[Craig T]

If you're going to be as far north as Bologna, you should spend a couple days up around Lake Como. The Palace Hotel is right on the lake in the town of Como and reasonably affordable for a historic hotel. Lot's of great food in Como.

Walking distance from the Palace hotel is the Funicolare Como-Brunate. It's a VERY steep tram to the top of the lakeside mountain with a great view and traditional northern Italian food restaurant in the village at the top. It's not as touristy as you'd think. Locals use it to get home from work in Como.

A good day trip is to drive SS583 around the south side of Lake Como to Bellagio. There is a FANTASTIC lakeside restaurants with local fish name Albergo Crotto del Misto in San Giovanni, just sort of Bellagio. SS583 is the route for the Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy) cycle race and the top of the climb has a 500 year old church made into a cycling museum...and a spectacular view of the Italian Alps.

From Bellagio you can take the Griante Ferry across mid-lake to Cadenabba (sp?) and drive the north side of the lake back to the hotel. Easy day trip.