We'll have 4 days to explore by rental car from Milan airport (Malpensa, I hope) to Venice: have already loved lake Como, and only a tease in Sirmione; have peeked at Verona and spent wonderful days already in Venice.

If you've ideas on where else to meander for 4 days, I'd be an eager reader.

thanks,
ciao!!

What time of the year?
Malpensa "I hope" - ?
Are you arriving early or late in Milan?
Do you have to be in Venice early or late?
What are your interests?
What is your comfort zone re how many hours you want to drive per day?

To answer your questions:
1. late June '06
2. I recall Malpensa the 'easier' airport to negotiate, coming from US?
3. have to be in venice early to midafternoon after car drop off where? many years ago, we dropped car at Padua train station and trained into Venice. Is this still the most 'efficient' way to get to Venice?
4. we love small towns/quaint villages/lakes/interesting architecture/small yet lovely B and Bs or small inns and wonderful food not at the fancy restaurants.
5. we're fine with driving several hours each day

have heard and read a lot about Palladio homes, loved Sirmione but there only for an overnight and part of a day ff; have heard a lot about Orta (stayed on Como; on Maggiore; don't need to revisit those, I'm thinking)

hope this added information gives you ideas for tips to pass along.

thanks!!

PS: arriving Milan airport from US midmorning, I'd think.

I would consider finding a hub. For what it's worth, Rex's favourite place is Bassano del Grappa, northwest of Verona ( a couple of hours from Malpensa). If you can find a B&B near there, you get Palladio, Sirmionie, quick Venice access (via the train from Verona), lakes.

Anyways, that's what I would do. A B&B with kitchen facilities and a bbq with a mountain view would suit me just fine .

G

thanks, guaranteed!
good idea, if so, would make sense to fly into Venice/Marco Polo airport from NY?

mfk59,

Can't claim to be familiar with the area as a whole, but would certainly recommend Bergamo. It would fit conveniently in to your journey and is well worth a visit, especially the mediaeval Citta Alta (High Town).

Here's a link to my trip report if you are interested;

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...en_name=JJBhoy

Jim

Although my familiarity with Bergamo is limited to a 1 hour meander ( we got there too early for a flight from Orio al Serio), I think it looks like just as valid a destination as Bassano del Grappa - - they're different, that's all I would say. Bassano has this big old Piazza that is as old as Rome itself, and impressive for its broad expanse... Bergamo is almost at the opposite extreme, with a maze of narrow streets, and you can feel very much how it was laid out with carts, pulled by little donkeys... in the minds of the shopkeeprs and city dwellers that made it their home(s), up there on that hill.

And for such a little town, the Museo Civico in Bassano is rather imprssive - - as much as anything it manifests a very palpable pride that &quot;these works are the legacy of <i>our</i> town, on the world art stage&quot;...

And yes... do NOT miss La Rotonda, for an hour or two, if you want to see the entire history of (simple classic beauty in) architecture in a single building!

Best wishes,

Rex

p.s. I'm not sure how one airport is &quot;easier to negotiate&quot; than another in Milan, coming from the US. I have actually never flown into/out of Malpensa - - but nothing terribly tricky about driving away from Linate. Of course, you could only fly there from anther European gateway, but I have done that (via FRA once, and via STN once) with no problem. I'm not saying that MXP <i>isn't</i> &quot;easier&quot; - - just that no one should be intimidated by the prospect of arriving in Europe by way of Milan Linate, whether traveling onward by car, or train (good cheap airport bus to Milano Centrale).

Topping for mfk59 &amp; did you know you had replies on your other post?

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...een_name=mfk59