ISSUE: How to allocate our 6.5 days in late March

I previously posted questions but our plans have changed a fair bit. I need new advice about allocating the nights of Sunday March 22 to Friday March 27.

My default solution will be to stay somewhere in Tuscany for the 6 nights, in a town like Montepulciano, wh I know well.

But I wd rather explore areas I do NOT know between Florence and Bergamo.

Qs:
1. Is Lombardy too cold + wet in March
2. Can we use a car in cities such as Bologna or will it just be a nuisance
4. City or country

BKGRD: We will be in Italy from March 12 to March 30 inclusive. Arrive: Rome Fiumicino. Depart: Florence Peretola.

We leave Florence Sunday March 22. We MUST be in the vicinity of Bergamo, Lombardy sometime on Saturday March 28.

We absolutely need a car for the March 28-29 Bergamo-area weekend. As we start in + fly out of Florence, it kinda makes sense to have a car the whole 8 days..... which really pushes us toward a rural or village location, not (big) cities.

We got suggestions of Lucca, Pistoia, Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna -- all of which wd be easier to visit without a car, I guess. I am attracted to Bologna, Pisa, Lucca. I found lots of great photos of Bergamo and wondered about exploring this unknown (to me) region.

I wd be content to stay put in 1 really interesting place OR to move around -- min. 2 days per place.

PS: I do not like hotels, if we can avoid them. We like apartment rentals or perhaps a sympathetic B&B.

What would YOU do, in our place....

BTW: If you were wondering, no we are NOT planning to drive from Bergamo to Florence on the morning of the 30th.

We will drive from Bergamo to the Florence area on the afternoon or evg of Sunday March 29. We will stay in the city or near the airport -- with car drop off Sun nt or Mon am.

I have spent 2-3 weeks each winter(December,January or February) in Northern Italy last 4 years, it had never been too cold for people from Canada, always qutie pleasant to walk around, sometime even without a coat.

After leaving Florence(you could easily visit Pisa, Lucca,Pistoia from Florence, althought I really enjoyed staying in Lucca), you might like to base at Bologna for daytripping to Ravenna, Ferrara and don't forget Parma. Then move up to Milano for Bergamo area.

All the places above could be very easilly visited by public transport, hire car is really a nuisance.

For your accommodation near Florence and 2 hour from Bergamo,and first all in the price is all included,I suggest you La Valle a Polvereto Farmhouse ,The hostess, Brunella, was gracious, welcoming and generous. Brunella is also a fabulous cook!!! The rooms were spotless and spacious. We stayed in the Mimosa room and our group was very impressed with the privacy, cleanliness and wonderful views of the flowers, vinyards and olive groves. We are planning another trip to visit the area and will make it a point to stay at Brunella's farm in beautiful Tuscany just minutes from Florence,

When we arrived at the farm on the first night, Brunella and her helpers cooked a "simple Tuscany" feast with a wonderful surprise for my wife as we celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary. (Champagne and special dessert) It may be called Simple Tuscany but it was well prepared and portions were very generous. The wine was also some of the best.

We visited Florence and were provided spot on directions to free parking then she arranged for taxi service to assist us with getting us to our appointments for museum tours on time. Breakfast was tasty and provided at our convenience.

When we checked out on our last morning there she accomodated our early departure (7:30am) without complaint.
please you check www.accommodation-tuscany.it

JudyC: Thanks for the reassurance. My issue is really whether we can pick up a car just for the weekend and drop it off at Florence airport. If there is a very large penalty for doing so, it might be more cost-effective to have a car all week, base ourselves in a village or town and commute by car to places like Lucca and Pisa...

Lelita02: Advertising is NOT ALLOWED on Fodor's. This is the second time you have recommended this place. You have only 2 posts on Fodor's, so that is a VERY high ratio.

I would keep the car and include Lucca and Santa Margherita as you travel north.

I've just started researching Lucca, Pisa and Pistoia. Each is about 90,000 people -- quite manageable for this navigator and his trusty chauffeur/ partner.

I'm aware Lucca is pedestrianized within the walls.

I guess larger places such as Bologna will have to await another trip. I can't see giving up one of our 3 days in Florence to visit Bologna. And it seems silly to travel by train when we have a rental car....

What is the attraction of S.ta Margherita, Bob? I have not heard of it....