I’m interested in the Italian Riviera but open to any suggestions for Northern Italy. We have three nights open and would appreciate any advice.

This is our fourth trip to Italy but first to Northern Italy. Thank you!

Some of our favorites are Parma (and surrounding countryside) and Bologna. Both are college towns and have great mixed-age populations. Both are great walking towns. Bologna, in particular, has super easy train transport to many wonderful nearby locations; the station is an easy walk through historic center. (both are difficult towns to to bring a car to, though.)

if you want to go further north, and off the beaten tourist path, we also love Turin. It reminded me a bit of San Francisco, though it's nothing like it... something about the compactness. Amazing restaurants there and not so far from the wine country and beautiful Parco Nationale Grand Paradiso.

Have you thought about the dolomites area?? That's great too... but further east. Tell us more about what you're looking for, other than a time filler!!

I day tripped to Bologna and found it rewarding (though I had stayed there a few times before) - everything kind of compacted together - just wandering ancient university preceints was fun - great for rainy day with covered walkways. I'd take train if possible as driving into city center Verboten - maybe drive to town near Bologna and train in or from Florence with bus there- for lots on trains check www.trenitalia.com; www.seat61.com; for where to go by train also www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

I enjoyed the Certosa di Pavia - ancient monastery in countryside near Pavia - lots of parking.

When are you going? If July or August any seaside area will be mobbed - do a drive from Tuscany abode to Viarereggion or similar seaside resort. also comnsider Italian Lakes district of Lake Maggiore - Stresa nice lakeside base - or Lake Como.

We enjoyed Bologna but alao look at Santa Maria Ligure and Camogli in Liguria.

I stayed in SMLigure and loved it - they still bring in the local fish hawl in afternoons and a great base for Portofino - lovely walks there or buses or ferries. We even day tripped to Cinque Terre from there for the day. SML gets lots of cruise boats so has a lively atmosphere at night.

Thank you for this vauable information! I will start searching now.

Trains are excellent along the cost there so one base can serve for several neat places - C Terre too if you prefer less mobbed towns and day trip to CT.

We too loved Santa Margarita Ligure and Camogli- did a day trip by train to the Cinque Terre and were so glad to return to SML. The entire area is gorgeous but SML & Camogli were IMO delightfully low key, especially compared to the crush in both Portofino and the CT. It’s also easy to train up to Genoa which we liked quite a bit (to our surprise). Not many tourists,very authentic. Don’t miss fabulous pesto and pesto lasagna if you get to this part of Italy: the best!

Interesting so many people are advising on towns inland and far from the Riviera.

A lot of the Riviera is made up of small bays with nice beaches and a tightly packed little set of bars, shops, low rise hotels, so if you like a beach holiday along with the whole of the Italian population this is a good idea, but focus on June and early July rather than Late July and the dread August.

However there are a few older cities along the coast (assuming you are also looking at CT as an option) have a look out for the walled cities or at least ones with old buildings of some note like Albenga or Noli. If you like the dusky highlights of Damascus then you might like Genoa itself, the old town is a classic of tiny alley ways and side "streets" though there are a few posh areas in town and the dreaded car gets everywhere, the place has a certain gritty charm.

You think Genoa had a certain gritty charm and yes it is an old-world Italian town but before the World's Fair or whatever they had some years ago it was really gritty.