Padua – the perfect base for visiting Venice When we visited Venice, we stayed in Padua . It’s half an hour to Venezia Mestre (Venice’s mainland suburb), trains are frequent and cheap, as long as you avoid expresses, and easy to book if you have the Trenitalia app. You’ll find accommodation and restaurants significantly cheaper if you are based in Padua and day trip into Venice, and Padua is worth exploring in its own right. There are also trains to Vicenza, Verona, Bologna and Bassano del Grappa – we found it the perfect base for a public transport trip in north-east Italy. Fergal O’Shea History in the mountains near Turin The Arch of Augustus in Susa. Photograph: Jiri Hubatka/Alamy On a recent break in Turin, we made the short hop to the mountain town of Susa . Situated in a stunning valley on the old Roman road to Gaul, Susa’s historic centre is a charming mix of medieval and Roman architecture set against classic alpine loveliness.…