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.