Venice and ?? Help!
 

Ok, I can't believe it but I convinced my DH to go to Venice in October AND we were able to use miles and get a free ticket! So now I'm looking for your input as to where else in Northern Italy you recommend. We are flying into and out of Venice (I originally wanted to fly in or out of Milan one way but it didn't work with the free flight.) Where do all you travellers recommend? We fly in the 14th and fly home the 21st. I'm thinking 3 days in Venice, so we have 4 more days. THANKS!

Hi sw,

What's wrong with a week in Venice?

You could daytrip to Padua, Verona and Bologna if, by some chance, you grew bored with La Serenissima.

((I))

Florence is an easy trip from Venice on the train and is a wonderful choice, especially if you have never been.

Ira, That's definately a thought. How difficult (and how long) is it to make such trips without a car? When we've travelled in the past (through Tuscany especially) we found it so easy with a car. We were also tossing around visiting at least one of the lakes, Maggiore or Como. Is that doable by day trip?

Mamc, we've been to Florence (and loved it) but want to see some new areas this time.

Any other ideas?

Author: RufusTFirefly
Date: 03/12/2005, 07:37 pm
A partial list of things to visit, see, and do in Venice:

Piazza San Marco, Basilica San Marco, Campanile, Palace of the Doges, Grand Canal on a vaporetto, Lagoon islands: (Murano, Burano, Torcello), San Michelle, Gondola yard. The Arsenal and the Naval Museum, Corrier Museum, Accademia art museum, Peggy Guggenheim Gallery, numerous art shows and exhibits that are always running, The Ghetto.

Too many churches to list with interesting art and architecture, but...Basilica Santa Mariadella Salute, Basilica dei Frari, Santa Maria dei Miracoli, San Sebastiano, San Pietro di Castello, Santo Giovanni E Paolo, Madonna dell'Orto. Venice's churches have some of Italy's greatest works of art--many free to view by the likes of Tintoretto, Veronese, Titian, Bellini, Vivarini, and Carpaccio.

Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Scuola San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, Scuola San Nicolo, Scuola Grande Dei Carmini, Scuole Grande of San Rocco.

Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Ca’ Rezzonico museum, Querini-Stampalia palace/museum, San Giovanni Evangelista, Ponte di Rialto, Rialto market, Ca’ d’Oro, Ca' Pesaro museum, Correr museum, gondola tour of smaller, hidden canals. Opera and concerts at La Fenice. Walking away from the daytripping herds and discovering a quiet, secret city that most tourists have no clue exists.

Congratulations!! I think flying into Venice is much better than Milan...We loved Venice, but I wouldn't spend the entire week there. Florence would be very easy to get to by train, and an entirely different experience. You can take the train right from the "top" of the Grand Canal, and the train station in Florence (San Maria Novella) is right in the center of the historic district. Lots of hotels, sightseeing, and everything you need in walking distance. We did a day trip to Siena and loved it also...this might also be an idea. I have a trip report posted if you want more details!

Oops! Just read your other post noting that you've been to Florence. Never mind. :-[ (this is supposed to be a clever embarassed emoticon, but it's not working)

Hi SW,

All of my recommendations are <2 hr by train from Venice.

Check my trip report for our day in Bologna
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

((I))

Try Googling "Brenta Canal" for full or half day cruises to visit the Palladian villas on the river. I think its a one way trip with a train ride return to Venice. (I certainly would spend the entire week in Venice, my favorite city.)

Are you wishing to stay in Italy? If so, how about the Lake region or the Cinque Terre. If you don't mind leaving Italy, perhaps Munich or Salzburg could be good options.

Brenta Canal tour looks wonderful! Is there one in particular you recommend?

Tcreath, we've been to Munich and Salzburg and they are wonderful places!

swalter,

I dont have any suggestions. But I will be making my first trip to Italy this October and will be in Venice the 13 & 14th, departing for Florence on the 15th. I wanted to know if you might want to get together for a drink or something on the 14th?

Tom

Can't recommend a Brenta cruise company since the last few trips to Venice have been in the winter and the Brenta trips are not made in the winter.

Tom, Let me get our plans together a bit and I'll post back to you...sounds good though.

swalter,no problem seeing how I dont leave for another 163 days (not like I'm counting or anything :>)

Tom, I understand your sentiment! I've always had several months (years) to plan in the past and this trip has come so unexpectedly that I feel like I'm rushed! Ha, almost 6 months and I feel rushed! I'm so excited!

Hokay! If my THIRD attempt to post a reply here doesn't work either, then I'll take the hint and stop trying!

swalter--We went to Venice in March and took a day trip to Ravenna to see the mosaics. It was WONDERFUL! The mosaics were incredible; they were some of the most phenomenal art either of us has ever seen.

DH and I went by car with a tour company (80 mi. each way). Going to Ravenna by train would probably work better as an overnight trip. But either way, Ravenna offers unforgettable beauty.

Wherever you decide on going, have a great trip!

Smalti,
Did you book your car tour in advance or wait until you got there? How far of a drive was it?

If you don't mind changing hotels for a few overnighters, you might consider taking the boat to Chioggia, then train to Ravenna, train to Padua, then back to Venice. I would spend the night in each of these destinations (and have), planning to arrive sometime in the morning and have all afternoon to see what each has to offer without feeling too rushed.

Why not check out Verona? Only an easy 1 1/2 hour train ride from Venice.

Hi, Swalter!

We lined up our day trip while back here at home (email and fax, no problem).

The trip (about 80 mi. each way) took a bit over 2 hrs. going down and over 1 1/2 hrs. to return.

As I say, we LOVED it, but it was not cheap.

Hello! I'm gatecrashing, offering no help but asking a question. Answers if there are any , may be of interest to you too. Two seniors visiting Venice this September for first time feel we SHOULD take a gondola ride but are told it is VERY expensive. Any tips, routes, alternatives ? Thanks. Happy trails from Montreal.

You've gotten many great suggestions already, but here's another. On our last trip, we started in Venice. Then we picked up a rental car, and drove to Ferrara, where we spent 2 nights. It's a charming little walled city, and not very touristy. From there, we visited Bologna for the day - a great city to people-watch and eat - and on another day, Ravenna. The mosaics in Ravenna are on my top-10 list of sights I've seen in my life. They were amazingly beautiful. Ravenna was an easy 45-minute drive from Ferrara.