Planning my virst visit to Italy in June. Will be able to stay for 1 week, flying in and out of Venice. I have tentative plans(from reading good guidebooks and reviews on line) to stay 2 nights in Venice at Albergo Santa Lucia, then 2 in Sirmione at Griffone, then end with 2 in Verona at possibly Hotel Torcolo. Any comments or concerns from those of you who have the experience? Also I will have one night left and will need to leave via Marco Polo airport around noon the last day. Is it worth staying in Venice one last night or is there another "adventure" somewhere else? Thanks for your help! traveler317

Hi traveler, I guess with your intinerary I would suggest staying the last night in Padova which is a lovely city (you can research it) and then take the train from Padova to the Mestre train station (the Venice train station on the mainland) and then go to the Marco Polo airport. You are fortunate that your flight does not leave early in the morning from the Marco Polo Airport as so many do. I usually don't recommend that one takes a train the day of their flight but Padova is very close to the Mestre train station (if there were a strike you could take a taxi if need be) in your case I would feel comfortable. It would be just as easy IMHO as getting to a hotel in Venice the night before and then back to the airport the next morning.

Best wishes for a beautiful time in Veneto and hope you will give us a trip report!!

Thanks "Love"! I will do some reading on town...if I go there where do you recommend staying? Also, has anyone stayed at the hotels I mentioned (in Venice, Verona, Sirmione). Would love some input before I finalize booking. Also, is 2 days good enough to explore Lake Garda while staying in Sirmione? I am trying to plan this trip in a way that allows seeing the sights and relaxing at the same time?!!

Traveler-as Tries2paklite and I have been saying for the past two days, Padova has it all, and I say, over Verona by a mile. I would spend that time in Padova that you have budgeted for Verona-I just returned from Padova, and you will be amazed by the art, Giotto and the amazing frescos from the 13th century-just amazing-the pedestrian, bike friendly city, the Basilica of Sant' Antonio, with its amazing frescos, the tomb of Saint Anthony, the lovely cloister, the Palazzo della Ragione with all the ancient zodiac symbols painted on the ceiling, the Piazza della Erbe and Frutta-not to mention that amazing 15th century anatomical theater in the university, used to teach medical students about human dissections, but dating from the 1590's! This is the same University that Galileo lectured in at the end of the 15th century-called "Palazzo del Bo"-SO much to see here, and all walkable. Lovely buildings, lovely piazzas, an art city of art cities.

Verona is basically a trade fair town, with an ancient arena that is rather blah except in summer when opera performances are held here, and just not that interesting-you might think of switching your itinerary to two days in Padova as an alternative.

Traveler-take a look at this wikipedia article on Padova, scroll down to the "main sites" and see if it doesn't peak your interest. Truly an art city amongst art cities, and when I was there, I didn't see even half the churches mentioned in this article, nor some of the other ancient sites referenced. But it was Giotto's frescoes in the Cappella, and his school (Menabuoi) found in the Duomo, that just bowled me over. I really had no idea.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padua