Milan, Parma, and...?
 

Hello. We're taking a 5-night trip to Italy in a few weeks and figure we can add one more town to visit. Where would you go and why? We're looking for a small(ish), walkable town, ideally with a lot of charm and a very good restaurant or two. (Note: We've been to the Lakes region, Bologna and Modena already. Not so interested in the Riviera.) Maybe Cremona or Mantova? What do you think?

Ravenna?

Also check where you could easier train TO from Parma as a day trip so you don't have extra unpacking. Enjoy!

Without a doubt Mantova!

Yes Mantova is great - love the lake

Cremona I liked but it was not nearly as nice IMO as Montua.

PalenQ - love the lakes

Also -

Great food - mostarda (different to that from Cremona), cheeses including primo sale and grana padano fresco, tortelli (di zucca), sbricciolona etc.

L'Aperativo - great bars offering a spuntino before dinner

La Gazzetta di Mantova - the oldest newspaper still in production which once a week has a detailed list of commodity prices which is so extensive is almost unique throughout the world. Anyone who has read the Gazzetta will know this.

Immense culture - from the Palazzo Ducale to Palazzo Te and so on.

Everything within walking distance.

Are you just looking for more suggestions, or did you not like the info you received on your other thread?

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...lease-help.cfm

Jean - well said

Thank you, Nochblad, for your thoughtful reply. Mantova it is!

Jean, I didn't mean to sound dismissive of your suggestions in an earlier post. The focus of my search has changed slightly (small, walkable town), plus that conversation went a little off the rails.

I was just in both Cremona and Mantova this summer ( 2nd time in Mantova) and agree Mantova is much more interesting. I am in the process of writing a trip report and will hopefully get it up next week. In the meantime here are the photos of both towns

http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/cremona
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/mantova