If you could choose only one, would it be Verona or Bologna?
 

Trying to decide which would be the better place to visit after Venice. Have 3 nights to spend there. Both cities have alot to offer. Which would you choose?

Bologna!

Bologna.

Anothe vote for Bologna!

Bologna, but we are planning a night or two in Verona next time.

Bologna, finally. But Verona is a lovely "runner-up."

Loved Verona, but another vote for Bologna mainly because the food is so fabulous...

How many nights would you spend - 2 or 3?

I'll add my vote for Bologna. Go to the food store, Tambourini (Sp?) and be amazed. Have gramigna (gra-meen'-ya: pasta dish), a tomato and sausage sauce on pasta, aspecialty of the town, anywhere. And the filled pastas are astounding. In a restaurant, you can ask for a "treece" (don't know that spelling, either) and get a small sample of 3 diffeent pastas. Bologna is famous for it.

Go to Meloncello (be sure to get a reservation). I had the most divine gnocchi there I have ever eaten. Like clouds!

Walk up to(666 steps) or down from Sanctuario di San Luca for a wonderful arcaded climb or descent. And a beautiful view at the top. Meloncello is right at the bottom of the hill.

I could go on -----

We had 2 nights in Bologna and thought it was just about the right amount of time.

Bologna!!

Bologna! Stayed there for 10 days and loved it. You can click on my name for my (incomplete) trip report.

If you stay 3 nights you could have three dinners in Bologna ...

Thanks so much for the great advice! Next question is would you drive from or take the train from Venice. Do we really need a car in Bolonga?

Take the train!!! It's an easy train trip from Venice as Bologna is a major rail center.

You cannot drive in the historic center of Bologna without a permit, and the fine is stiff!!! Like 2 or 3 hundred dollars! You can get just as close to downtown by taking the train as by parking outside the center. Then tke a taxi to your hotel with your luggage. Otherwise, it's mostly easy walking or bus rides.

agree -- easy train ride and definitely no need for a car in Bologna

and another vote for the train.

as the Quakers say; they speak for me; Bologna and the train

Bologna!!!

They are such different cities in terms of architecture and setting, with such different wine and food, I am surprised you don't have any personal preferences that would draw you to one place over another. I probably spend more time in Bologna than any of the above posters (and am headed there shortly for a full month), yet even I would say Verona is the much prettier city, and much of its art and architecture is more congenial than Bologna's.

I also like the Bolognese kitchen (although I find its restaurants spotty and not as good as its stores), but if you are very interested in wine, I think Verona is by far the more outstanding choice, and you can find equally good food there. Gnocchi is quite common -- and good -- in Verona. (By the way, the Bolognese store is spelled Tamburini and if you want to sample 3 pastas on one plate, you order a "tris" (pronounced "treess"

Deep red Bologna has an extremely rich university history, which is a great draw for me, and I prefer its major art museum over that in Verona. But I find Verona quite a romantic place, with its pink granite and rushing river, and I am quite taken with its piazze, passeggiata and its Roman monuments.

By they way, the train time between the two cities is only an hour and 15 minutes, so whichever one you stay in, you can go have lunch and sightsee in the other.

That said, if you have any interest at all in the great art of Europe, Ravenna is closer to Bologna, and is one of Italy's most fantastic treasures.

PS: I should add that if you spring for the cost of a fast train, you can be in either city in fifty minutes.

I have to say that I would go to Verona, if I had to choose.
It is a most beautiful city, with some of the loveliest squares and buildings I have ever seen.

I like Bologna, and we had good food, but it was almost too big to get a real handle on, and Verona had more of a small city feel. Lots of art, ancient and medieval buildings, delicious food, the wonderful church of San Zeno, a Renaissance marvel (where Romeo and Juliet are said to have been married) as well as the Museo Civico, with its remarkable statue of the cangrande.

I could go on and on, and maybe it was just what WE happened to see and experience in both cities, but don't ignore Verona, it's memorable.

Actually, I doubt most people answering in this thread have been to both places. They don't offer any basis for comparison. It's jsut a shout out for Bologna.

I'm glad people like Bologna, and I do too, very much, but Verona has many more marvelous piazze that are so very well used, and lovely food markets that date back centuries. Obviously people like both places, and for good reasons, but considering that it now costs most couples about $500 per day to visit Northern Italy, don't you want to make your decision on the basis of something more than a half dozen internet responses from people whose age and background you have no clue about?

Anyway, up to you, but the real reason I came back to post was that I felt certain that Verona is actually more into gnocchi than Bologna is, so I did some googling, and here is a link to a fun read. In addition to staging an entire event around gnocchi, and crowning a king-for-a-day Papa Gnocco, the Veronese also have a purely local word to caution against the perils of stuffing yourself with too much gnocchi: "GNOCCOLONITÀ."

http://juliadellacroce.com/forktales...y-in-verona-2/

zeppole, actually u don't have a clue as to where people on this thread have gone... And I visited NItaly when the dollar was at $1.63 a couple years ago and it didn't cost anywhere near $500 a day...substantially less and I have been there since and again nowhere near $500 a day. so have u basis for comparison???

Yestravel, zeppole is always the "one in the know" and puts down other posters responses a lot be they a one word response or many paragraphs. And you are correct, she has no idea about various posters.

I have spent many days in Verona going back to the 1970's and in Bologna since the early 1980's. It is all a matter of opinion of course but I will say again I prefer Bologna although I always have also always enjoyed Verona. My various friends in Northern Italy prefer Bologna to Verona also, unless they are attending the opera in Verona.

Enjoy whichever city you chose, mike, you will I am sure have a wonderful visit in either Bologna or Verona.

Just thought Verona deserved another proponent. We spent a full day and one night in Verona last year coming off 3 nights at Lake Garda (also recommended). We were pretty much thunderstruck by Verona's beauty: gorgeous architecture throughout the very walkable city. Approaching the huge city gates through which the lovely buildings framing the square appear before you arrive at a view of the Roman Arena/coliseum is a treat: we hope to include Verona in another trip when we've made better plans to include a performance in the arena. Marble streets were thronged with shoppers at upscale shops open on Sunday, one of the oldest market squares - still operating, and a lovely river is crossed by a pedestrian bridge with picturesque views of roman gardens on the far side, or the cityscape looking back. Verona was a satisfying experience, and is a truly elegant city.

We spent 3 nights in Bologna on the same trip and were rather underwhelmed. I'd describe Bologna as gritty. I'd been looking forward to the arcaded streets, but though interesting, I found that these same arcades blocked views of the street architecture and drained the city of the graciousness I've enjoyed in so many European cities. Granted, we're not "foodies", many of whom have so obviously and sincerely enjoyed their stays in Bologna. We did enjoy the transportation convenience of Bologna, and had some great days trips by train to Ravenna and Ferrara, both of which we'd recommend warmly. We certainly don't regret visiting Bologna, and I think it's interesting as a contrast to most other Italian cities we've visited.

But still count us as a "Yay" vote for Verona.

Bologna. I've already spent 12 nights there on two visits and am going again soon, for another 5. I've made day trips and will probably make a few this time around, but have always loved returning to Bologna in the evening.

I loved Verona and my 7-day stay there and will visit again on the same trip for 1 day. But I prefer Bologna.

The OP asked which would <b>YOU </b> choose. I don't need any info about Mike to answer that question. Another vote for Bologna.

I'm loving this thread, because my husband and I were having the same debate between these towns. I kept telling him I wanted to get to Bologna, and he was just kept saying "why, I've never heard of it as a tourist destination." Well, to paraphrase Bill Clinton's campaign slogan, "it's the food stupid."

The good news for us is that we can make a stop in both! It will just be a lunchtime excursion most likely, but at least in Verona we'll get a quick view of the amphitheater and the towns, and in Bologna I'll get to see if the food reputation is deserved (although it does put tremendous pressure on that one meal!)

I have been to both cities as well, multiple times.

I do not think there was anything wrong with the OP as framed, or with the way it was answered. It's a little insulting, Zepp, for you to suggest that a simple answer to a simple question indicates that we are all just trying to cover up our ignorance.

I have been to neither - but this thread is fascinating. Thanks to all of you who have contributed.

Bologna. We once stayed an extra day just to eat.
____

There is a bakery in our neighborhood called Led Zeppole.

I'm planning a 3 night trip to Bologna and this thread was fun to read. I've been to Verona, which I loved, and am looking forward to making a comparison. Last year I went to Turin/Torino so I'm especially interested in seeing the contrast between these two lovely cities.

For me, Verona. The Palazzo Vecchio museum is one of my favourites.

Sorry, make that Castel Vecchio