High-speed rail in Italy: all the cities to visit by train
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It allows you to reach art cities in a short time and in a sustainable way, but without sacrificing the beauty that streams past your window. The journey itself, together with the destination you are about to reach, becomes a sheer delight.
It's like looking out from a balcony onto ever-changing landscapes, while you sit comfortably in your seat witnessing the spectacle of the Bel Paese: forests, snow-capped mountains, volcanoes, hilltop villages, lush green countryside, rows of cypress trees and the cities that draw closer revealing their domes and bell towers. Here are the itineraries to choose.
From Milan to Venice, the journey of wonders
The journey could only start from Milan's monumental central station, which is considered the most beautiful in Italy. The line from Milan to Venice takes two and a half hours and passes through Brescia, Verona and Padua, passing through Franciacorta, the home of Italian sparkling wine.
Split your journey to enjoy the sights of the cities along the way, or savour them through the window as you race towards the Serenissima, where wonders surpass all expectations: to reach the lagoon station, the train tracks run over the water.
From fashionable Milan to elegant Turin by train in an instant
It only takes 57 minutes to reach the heart of Turin from Milan without the stress of the motorway, traffic jams and parking.
Instead, relax aboard a train; there are as many as 47 per day. The last train from Milan leaves at 11pm, so there is plenty of time to enjoy a late aperitif overlooking the Duomo before moving on to the elegant Savoy city.
A day in Bologna by train
The city of the two towers is connected by high-speed train to major cities in northern and central Italy. So you can even make a last-minute decision to spend a day in Bologna to enjoy a walk in the centre and a plate of tortellini.
From Milan it takes just over an hour to reach Bologna, while from Venice it is an hour and a half - and on the way you can plan a stop in beautiful Ferrara. From Florence you only need half an hour, and the journey from Rome takes two hours.
The Direttissima Vs the Linea Lenta on the train between Florence and Rome
The route between Florence and Rome boasts more than one record. Whereas the Direttissima, Italy's and Europe's first high-speed line, now connects two of Italy's most beautiful cities in an hour and a half, the Linea Lenta offers those who use it an unforgettable journey to discover the rolling hills of Tuscany and the countryside of Lazio.
While the timings are different, the route is very similar: looking out the window, you will be truly amazed by the changes in the landscape - and they are all splendid.
From Rome to Naples by train to grab a pizza
It takes just over an hour by train to reach Naples from Rome. Allow yourself to be lulled by the journey and admire the free show.
There is just enough time to whet your appetite and sit down at a table on arrival, with a Neapolitan pizza in front of you, the sea shimmering in the background and Vesuvius watching over the gulf, which opens up to your gaze right on board the train.
From the capital to Salento, via Naples
Although today reaching the heel of the boot by train means devoting several hours to the trip, a line is nearing completion that will connect Naples to Bari in two hours, breaking the mould.
And so, feasting one's eyes on the imperial beauty of Rome and the vibrancy of Naples, and then taking a leap into the crystal-clear sea of Puglia will no longer be the sole preserve of those with plenty of time on their hands.
Sicily at high speed
In Sicily, people travel mostly by car or are forced to choose between the western and eastern sides to enjoy it at its best. But the high-speed rail project promises to change this soon.
The routes connecting Messina, Catania and Palermo will make it possible to reach the other side of the island in a couple of hours while crossing the diverse Sicilian landscapes: from the shining coast with its temples overlooking the sea, to the expanses of golden wheat in the hinterland.
Italy seen from the window of a train gains, if possible, even greater charm, truly making the journey even more meaningful than the final destination.
