We're looking at driving from Salzburg to Northern Italy and back up through into Switzerland. On a map there are a number of places that make sense - Verona, Vicenza, Padua, Venice.

I went to Venice as a teenager a couple times but my partner has not. I don't remember thinking Venice was that great but I was young! I'd like to stay somewhere in that area for a couple nights.

Then we'll head up to Switzerland. Where would be good stop there - Como? Lugano? Or just keep heading north and more into Switzerland. We want to get to 'real' swiss alps.

We have limited time, of course!

What time of year is this? How much time do you have for the return drive? Will you be traveling with an internet connection? The Dolomiti are spectacular and unique, but they need nice weather.

None of the cities really "make sense" if you have a car. You might look to position yourself in the countryside not far from Venice, maybe in a winery, or in a much smaller town to avoid the daily hassle of driving in and out of a city like Verona or Padova. However, Vicenza might work out very well for you -- but pay attention to the very strict rules about not driving into the historic center.

Sorry should have said will be June, so (hopefully!) reasonable weather. I'd be very happy in the countryside. We probably would only have a couple days so would Vicenza be the place to go? I'd like to see somewhere really old and historic

Does anyone else have any suggestions? We are really short on time with only a couple of nights to spend somewhere so I want to avoid too much travel. If Venice is the must see place then so be it, I just thought one of the smaller towns would be easier with the car and would also have lovely history, just scaled down?

Padua is good - interesting in it's own right - but also only a short, relatively inexpensive, train trip to Venice.

We liked Vicenza but preferred Padua.

We're in northern Italy now, and the weather is really bad so I hope it improves for you in June. We spent a week in Venice and really enjoyed it, but it is only enjoyable if you say away from the super crowded, super touristy areas. But, having a car in Venice would be a major hassle. Can you take the train from Salzburg to Venice and then pick up a rental car after your time in Venice is over? Then you could maybe use one of the Italian cities you mention as a base for a few days before driving back up north.

We're travelling with our 7 month old baby and the reality of getting to and from stations and on and off of trains with a portacot, luggage, pram etc. was just going to take the fun out of the trip. And we have limited time to get from Munich to Paris so I want to just get in the car and drive. I think the positives will outweigh the negatives in the end.

Maybe Padua would be a good place to stay then and leave the car and we can do a day trip into Venice from there?

I get the feeling the Vicenza V Padua debate will be down to personal choice between travellers, shame for people like me who can't decide!

With a 7 month old baby you may want to save Venice for a much later trip. Even if you drive and park rather than take the train, you will still be doing a lot of toting and lifting, and Venice is more fun if you stay in the city proper, rather than stay in Mestre and commute in.

You are right that it's a wholly subjective call about whether Vicenza or Padova is the better spot for you. To me, it would depend a lot on what else you want to do in the area. If you are looking for one place to enjoy on foot, rather than day trip, Padova is larger and has more interest, and also has a legendary morning food market.

If you are thinking that you want to get out in the car every day and see more than where you are staying, the Vicenza is well located and a tad easier to zip in and out of in a car.

There is really no end of possibilities in that region when it comes to "lovely history". Italian cities were small and isolated, walled off. They were worlds unto themselves. Ferrara, Treviso, Padua, Asolo, Verona, Vicenza --- one could go on and on. Not trying to make your life more difficult, but suggesting that you make the decision based on whether this trip is about enjoying a small Italian city and maybe spending a few hours in Venice (in which case, Padova, Verona, Ferrara or Treviso) and basically keeping the car parked, or if this Italian jaunt is finding a sweet smaller town for a b&b and toodling around most of the day in the car taking interesting drives (and then Vicenza, Asolo, Valeggio sul Mincio or Arqua Petrarca, might be better).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/201...hitecture-food

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200...ly?INTCMP=SRCH

http://www.lifeinitaly.com/tourism/veneto/treviso

My preference would be to get to a small town full of historic buildings and quaint little restaurants and spend the days pottering around. We'll probably only have one full day and one half day anyway and I know its FAR from ideal but we are only dipping into Italy so my partner can see it. I've been all over Europe and I'd be happy doing less places for longer but he is Australian and wants to see as much as possible in his first European trip! Some of the reviews of Padua have put me off as it sounds quite large, I think even in a tiny village I could find a days worth of pottering, especially with a baby, we're realistic about not getting to see everything. I know Venice is large but you really just stay in the centre and don't see the sprawl beyond. So in summary, prob just get there and stay put and looking for somewhere with a lot of nice history in one place where we could just stay for a couple nights and soak up the atmosphere before moving on to Switzerland. So from what Stevewith is saying Padova, Verona, Ferrara or Treviso might be the go, I'll have to research Verona, Ferrara and Treviso!

We could stop in Vicenza or Verona on the way to Switzerland for a couple hours....hmmmm so many options! Thank god for Fodors and all you helpful people!

But also read the link I posted for Vicenza. (The first one.)

Ferrara might also work well for you

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200...nvents-holiday

or Asolo

http://www.lifeinitaly.com/tourism/veneto/asolo

http://www.perceptivetravel.com/issues/0809/italy.html

PS:

Verona is fairly large, so going in for just a few hours would mean spending a chunk of that time just negotiating traffic and looking for parking.

I'll have another read, thanks Stevewith