Solo travel in Italy

Sorry I've not replied earlier but I've not looked at the Older Traveller pages for a while and this post didn't appear on the Italy page. Italy is quite an easy place to get around particularly on local trains to the cities youmention and my vote would be to go it alone unless you feel you need company. Despite other outward appearances, in most of the smaller cities especially (i.e. not Rome and Florence), ITalians are quite reserved, but if you approach them and try some conversation, they will do their best to join in - and if they can't speak English they'll try and find someone who can - and you'll flatter them if you try a few words of Italian and then they'll feel obliged to be even nicer to you and have an even longer conversation.
I don't know Bologna well but its a beautiful city and quite compact and of course the foody capital - its also big on stidents with a large university. Lucca is delightful and a good base for visiting eg. Pisa, the seaside at Viareggio which some consider Italy's premier resort, and going north into the mountains around Bagna di Lucca. Its a couple of years since I was last there but there was quite a big English community in Lucca - big enough to produce a monthly magazine on sale in some of the local newsagents.

thanks for that Mike.. i'm pretty much sorted itinerary wise now.. but i have another question which i am going to post.. but you may also have an answer for.. how long does it take to process and get through customs in Milan? do you know
thanks - for a morning arrival

Yes yes!

We get better luck in talking with locals, if we stumble in their language first.

They might say, "Actually I do speak a little English." They just don't want to offend.

thanks so much everyone for your replies - i think i pretty much sorted now.. just have to rely on nice efficent rail travel from Milano to Venezia mestre and i'll be sweet!

If you get off at the wrong town....so what?

So efficient you need to be on the train a good few minutes before the allotted departure time. I thought I could catch a train at the last minute as in the UK, but not at Milano, it was already on it's way!

MsMitty give my best to Walter!