We are traveling to the Cinque Terre, Lake Como and Venice we were looking for a town in between and considered Parma and now I am thinking of possibly Verona.

Any recommendations?

We like to asborb the culture in the area and hang out in piazzas and see a few sites, we will have our 9 year old with us as well.

We considered Parma to see a soccer game, but the schedule isn't out -how is Verona?

Where would you choose?

thanks

I've been to Verona several times and Parma once and both are very very nice towns - but Verona is by what average tourists like the far nicer of the two IMO

Verona has some of the finest Roman relics outside of Rome and an un-Godly number of ancient churches and bell towers - a nice outdoor market area - nice piazzas and, though Ersatz, Juliet's Balcony, no doubt the town's most famous and popular sight.

Parma is sweet - Verona sweeter IMO

As for lakes Lake Garda, near Verona to me is as nice or perhaps even nicer than Como and Stresa - being studded with fascinating places like Sirmione (more Roman ruins) and even lemon-growing towns - from it would be a really easy day trip to Verona

Verona, all the way. Much better than Parma. Beautiful architecture. I went there during Easter, and attend a church mass, which was the most beautiful mass I'd ever attended.

Both are very nice. Parma has more of a big city, busy feel. Verona is more laid back and easier to explore on foot. Bergamo, located east of Milan, is also a nice town and very relaxing.

Not sure of how long you will be based in the 3 stops you mention or the route you're taking. Instead of another stop, you might consider staying longer at one of the wonderful 3 bases you already have planned and skip a stop in Parma or Verona. Just another option to consider.

Currently reading Playing For Pizza by John Grisham. Light reading, humorous, and very enjoyable. Not his typical book. Set in Parma and is about a washed up American football player who goes to Italy to play American football for an Italian team. If you decide to go to Parma it would be fun to read it ahead and see if you recognize anything from the book. Maybe someone knows if all the places really exist, I think they do. Makes me want to see Parma!

With a 9-year-old, I think the edge goes to Verona, which not only has a Roman arena in better shape than the one in Rome, but one of the most storybook medieval castles in all of Italy, with a moat and a lovely bridge, and more teeth than a shark:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EBq9covCU9...0/IMG_1011.JPG

The Piazza Bra is a terrific place for hanging out with the crowd, plus Verona has a great passiegiata for window shopping. With a river, and even some fake Romeo and Juliet sights to get the 9-year-old ready for Shakespeare, pink marble Verona would be my pick.

Plus, you can train to Gardaland if you're in the mood, or even just a boat trip and some lake time on Lago di Garda. (There are aqua parks and, in Bardolino, lots of ice cream for the kids and wine for the grown ups).

If you go to Parma, try to get out to the castle of Torrechiara, only a stone's throw out of town.

http://diariodiviaggio.voloscontato....rrechiara1.jpg

Thank you all for the helpful information.

Is there a soccer stadium near where we might catch a game in October?