4 night conundrum

[jan]

So, towards the end of our trip, sandwiched between 3 weeks in Venice and 2 weeks in Verona, we have 4 nights still to plan. This will be in November.

One idea is to rent a car and spend 2 each in Bassano del Grappa and Asolo. We have never been to either place and they are both appealing.

But, same for Ravenna--never have been. We could take the train there and maybe stay 2 nights followed by some country type spot on the way to Verona--maybe a 2 day car rental???

Any thoughts?

 

[Pauline]

Ravenna is an interesting town and the mosaics are fantastic. If you haven't seen them, this would be a good chance. But, it will be November and being in dark, cold churches might not be appealing.

I don't know the area well, but a few days driving through the small towns might be fun. Again though - November, shorter days, possibly bad weather.

Or take the train to Trieste and spend the 4 nights there. I haven't been there but @jonathan recommends it.

 

[Larry H]

I'd vote for Ravenna, my wife for Trieste. We spent a week in Ravenna in March 2016 during a 7-week trip in northern Italy: four days in the Ravenna area (including nearby Classe), in which we went to nearly all the museums, including all the church buildings with the marvelous Byzantine mosaics; plus daytrips to Bologna by train and San Marino by car by way of some of the Adriatic beach towns. I'd find one day (two nights) in Ravenna to be too hectic -- but then I really love mosaics.

Margaret originally wanted to spend several days in Trieste, but we ended up with a day trip by train from Venice during our week there. After lunch at the Canal Grande, we enjoyed a ride on the tram which converts to a funicular to the top of the mountain overlooking the city (get off there, rather than at the end of the line). Back in the centro we walked uphill to the duomo and castello. There are several museums which sounded interesting, including the Castello di Miramar (reachable by bus 8 km. from the centro), if we had had a multi-day trip there.

 

[jan]

So, We've extended this little vacation within our vacation. Now our plan is 2 nights in Asolo or Bassano, 2 in Ravenna and 3 nights in Mantova. that will leave us with 11 nights in Verona before we fly home.

Thanks, Larry--we've been twice to Trieste and really enjoyed it.

Still trying to decide between Asolo and Bassano but leaning towards country side near both. Of the nearly 3 month trip, that would be our only rural stay.

Anyone know the perfect spot?

 

[Callie]

The perfect spot: Villa Cipriani in Asolo. Expensive, but oh so elegant. And maybe in November, not so expensive.

If you go to Bassano, Monte Grappa is worth a visit, if you can get up the mountain, i.e., no snow, no fog, no rain, etc.

 

[Callie]

Never mind. I just checked their web site and they seem to be closed the month of November.

 

[jan]

Thanks so much, Callie. Hmmm, closed in November. That's not a good sign. But maybe it just means we'll have the town to ourselves.