North Italy advice

[Mightymurphy]

We have a long weekend booked to Venice in October before boarding a cruise ship for a week. I think it’s very likely the ship won’t come over from Mexico where it currently is for such a short season. The flights with Jet2 could possibly go ahead. Both elements booked separately.

If the cruise cancels we will get our deposit back. I suspect it will be down to the flights in that either we go or cancel. Cost to us is £500 so not a massive massive loss.

Assuming cruise does cancel and we decide to go to Italy, where would you go? We are keen to see Venice. We’ve done Rome and Tuscany before. We will have a 12 year old with us. Any ideas? Has anyone been to Bologna. Any good?

Bologna is absolutely fantastic and so often missed!! Book the tower, go in the old market streets, and make the climb up to San Luca.
Go and eat here www.trattoriavalerio.com authentic food away from the tourist traps

And Verona of course, and in between Reggio Emilia, Parma and Ferrara

Bologna always seems very popular on mumsnet for some reason but there's not that much to do for kids imo. Near Bologna there is "Motor Valley" if you are into cars, motorbikes etc. I would be tempted to go to Venice and Trieste.

The Italian lakes are beautiful, cafe culture, great food. Lots of outdoor things to do, hiking, biking, water sports, boat trips, vineyards. Lake garda is great and near Verona, so you could combine city and lakes.

Alternatively, the dolomites? Stunning mountain scenery, great walking, biking and wellness spas. A slightly different cultural experience due to Austrian/Ladin influences.

You say you've been to Tuscany, but did you head into Liguria? The Cinque Terre cliffside villages are lovely, as is Porto fino.

I went to Bologna for the first time this year and found it dark and gloomy.
Venice is eye-,wateringly expensive and rammed with tourists 24/7. You can do it in a day.
Verona is underrated and from there you can get to the lakes which are beautiful.

Thanks all.