Stop between Dolomites and Florence
 

Hello

We are driving from Selva to Florence which is about a five hour drive. We wanted to stop somewhere in the middle for lunch. I know that the towns of Modena, Mantua and Bologna are right on the way but i was wondering if anyone had any rural setting restaurant ideas? It would save us the hassle of driving into and parking etc in the big cities.

Thanks so much for your replies
Deepa

I would drive the eastern shore of Lake Garda, stop in Malcesine and ride the cable car to the top of Monte Baldo for spectacular views of the lake. There's a parking lot at the boarding area.

You could eat in the self-service café at the top or come back down and eat in the town. There are several cafes near the ferry dock.

http://www.funiviedelbaldo.it/en/

If you don't want to drive along the lake, consider Mantova. The city has a ZTL.

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...uty-city-break

http://www.accessibilitacentristoric...a/mantova.html
[Dark blue is the ZTL boundary.]

I think the rural restaurant is a great idea for the reasons you mentioned, but also because they so often have such good food. However, which one to pick really depends on what time you plan to leave Selva, whether you will be closer to Verona or closer to Modena when the lunch hour rolls around (12.30-2.30pm).

Some places I would research are restaurants in Valeggio sul Mincio or Rubiera near Modena (the famous one is Arnaldo) or maybe Locanda delle Grazie in Curtatone near Mantova. You should call ahead to make sure they are open for lunch on your target date.

Thanks Jean and Sandra for your replies. We will head out first thing in the morning so a stop for lunch around Modena should be perfect. Will check out the ones you mentioned Sandra and will save your suggestion Jean for our next trip to lake Garda!

Both, Mantova and Modena would of course be worth a visit

But neither is really optimal places to stop and have a look around if you have a long driving day, plus looking for parking and avoiding ZTLs in both small cities is a challenge.

There are loads of really lovely small historic towns along the route -- like Sabbioneta or Carpi, for example -- where it is easy to get in and out with a car, and whose impressive sights can be enjoyed in under an hour if you want a break from driving. Mantova and Modena are harder nuts to crack, and are really destinations in themselves.