We'll be staying 4 nights at Venice's Hotel Principe in May. We are considering catching the train for a side trip during one of the days. We've heard great things about Verona, but feel the 1 1/2 hour ride each way (3 hours round trip) may be too long. Is Padua interesting to visit, and is it easily accessible by train? Any suggestions for time away from Venice?

You may end up spending all four days in Venice. If you go out of the City, consider Padua or Vicenza (accessible by frequent trains) and/or the Palladian villas along the Brenta Canal (accessible by hourly bus from Piazzale Roma).

i think that 4 days in Venice is just too short a time to really experience the town. i will top my 10 things to do off the beaten path in Venice to give you an idea of what there is to experience.<BR><BR>having said that, if you are set on taking a side trip, padova offers the scrovengi as well as san antonio and the museum complex next to the scorvengi chapel. I woud do that over verone which is too large to see in a short time and which requires a lot more transit time.

GAC: You suggest a bus to the Palladin villas along Bretna Canal. Tell me more about this interesting possibility!!! One travel book suggest 8 1/2 hour tour on the Burchiello motor launch from Padua to Venice stopping off at villas and lunch, but this sounds too long and perhaps expensive.

Meg: The Burchiello Tour is long and expensive, and you can very easily visit one (or possibly two) of the Villas on your own by taking the inexpensive and frequent bus from Piazzale Roma in Venice, or from the bus station in Padua. Check schedules in www.actv.it The very best villas to visit are the Villa La Malcontenta, near Marghera/Mestre, and the large Villa Nazionale (or Villa Pisani) at Stra' (closer to Padua). A round trip to either villa from Venice could be accomplished in about 4 hours.

I, too, think you should cut Venice by one or two nights. But it would help to know more about this Venice stay, in the greater context of the rest of your trip to Europe.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>