Basics:
• Two Weeks
• Late September
• Looking for Four Base Towns (Likely Fly into and out of Venice)
• Couple late 40’s.
• Train Only

We just want to wander, sit, window shop, food markets, evening passeggiata, soak up daily life in very pedestrian friendly locales. Towns with a train station that are lively enough (with hopefully more local residents than tourists) that even if we never leave for a day trip - we are still happy with the strolling, eating, shopping opportunites. We want to walk out the hotel/B&B and be right in the middle of the action. No need for extensive museums/churches on this trip. Our best times/memories are just strolling and observing. With respect to shopping, we love to look, but we travel very light so we buy very little! We like nice stores (but not high end).

We have already been to Venice (loved it!) and Florence/Tuscany area (loved Lucca and Sienna – stayed in San Quirico d'orcia thanks to this forum!) We once fled Florence for Lucca – too crazy, car exhaust fumes (First stay, Hotel David, just too far from center, second stay Hotel Davanzanti (perfect!). (Other towns we have loved for reference: Kilkenny, Cesky Krumlov)

First stop maybe Padua for a few days to recover?

For one thing, there is private transport from Marco Polo to Padua which sounds perfect after a long flight (West Coast). I saw two firms (one, Landomas Air Service) for a reasonable price – not into lugging luggage onto buses and trains immediately after a flight. Thereafter – no problem!

Suggestions? What towns do you think I am looking for? So far Verona (with day trips) and Bologna (with day trips) seem to have appeal from reading the forums.

Thanks!

I will throw one out that seems to fit the bill: Bergamo. Bergamo esp. Citta Alta section is very pedestrian friendly. It was a town which I saw the fewest tourists, great views, the best gelato I have ever had, lots of character.

I second the Bergamo recommendation, and I'm happy to throw in a Verona recommendation. It fits all your criteria to a "T".

Bergamo is a very good idea. You know,it is an airport in Bergamo also, maybe you can return home from there?
We loved Vicenza,with all beautiful Palladio's palaces.

Let me suggest some places other than the obvious:
Bassano del Grappa
Gardone Riviera[ ferry from Desanzano]
Parma
All very charming destinations.

You can fly into Venice, out of Milan or vice versa and visit Lake Como or Lake Maggiore without backtracking to Venice. Of course, if you are into (window) shopping, you might include Milan.

Elegant shopping?

Parma and Verona would be the most pedestrian friendly ones, with plenty to do and no need for day tips. For your other two towns, I would add Ferrara and Mantova.

Lots of car fumes in Bologna, much as I love the town.

Mantova, Parma, Bassano del Grappa, Vicenza and Bergamo are all excellent suggestions. Let me add lovely, tranquil Montagnana as a much smaller place (smaller than even Bassano), and Padova (now with a large pedestrianized city center).

I'll add Sirmione (sp), we stopped there on our way to Venice from Bellagio. Lovely walled town w/nice restaurants/hotels. Was not touristy at all when we were there many moons ago.

Padua is a great city. Its easy to navigate and get around. Also enjoyed Mantova which also has a large pedesterian area. While Verona is a bit more touristy I still found it very charming. Vincenza is a lovely town also and liked that even more than Verona. Bologna has fantastic food and great strolling -- can't say that I recall car fumes. A daytrip from Bologona to Ravenna is easy and the mosaics are not to be missed and the shops in Bologna were great fun to window shop in. Bergamo didn't really grab me -- it was packed so maybe that effected my view of it. Beautiful setting though. Bassana del Grappa also didn't charm me. I thought it was very crowded with tourists and nothing really stood out to me about it. Many wonderful small villages/towns in NItaly.

Thanks all for the wonderful suggestions as well as providing me with some direction.

I have been quite busy using google images to get a visual of the suggested towns, as well as digging into Trip Advisor reviews of hotels in those towns - - I find that the reviews often give me a further glimspe into a town's vibe.

Zeppole and yestravel - thanks for making a special note of my "car fume" issue!