Rail Travel Holidays in Italy

‘Slow Travel’ is all the rage, a way of exploring at a leisurely pace, and caring about your carbon footprint. Given the sultry scenery, the journey can be an end in itself. And, unlike the low-cost airlines, trains sweep you into the city centre without fuss.

 
The Italian rail system trundled along for ages in its own timeworn way. We had accepted the trade-off between low prices and ancient carriages. But since Italy started to get its act together, with superb high-speed trainsand tracks, rail fans can see the difference. Key lines offer faster services and a smoother experience, with further improvements in the offing.

What’s more, the scenery remains just as appealing while the prices remain perfectly acceptable. Above all, the journey needn’t be just about getting there, but is an adventure in itself. We forgive the fact that luggage trollies are often scarce, as are escalators and lifts to platforms, and that the step from platform to train can be uncomfortably high. It’s still a tempting deal.

Great rail journeys: scenically, Italy is an exhilarating country to explore by rail. Entering Italy from the French Riviera, the coastal route to Bordighera is delightful. Another appealing route travels along the beautifulLigurian Riviera coast, near the cliff-hugging Cinque Terre villages. A beguiling inland route runs from Forli to Florence through the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine range.

Travel in style: opt for the Orient Express, the legendary train that runs between London and Venice. For a special occasion, the journey could be extended to Florence. Instead, via Eurostar to Paris, you could choose onward travel to numerous `art cities’ served by direct trains, including Bologna, Brescia, Padua, Parma, and Verona.

Let the train take the strain: some of our expert travel operators can devise a tailor-made tour. The widespread rail network is particularly good between urban centres nationwide, and in north and central Italy. The fastest services (including Eurostar Italia) operate between major cities, while other services (Espresso, Regionale) connect the smallest towns. Although far slower, and often unmodernised, these train services are inexpensive and functional.

Eurostar Italia is the premier, high-speed rail network operating on main city routes. Reservation is obligatory and included in your booking, which can be made through our specialist operators. The quality is on a par with similar services across Europe but the price remains ultra-competitive. Some services use the newly-opened high-speed tracks, which operate on the Turin-Milan-Bologna-Florence-Rome-Naples line (completed by end 2009). The benefits of First Class include a drink and snack on board, and access to the Club Lounge at the station.

Many Love Italy operators support train travel and offer multi-centre rail breaks, or book tickets as part as the package. We also have a train operator among our ranks who can deal with your rail requests. Tickets can be dispatched to you, or collected at the departing station. Rail trips include honeymoon journeys and family rail-based holidays. Buon viaggio!