isabel thanks for the comments,
Some ideas but I'd rather spend an extra hour on a train than add another overnight change in Ferrara.

About staying in Padua instead of Venice, the issue is since we'll be staying in that area for 4-5 days does Padua have enough for several partial days. I think Venice does. I'll see what my wife thinks.

Ok. Now I'll try to prioritize in the event something gets left out. Between the following what would the order of priority be.

Lagoon Islands (Burano, Torcello)
Padua
Verona
Ferrara
Vicenza

Thanks.

Totally subjective

Lagoon Islands (Burano, Torcello)
Padua
Verona
Vicenza
Ferrara

Our style is more to wander and less to spend hours in museums (of course there are exceptions). Which of Verona, Vicenza and Pauda) can be grouped together on the same day.

They are all pretty close together so travel time shouldn't be much of an issue. It's probably more a matter of which are larger or have more to keep us occipied.

Thanks.

I just checked the train schedules.

It appears Verona would be a trip on its own.

However taking a 10 or 10:50 (faster and a bit more expensive) train we could get to Vicenza by 11:30AM. If we wander around the town for about 4 hours (is this the right amount of time for this town?) we could get to Padua by 4PM wander around and even stay for dinner before returning to Venice.

Or we could reverse them and go to Padua first then Vicenza.

Comments on this? Thanks.

Having a bike in Ferrara is an experience which for me made the city, to discover that the hierarchy goes bike (at the top), pedestrian, car is frankly fun and the whole chatting to people as you ride is wonderful.

The city is well mapped and the paths are clear. From memory Mantua is about 30 miles away so a good ride, but you could come back on the train (Regionale takes bikes for peanuts). Padua is a longer ride away but again this city in very bike friendly.

>>>kybourbon,
That bus isn't a school bus. But I think I'm giving up on that.<<<

Most public buses in rural Italy are school buses. It's how many kids get to and from school. Certain runs will be designated as the school run. That will apply for Umbria also. School times are not the same as in the states. Often you can encounter a packed bus of students around 1 or 2pm. It's usually standing room only so you might won't to choose all of your bus trips around the school runs.

Be careful of mid-day closing! It doesn't affect trains and some restaurants and bars, but it does affect 'sights' such as museums and cathedrals and palaces. You say you are more of a wanderer than a sightseer so you should be OK. But just be warned, some small Italian towns can seem like a wasteland between 1-5pm. I have spent many happy hours waiting for places to open in the middle of the day. That might affect whether or not you want to try to get to 2 towns in one day; I don't think I would.

gertie,
I don't think I wrote that we're more wanderers than sightsers.

We're more wanderers than museum goers. Sights, whether outdoor or indoor are always a possibility.

Now onto the middle of the trip.

Since we'll be based in Perugia, that's covered.

The main contenders for day trips are Spello, Spoleto, Gubbio & Todi.

I think my main concern is that Gubbio and Todi are reached by bus and these may not be the tamest of rides. As mentioned, my wife suffers from motion sickness though in recent years she's much improved with the use of wristbands and pills.

Is there anything else I should or can consider from Perugia?

- - - -
The end of the trip is also getting clearer. The only real decision I have to make is whether we spend a night in Orvieto or visit Orvieto as a day trip from Rome.

Obvious benefits both ways. One less hotel change vs spending an evening in Orvieto (and shortening the train ride from Perugia).

We've been to Rome a couple of times before (it's been about 13 years) so a day or two should be fine.

Topping hoping for responses. Thanks.

Me again. I went to all of these towns from Perugia, 2 by bus and 2 by train. All are wonderful. If you only have time for 2,then choose the ones by train to avoid the motion sickness problem. I had no problems on the bus at all; it goes quite slowly and the roads aren't especially twisty.
I would spend a night in Orvieto; places are always nicer when the tourist hordes have left. On the other hand Rome is my least favourite city in Europe so I wouldn't even bother!!

gertie, Thanks.

At this point if I could replace one or both of Gubbio & Todi with towns accessible by train and not have a real hassle getting to the town from the train station, I would consider it.

About Rome. We've been a couple of time about a dozen years ago. I think my wife has a few things that we've skipped over in the past that will take a day or two.

Now I've got to figure the days and consider travel between as some take several hours.

Gubbio is up in the mountains/hills. So I would think a bus ride there might bring on motion sickness.

Another possible train daytrip is Trevi. Haven't been there myself but it looks great from afar, an archtypical hilltown. Which means steep streets. It's supposed to have a great view of the surrounding countryside. You could take a bus or a taxi from the train station.

Cortona is another possibility though you have a short bus/taxi ride from the nearest station. It's very overrun with tourists as it is the setting for Under the Tuscan Sun.
Another idea is Arezzo. It's on the direct trainline from Perugia and has the fantastic church of San Francesco with the Piero de la Francesca frescoes. An absolute must-see if you are interested in things like that.
Also bear in mind that train stations are usually on the edge of these towns so you need to allow time to walk or taxi from the station to the centre.
Re Gubbio. Yes, it's up in the hills but the bus ride is mainly on the flat. It's once you get off that you need to climb the hill on foot. And there's a funicular.

Mimar, thanks. I'll ,look into that.

gertie,
We were in Cortona a couple of years ago on a day trip from Florence. While there were crowds, once we got off the main street they thinned out substatially. Anyway, crowds aren't bad. We're tourists as well. On the return we stopped in Arezzo and wandered the town.

The main square is where Life is Beautiful was shot. Too bad the square was closed and under reconstruction.

You're making Gubbio much more doable than I thought. Is the funicular convenient. That is does it start somewhere near the bus stop and end somewhere near a town center?

No, the funicular is designed to get you up the hills outside of the town. For stuff inside the town you need to walk. It's quite steep but perfectly doable.
When you get off the bus there is a tourist information office right in front of you. They will sort you out.

gertie,
Do you mean that the funicular in Gubbio merely takes you up but not to the town?

Gubbio is not on top of a hill. The town of Gubbio begins at the base of a hill and spreads up the hill but not to the top. The funicular goes from the town to the top.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysARyaFr5T4

I took some video of the "bucket of bolts" when I was there. My travel companion was afraid of heights so we didn't take it up.