Florence and ??
Nov 13th, 2017, 11:09 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Florence and ??
Hello everybody!
Asking for recommendations regarding our one week's trip to Italy in February.
We will be arriving to Milan and leving from Bergamo a week later.
The current plan is as follows:
Day 1 Milan,
Day 2. Train to Florence
Day3. Florence
Day 4. Florence
Day 5 Pisa/Lucca (not really sure if these 2 twons are worth a day trip)
Day 6 ???
Day 7 ???
Day 8. Flight from Bergamo in the afternoon.
So the main question is regarding 2 days after Florence.
Should we spend a day in Bologna (Or Parma or Mantua any other nearby towns??).
Or is it better to just train to Bergamo and spend 2 days there before leaving?
Considering the winter low season, which place has most to offer?
Your thoughs and recommendations will be really appreciated.
We are a young couple who like to walk around, see architecture and enjoy a nice meal.
Thanks.
Asking for recommendations regarding our one week's trip to Italy in February.
We will be arriving to Milan and leving from Bergamo a week later.
The current plan is as follows:
Day 1 Milan,
Day 2. Train to Florence
Day3. Florence
Day 4. Florence
Day 5 Pisa/Lucca (not really sure if these 2 twons are worth a day trip)
Day 6 ???
Day 7 ???
Day 8. Flight from Bergamo in the afternoon.
So the main question is regarding 2 days after Florence.
Should we spend a day in Bologna (Or Parma or Mantua any other nearby towns??).
Or is it better to just train to Bergamo and spend 2 days there before leaving?
Considering the winter low season, which place has most to offer?
Your thoughs and recommendations will be really appreciated.
We are a young couple who like to walk around, see architecture and enjoy a nice meal.
Thanks.
Nov 14th, 2017, 02:29 AM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you don't want to extend your stay in Florence, Bologna has the most indoor protection from the weather when it comes to activities, but you need to research what to do because the museums and shops are very quirky, and some will appeal to you while others won't.
However, if you have an afternoon flight from Bergamo, you might need to get up to at least Milan to spend your last night in Italy. Even leaving very early in the morning from Florence or Bologna might not get you to the Bergramo airport in enough time.
Milan has lots to do in wintertime, so you might consider that. But both Milan and Bologna have a lot business trade fairs in the wintertime, so you need to book a b&b or a hotel early.
It's possible you could get lovely dry weather and enough sunshine to make being outdoors ok. But typical weather for all your destinations is frigid at that time of year, so have warm clothes and waterproof shoes and a plan for how you can spend your time indoors if it is not fun or healthy to be outdoors for hours.
However, if you have an afternoon flight from Bergamo, you might need to get up to at least Milan to spend your last night in Italy. Even leaving very early in the morning from Florence or Bologna might not get you to the Bergramo airport in enough time.
Milan has lots to do in wintertime, so you might consider that. But both Milan and Bologna have a lot business trade fairs in the wintertime, so you need to book a b&b or a hotel early.
It's possible you could get lovely dry weather and enough sunshine to make being outdoors ok. But typical weather for all your destinations is frigid at that time of year, so have warm clothes and waterproof shoes and a plan for how you can spend your time indoors if it is not fun or healthy to be outdoors for hours.
Nov 14th, 2017, 04:51 AM
#4
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,782
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bologna is a useful base for day trips to Pisa, etc. Great dining, "quirky" means interesting medieval history, decent airport. Its 40+ kilometres of covered sidewalks provide shelter summer and winter.
Nov 14th, 2017, 05:26 AM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think Southam meant to suggest different day trips from Bologna, not Pisa. There are many but Pisa isn't one of them and for such a short stay, you might want to stay put in Bologna before moving on toward Milan & Bergamo.
Nov 14th, 2017, 05:40 AM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also, by saying the museums and shops are "quirky", I did not mean "interesting medieval history". The Morandi museum, the music museum, the MAMBO, anti-fascism museum and many museums in Bologna have nothing to do with medieval anything-- in fact, most of them don't, but different ones appeal to different people. Likewise, some of the fascinating shops of Bologna cover a huge range items and interests -- handmade musical instruments, shoes, chocolates and other food specialties made nowhere else in Italy -- but what's of interest to some is of no interest to others. Most of the things I am talking about are never mentioned in guidebooks, so digging on your own is the way to go. The Bologna Welcome tourist website is a good place to start. Also check to see what temporary art exhibits might be in town. Recent ones have included shows about David Bowie, the French surrealists, artists from Mexico, etc.
Nov 14th, 2017, 03:32 PM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Book any long distance high-speed train far in advance for discounted tickets -limited in number -like Milan - Florence and Florence-Bergamo or wherever.
But if regional trains like to Pisa and Lucca just buy at station -flat fare and dirt cheap and no seat reservations even possible.
Pisa Tower and Lucca very possible in a day - and Lucca to me is a gem. Pisa outside Tower area nice but not awesome IMO. Lucca walled medieval town with many old tower palaces and old Roman arena whose walls are part of an old housing complex.
Lucca would make a great place to stay too.
How about Venice for days 6 and 7? Probably Carnivale which is awesome day and night. Just couple hours by train from Florence and Bergamo.
But if regional trains like to Pisa and Lucca just buy at station -flat fare and dirt cheap and no seat reservations even possible.
Pisa Tower and Lucca very possible in a day - and Lucca to me is a gem. Pisa outside Tower area nice but not awesome IMO. Lucca walled medieval town with many old tower palaces and old Roman arena whose walls are part of an old housing complex.
Lucca would make a great place to stay too.
How about Venice for days 6 and 7? Probably Carnivale which is awesome day and night. Just couple hours by train from Florence and Bergamo.
Nov 15th, 2017, 01:48 PM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Should we spend a day in Bologna (Or Parma or Mantua any other nearby towns??).>
Loved Bologna a lot and liked Parma a lot (where everyone seemed to be riding bicycles!) - both would be nice stops - base in one and daytrip by train to the other? Can take cheap regional trains you just buy tickets for at station - no cumbersome pree-booking in stone like discounted tickets.
Loved Bologna a lot and liked Parma a lot (where everyone seemed to be riding bicycles!) - both would be nice stops - base in one and daytrip by train to the other? Can take cheap regional trains you just buy tickets for at station - no cumbersome pree-booking in stone like discounted tickets.
