steve

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the quick reply! We spent a lot of time in Florence on our last trip, and we want to get the bulk of the drive to Venice over on Day 1, so I think Florence is out. (And then there's that whole car-in-Florence thing.) But Ravenna...there's a thought; I'll add it to the research list. You have now, in the nicest way possible, made this more difficult. But...options are everything! And the planning is half the fun! Thanks again.

Hello kagoo, what a nice problem to have! Having been in all four places mentioned I personally would eliminate Ferrara. I like it but not as much as Bologna, Padua and Revenna. That is a hard choice. If you are interested in mosaics Ravenna would be the city to stay in. But Bologna and Pauda are wonderful also. I would probably chose Bologna next but if you do make your hotel reservation ASAP as often it is hard to get a hotel room in Bologna due to the numerous trade shows.

You might want to look into the hilly area known as The Casentino (east of Florence), especially the scenic Franciscan monastery at La Verna - having just come from Assisi...

How about Urbino and San Leo in Le Marche?