Best city to visit in Italy??

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I am so stuck! I’m booking a 3 night stay for me and my husband for his 30th in July! I can’t for the life of me decide where to go, he’s mentioned Naples before but Google just tells me it’s dangerous and not the best place to go! (Happily have someone prove that statement wrong with a great experience!) Rome could be good but I know we will want a mixture of city life, good restaurants, sight seeing but also a beach day too!? Is this even possible? Grateful to anyone who reads this!

I went to Verona last year and it was fabulous. Enough to see in the city for two days, and then the third day, you can get a quick 30 minute train to Lake Garda which was just gorgeous, and you're able to swim in the Lake.

Couldn't disagree more about Treviso.

DH convinced me that due to the magic of Ryanair we should stay in Treviso and explore before going on to Venice.

Treviso is OK but my overwhelming experience throughout was that I was in NOT VENICE. There are canals but it is absolutely nothing like Venice.

Even DH has admitted his mistake so it must be have been bad.

I've been informed by friends who had a week there, that Bologna is the food capital of Italy. They're real foodies, mind.

Was going to suggest Bologna but not near a beach! Also at least has shade from summer heat. Verona was over 40 when we went one summer.

Siena!!
Went to Florence too and it was a bit meh in comparison. But maybe would be too hot?

Rome is amazing! Florence is next on my list.

Bologna - not too touristy and divine food.

Bologna is the hottest city in Italy in the summer. Upwards of 35 every day.

Someone suggested Puglia upthread as a cooler alternative to Rome. Trust me, we give Bologna a run for its money with added humidity. I go out to forage for food after dark if I have to spend the summer here.

I am originally from the Naples area. Naples is nowhere as dangerous as it used to be, if you use common sense (careful of pickpockets, no flashy expensive jewellery, etc). In 3 days you could spend one day visiting the historical part of the city perhaps doing a city tour, church , castles and underground Naples ( a network of aqueducts that was originally built by Greeks. A second day could be Pompei/ Herculaneum ruins ( easy to reach from Naples catching National trains / Circumvesuviana). Third day either Amalfi coast ( via train) or mount Vesuvius excursion, Caserta royal palace if you find a coach taking your there/ ferry to Ischia or Capri.

Needless to say the food is simply amazing.
End of July will be hot and busy. I rarely go to Italy in July but then I hate hot weather

Ive just booked sorrento as a surprise for DH 40th next may! We are just going mon-fri-can't wait!!

Why did you think Treviso would be like Venice? It’s near it, but it’s not it. Only 30 mins from Venice though, hope you went for a visit!

You can get a train to Lake Garda - not too far (we visited Bologna when staying in Peschiera)