FallingLeaves

Hello All,

I have a business trip to Modena planned for two days in late November, and am hoping to tag on a few days for sightseeing. Given my current circumstances, this may be my only chance to travel to Italy so I want to make the best of it! I have been reading through the forums here and could use some advice to make the best use of my time, as the more I read the more I am undecided on what to do and see!

Current plan is to arrive on a Thursday, and depart on the following Saturday (10 days total.) I am still debating what city to fly into, but will spend Weds & Thurs in Modena (business meeting), then Friday in Bologna exploring, and fly out from Bologna Saturday AM.

That leaves me Thurs-Tues (6 days) to explore elsewhere. Any suggestions on the best places to go given this short time frame? I want to maximize my time in Italy and not spend hours on buses and trains! I initially thought of flying into Rome, spending a couple days in Rome then going to Venice, but am now thinking perhaps they are too spread out. Would it be better to pick one of those two cities as a base and do a couple day trips from one or the other? I don't want to try to cram too many things into each day, but as I said this may be my only chance to go so I want to see as much as possible.

Also I am sure weather is going to be an issue. Is there any particular area of Italy that would have better weather in November, or alternatively, any areas that should definitely be avoided?

Thanks!
Charity

Jean

First of all, I'd go under the assumption that this is NOT your one and only trip to Italy. You're smart to recognize that more is not better.

No destinations beyond Modena and Bologna will be representative of the entire country, so where you spend those free days is best determined by your interests, not ours. In late November, I would stick to cities where there are countless museums, galleries, churches and shops that can be seen in rainy weather, and as you're traveling solo I'd use the trains to get around. It will be dark before 5:00 pm.

I could happily spend those days all in one place: Rome, Florence or Venice, although IMO Venice is a little less enjoyable in the rain. But it's also one of those "destinations of a lifetime." I wouldn't consider any place on the coast, and the countryside is more difficult and time-consuming to explore by train.

The train from Rome to Venice takes about 4 hours. Rome to Modena (connect at Bologna) takes about 3 hours.

Jean

And Venice to Modena (connect at Bologna) takes about 2.5 hours.

FallingLeaves

Hi Jean, thanks for the reply!

I should clarify- my husband is actually going with me, so I won't be travelling solo. Renting a car is definitely an option if it would be advisable.

After your mention of train times, I'm rethinking my itinerary and may put the Modena leg into the middle of the trip, that way I could fly into Venice and spend a couple days there, move on to Modena for my meeting, then to Rome for few days before flying out. I believe that might be a more efficient use of time. I was really hoping to get to the Italian Riviera, but as you mentioned, given the time of year it's probably best to stick to the larger cities that have more indoor activities!

Charity

valtor

As Jean said, you can easily spend one week in Rome or Florence.
Another option is to go from Modena to Bologna by train and stay at a hotel there (as your flight will be from there). By train you can visit from Bologna : Florence (1 hour by train), Ferrara (25 min.), Ravenna with its splendid mosaics ( 90 min, I think you have to change in Rimini), Verona ( 90 min.)

Jean

FallingLeaves, I like the Venice-Modena-Rome plan. If you wanted to spend a couple of hours in Bologna, you could stop there between Venice and Modena. There is luggage storage at the Bologna Centrale train station.

jennlane

Another option could be to stay in Northern Italy.. if you don't mind the rain. Probably Milan-Venice-Modena. Many people skip Milan, but it's a beautiful city. You could easily spend two days there. If you wish to see The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci you have to make reservations far in advance. It could be an easy entry point since it's the second biggest airport after Fiumicino. And if you choose to rent a car you can make day trips to Lake Como or Lake di Garda, and/or stops at Bergamo, Brescia, Verona, Vicenza, Padova. They're all along the way.
Keep in mind November is the rainiest month, including in Rome. Though not even that would put me down.
You have so many options! Have fun.

jamikins

I also like the Venice - Modena - Rome plan...make sure if you do this to book your flights into Venice and out of Rome open jaw so you dont have to back track.

Enjoy!

bellini

We did a tour of Northern Italy all by train in November. The Po Valley does get rain and sometimes fog at that time of the year but we were lucky and only had one wet day in Bergamo. The trains are easy to use and frequent. This was our itinerary:
Milan, Bergamo, Brescia, Cremona, Ferrara, Mantua (easily our favourite), Rsvenna, Rimini. Depends very much on your interests- ours are Italian Renaissance art and architecture so we were very well served by this trip.

mamcalice

I,too, like the Venice, Modena, Rome itinerary. Both Rome and Venice are fabulous and offer things to do if the weather is not the best. You won't have to worry about driving because the trains are great. Have a wonderful time.

JillDavis

Venice is so unique and there is no city like it in the world. I fell in love with Venice when I went and am yearning to go back! Make sure you go to St. Marks Square after dark to see the mini-orchestras playing. It is magical, enchanting, and so utterly romantic.

It would be a crime not to see Venice in this lifetime....go and enjoy! I am currently writing a trip report if you would like to read. Click on my name and you will see it...

Dayle

Fallingleaves,

I also really like your Venice-Modena-Rome plan.

3 days Venice
2 days Modena
4-5 days Rome

This would give you a wonderful mixture of cities, plenty to do good weather or bad, easy transportation, no backtracking.

Have a wonderful trip and we're sure you will return!
Buon viaggio!

Matt

If you go by train from Modena to Rome, it would be a sin not to stop in Florence. You could leave early in the morning from Modena, spend a full day there, and go to Rome at night or the next morning. Not much time but at least you get a glimpse of Florence, which is a compact, easy to walk city.

Jean

The posters suggesting other towns have expanded your six available days into a much longer trip. You can do anything you like with your six days, but I urge you to resist the temptation to move around too much. You'll already lose a half day getting from Venice to Modena and a half day getting from Modena to Rome. A few hours in Bologna would not be a detour since you have to connect there anyway, but adding other towns and the required transit times will reduce your visits to Venice and Rome to almost nothing. But, again, it's your trip and you get to do what you want.

Obviously, if you can lengthen your trip, there are loads of options.

Sassafrass

Your last plan of Venice, Modena, Rome is just right. Even in the rain, Venice can be magical. It is pushing it, but I even like Matt's idea of stopping in Florence for a few hours, not to visit any museums; simply to walk by the river and see the Duomo and Baptistry, and Ponte Vecchio. That would be worth it IMHO.

Sassafrass

Your last plan of Venice, Modena, Rome is just right. Even in the rain, Venice can be magical. It is pushing it, but I even like Matt's idea of stopping in Florence for a few hours, not to visit any museums; simply to walk by the river and see the Duomo and Baptistry, and Ponte Vecchio. That would be worth it IMHO.

Ann1

Please don't have such a defeatist attitude about going back to Italy. Unless you're 105 and in poor health, I think you will find that after you go you will beg, borrow and steal to get back to see more of Italy and Europe.

annhig

hi FL,

I'm with Jean here. you have a great opportunity here to spend some time in a less touristy area, which has huge riches - bologna, modena, ravenna, ferrara, manuta...

tack Venice onto this and you have the makings of a GREAT trip. add Rome in, and suddenly, IMHO, you are spreading yourselves too thin.

leave Rome for your NEXT trip.

Holly_uncasdewar

To clarify, be aware that the bands will not be playing in Piazza San Marco in Venice in the evening. In November, I don’t think they’ll even be playing during the daytime unless the weather is unusually warm. However, you will have plenty of opportunities to attend indoor concerts around the city, for a price, of course.