Tour By Train

Two to Three Weeks to see Italy

Italy by Train Including Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome in 2 or 3 weeks. 

^{Below: A train station in rural Italy}

Things to remember about Italian train travel:
Buying a seat reservation is strongly suggested, even if you have a rail pass. Reservations on the high speed trains and sleeper trains are mandatory but are usually only a few euros. Without a reservation, you may find yourself standing or running from car to car looking for an empty seat- especially on busy weekday mornings in Rome or Milan.

Make sure to ask conductors any questions about connections, stopovers or if your car is going to your destination. Even though most conductors do not speak English, they are very friendly and willing to help. Often trains will split, with one section heading to a different destination, make sure you are on the right part of the train. It is best to ask a conductor if it is your train before boarding, that is unless you feel adventurous.

The trains run on time in Italy- well usually, there is still the occasional labor strike, but these are pre-scheduled and can be avoided. The English edition of the Corriere Della Sera (found at newsstands) lists these rail strikes so that you can take another line or a bus to your destination. On the rare chance that you do get delayed, it is usually not for very long. The best way to avoid wasting too much time is to travel early in the morning. This often allows for a quick stopover in places that you would otherwise miss, keeping in mind that not all trains make all stops. Always check the detailed train schedules posted in every station.

Types of Trains in Italy:

Regional Transport trains: Stop at nearly every station en route to the larger towns in any specific region. They usually provide only 2nd class seats and are not the best option if you are in a hurry or do not plan on making any stopovers.

Direct or "espresso" trains: don't be fooled by the name: these are still slow even though faster than the regional trains and make fewer stops. They also usually travel greater distances as well.

Inter-Regional trains: These trains are more common during tourist season since they travel beyond regional boundaries to more distant locations. When in service these trains are preferred for hitting the major tourist cities.

Intercity and Intercity Plus: For larger distances across Italy the "IC" trains are the best for their comfort and affordability. IC trains are ideal for Traveling between major cities with only a few important stops.

Eurostar trains: The ES Italia trains are high speed and designed for travelers seeking high standards of comfort and speed. The Eurostar trains are the top of the line and offer air conditioning, internet access and better handicap accessibility. Catering services are provided by coffee bars or restaurant car with the first-class service including a complimentary drink with daily paper on the morning trains. Ticketing has become easier with a new e-ticket system and with a small supplement, rail pass holders can also see the Italian countryside whisk past them at amazing speeds.

Northern Italy by Train: Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome in 2 weeks

Day 1 and 2: Milan is the ideal spot to start your trip since it is a shopper's Mecca, has a must-see cathedral and is a major transportation hub. Two days in Milan should be plenty to see the Duomo, do some shopping - including a visit to the Galleria, see a museum (Sforza castle or the Last Supper) and some of the best people watching in Europe. From Milan's often hectic Central Station you can board a train for Venice.

Day 3: Travel to Venice with a stop at Verona (about 3hrs). By taking an early train and getting out at Verona (1 ½ hr), you can see the city of Romeo and Juliet before heading toward Venice. If you prefer, both Padua and Vicenza are also close by and make for good stopovers on the way to Venice.

Day 4 and 5: Get lost in Venice and have a great time doing it. Besides Piazza San Marco the best thing to see in Venice is its neighborhoods. Take a vaporetto along the Grand Canal and get a water-view of the famous Venetian Palazzi.

Day 6: Explore the Venice lagoon with visits to Glass making Murano, the quaint fishing island of Burano and the oldest of the Venetian settlements on Torcello.

Day 7: Take an early train to Florence with a stop in Bologna for lunch and some sightseeing. Make sure you contact your hotel in Florence if you are running late!

Day 8 and 9: Two days in Florence should be enough to see the major sights: Uffizi Gallery, Duomo and Baptistery, Medici Chapel and Michelangelo's David at the Academia. If time allows also consider the church of Santa Maria Novella and the Monastery of San Marco. Make sure to take a break from the sightseeing by doing some shopping (especially leather) in the San Lorenzo area. Cross the river via the Ponte Vecchio for dinner in the Oltrarno district.

Day 10: Travel from Florence to Rome keeping in mind to leave early enough for a stop in one of the hill towns Orvieto (2hr) or Siena (1½hr). There are no high speed trains from Siena to Rome (3hr).Make sure you leave Siena in plenty of time to arrive in Rome at your hotel check in.

Day 11, 12 and 13: Rome and its surroundings could take months to fully examine, but in three days the major sights could be covered since the best ancient monuments are all grouped near the Coliseum and Forum. The first day in Rome could be spent exploring Ancient Rome. Day two focus on the other famous sights: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain (and a gelato at Giolitti), Piazza Navona and the other neighborhoods. Day three starts at the Vatican with a visit to St. Peters, the Vatican museums and Sistine chapel. Head south to the colorful neighborhood of Trastevere before crossing the Tiber at the Isola and into the old Jewish Ghetto. All the while looking out for shops, cafes and restaurants to take in the layers of history that surround you.

Day 14: on the return to Milan (4hr) takes a side trip to Pisa to see the infamous tower. After seeing Italy's most famous landmark visit the beautiful Duomo and have lunch in one of Pisa's forgotten squares before finishing your journey.

Italy by Train in 3 weeks including Sicily and Naples There are numerous options available to make this two week journey into a three week adventure. One way is simply to add more days in the major sights like Venice, Florence Rome to get a real feel for these remarkable places. A whole week spent in Rome alone would not be a waste. Or by using these cities as bases, you can make daytrips to other sights within the area. From Venice you can visit Padua, Vicenza, or Ravenna. Florence or Siena can be used to visit the hill towns such as San Gimignano or Assisi. Besides making a daytrip to the Ancient Roman port of Ostia, Rome allows for travel to the south of Italy. From Rome, Naples is within easy reach (2½ hr), as are the famous ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum as well as the Amalfi Coast and Capri.

However for a real adventure, take advantage of the night trains to visit far away places in the deep south. One suggestion is to take a night train (make sure to reserve a sleeper cabin) to Palermo. A stay of three days would cover this vibrant city, the cathedral of Monreale and a trip to the Greek temples at Agrigento before taking another night train to Naples. Three days spent in the bay of Naples would allow for visiting the city, one of the ancient cities and a visit to the resort town of Sorrento.

The key to successful train travel is flexibility, there are countless options while Traveling through Italy and you cannot see everything the first time. However this itinerary does give the traveler well-rounded balance of the best of Italy, especially if a trip to Naples or even Palermo is included. Sometimes the best destinations are the ones you didn't plan on and gives what would be an ordinary vacation into an adventure. If time allows, don't be afraid to take the train to some unheard of village - that is what separates travelers from tourists.

For information about Traveling by Train
www.trenitalia.com
www.italiarail.com
www.eurail.com

By Justin Demetri