We arrive in Milan on 22 September from California about 3pm. We have to be in Venice on the 24th late afternoon to meet my sister and her husband and board a boat for Croatia. We have been to Venice several times so we don't feel the need to rush there. My original intention was to spend the 2 nights in Milan,(we have not spent any time there.) Apparently there is a large international convention at that time and its quite expensive and very booked up.
So my question is as stated above. What other wonderful little town to spend a couple of nights in that we could hop a reasonable distance train to.
Do trains run to MXP? I have changed trains in Milan Central, wow that's a zoo!
We have been to Lake Como a couple of times, I have been to Verona DH has not.
Big foodies so was thinking Parma? Modena?
I also love architecture so Vincenza?
Thoughts??
Thank you in advance
Kim

Have you stayed on Lido on any visit to Venice?

http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/lido/

Vincenza is great. Was there last month (only a few hours) and vowed to return with my wife.

Certainly Vicenza would be a very good option; lots of Palladio. Another is Lago di Garda. We're planning a stay there in September in Sirmione. And Verona is probably worth another visit for you.

All good thoughts. I did consider Garda and I have never stayed in the Lido.
Does anyone know if there is a train at MXP?
Getting in at 3:00 and having to go somewhere else to catch a train makes me want say maybe an hour train ride maximum?? Would like to be settled in by dinner time , stroll after dinner and crash to get on top of the jet lag.

Mantova!

Double up on Mantova!

Triple Mantua!

There is train service to/from Malpensa, but for most destinations you'll have to change trains at Centrale and a second time for Modena and Parma. Bologna and Mantova would not require a second connection.

Search from "Malpensa Aeroporto" and use the Italian spelling for your destination.

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

Vicenza.

Vicenza! I love it, spent five days there. It is also a short trip from there to Padua.

Bologna.

Definitely Bologna.

Verona

Another vote for Bologna.

For me, it is one of the most authentic, interesting, and beautiful cities I have ever visited in all of Italy.

It's your arrival time and when you need to meet up in Venice that are the issue.

Arriving at 3pm, I can see why you would only want to travel on for a short distance. But given you only have 1 day to spend before having to get to Venice to meet up the next day, means time lost moving is even more important.

I would either not try to make an intermediate move at all or I would go directly to Venice. That's why I suggested the Lido. While you would arrive late, once there you would not have to move until it was time to go meet up. and the 'move' would be a short water taxi ride.

The alternative to me would be to stay in Milan (there are certainly things of interest to see and do there) and then leave for Venice on the morning of the 24th.

I would not consider Bologna as being between Milan and Venice.

....not in a geographical sense, but 1 hr 05 min by train from Milan and 1 hr 25 min by train from Venice.
Direct Milan - Venice trains via Verona take 2 hrs 25 min

What about Bergamo? One change at Porta Garibaldi and then bus or walk to upper town.

When in Italy, nobody should ever consider going in a straight line from one place to another