Hi, I'm checking train connections on bahn.de, and Mantua seems quite hard to get to. Am I doing something wrong? It seems like there's a quick connection with Verona, but it's not that quick from Parma or from Milan.

On the map Parma and Mantua seem quite close.

And the train from Milan to Parma takes about two hours? That seems too long as well.

Are there other options? Maybe a bus? Thanks for any tips!

Mantua's on a side line. Trains from Milan involve either changing at Verona, or stopping everywhere. From Parma to Mantua involves changing practically everywhere. When last I did this, BTW, there were quite a few steam engines. Probably changed since - but the line's never been a high priority for investment.

Trains from Milan to Parma are typically around 75-90 mins: The FS site (trenitalia) gets tetchy if you don't call Mantua 'Mantova', but gives lots of 80 min Milan-Parma trains if you use it.

Can't help on buses.

Thanks. I guess I'll look at Trenitalia. I usually go to Deutsche Bahn as I learned here as DB is more user-friendly.

Is car service possible? It's hard for me to tell how far this is exactly. I tried to specify "from Parma to Mantova" on Google maps, and rather than using a straight line route, it's using a roundabout V-route. Are there some mountains in that area or something?

And of course if anyone knows about buses or other means, let me know. Thanks again!

You could take 30 minute train from Parma to Modena and about an hour train to Mantova.

Here is a bus timetable, but I did not have much luck using it:

http://www.ibus.it/english/index_en.htm

Here's a schematic of the train lines which might help your thinking:

http://uk.geocities.com/goitaly2000/trainmap2.html

Thanks. I should be checking this thread rather than the ATM thread.

I should go out for lunch though. I guess I'll check this later.

ibus.it says there's no bus. Different provincie, see.

The SS343/SP 420 road between the two is as flat a pancake. But the motorway via the Modena intersection is a great deal faster, which is probably why the satnavs recommend it.

I'm still trying to extricate myself from ATM thread, but I promise to start the research soon.

How about some comments at Mantua in the meantime? Worth visiting? I'm thinking of going for Mantenga. And it's a Unesco World Heritage site.

Yes, we went about 10 years ago from Bologna change at Modena. Easy. Mantua is a lovely city with plenty to do for 2 days. The Mantegnas are spectacular.
Beautiful city centre, nice places to eat and drink and sit about, churches and Palazzo Te.

Hi 111op - Some Mantova photos:

http://www.turismo.mantova.it/immagini/citta.htm

Tourist office website:
http://turismo.comune.mantova.it/

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Mantenga is worth a visit for sure. We filmed there back in June. The footage is still in the can but hopefully the editors will get to it soon.

Thanks. What are you filming? The photos from the tourism website are beautiful.

I still haven't researched or planned yet. I've to see how it fits in with the rest of the trip. The travel times are longer than I'd have guessed.

I have to skip Mantua, but I plan to visit Parma.

Is there anything I should be aware of? I've checked the train schedules again and the fastest train for Milan-Parma take about 70 minutes.

Thanks!