Italy, which boasts a vast national rail network, is well known for its modern ‘Le Frecce’ high-speed services; but what about those people who like to take it slowly and enjoy the scenery that a train journey has to offer? The fastest journeys aren’t always the most picturesque. Here is a compilation of ten of the routes which offer splendid views across the country, that should not be missed.
1. Pisa ๐ฎ๐น to Florence ๐ฎ๐น (the slower route)
Onboard Trenitalia’s Regionale | Scenery: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโ๏ธ | Comfort: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ
| Journey Leg | Views |
| Pisa to Lucca | Right Hand Side (recommended) |
| Lucca to Florence | Left Hand Side (recommended) |
Pisa to Florence is served by fast and frequent trains departing in each direction at least every half an hour with journey times that take anywhere between 51 minutes to 1 hour 21 minutes on the most direct route. However, departing four times a day, there are direct regional services with much less attractive journey times for the same end-to-end journey which most passengers probably avoid on this basis. Taking more than 2 hours, there is a route which offers a much more spectacular landscape to enjoy than the faster route that travels via Lucca and Pistoia offering green, mountainous terrain and picture perfect villages. A true investment of time.
2. Pisa ๐ฎ๐น to Genova ๐ฎ๐น via Cinque Terre (towards Cรดte d’Azur, France ๐ซ๐ท)
Onboard Trenitalia’s Frecciabianca (ETR.460)| Scenery: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ | Comfort: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโ๏ธ
| Journey Leg | Views |
| Pisa to Genova | Right Hand Side – Mountains and Villages of the Cinque Terre Left Hand Side – Ligurian Sea |
This route is a real treat for scenery lovers. Trains glide past (and some call at) the five fishing and wine-making villages of the famous Cinque Terre, now home to much tourism. Think lush green mountainsides and steep-drop rocky coves on the Ligurian Sea glistening in the sunshine. Idyllic.
Please be aware that there are a number of tunnels on this route especially after La Spezia Centrale, so it’s a case of ‘blink and you miss it’ scenery and quite tricky to take shots with the camera, but fantastic when you do snap up a glimmer of sea or lush mountainous terrain.
If you’re doing the whole route, InterCity and Frecciabianca trains operate and are recommended, these offer greater comfort but don’t call at the all five villages of the Cinque Terre. There are regional trains available too with an easy change of train required at La Spezia Centrale.
3. Naples ๐ฎ๐น to Siracusa ๐ฎ๐น via the west coast
Onboard Trenitalia’s InterCity Notte (Deluxe)| Scenery: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโ๏ธ | Comfort: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโ๏ธ
| Journey Leg | Views |
| Agropoli to Villa San Giovanni | Left Hand Side – Tyrrhenian Sea and Italian Villages (recommended) Right Hand Side – Views of the Apennines and Countryside |
| Messina to Siracusa | Left Hand Side – Ionian Sea Right Hand Side – Mount Etna |
Italy offers two impressive rail routes which spans the west and east coasts of the mainland from top to bottom. A particular scenic part of the west coast route (in addition to the Cinque Terre route mentioned above) is the leg south of Naples towards Villa San Giovanni – the town where passenger trains board a ferry to Sicily. This is a must-do trip in its own right. At the time of writing this is the only passenger train that boards a ferry as part of its scheduled journey in Europe.
Here is a link to a special trip report on the InterCity Notte from Milano Centrale to Siracusa which takes in the sights of this very route and the unique experience of boarding the ferry.
The route from Agropoli to Villa San Giovanni hugs the west coast and offers irresistible views to look at across the Tyrrhenian Sea as well as some moments of steep-sided mountains as well as towns and villages popping up en-route – all on the coast side of the train. Delightful.
After the ferry crossing and landing in Sicily, switch sides for more sea views – this time of the Ionian Sea. Alternatively stay put to marvel at the incredible active volcano of Mount Etna – that has a long history of destruction.
4. West-to-east: Naples ๐ฎ๐น to Foggia ๐ฎ๐น
Onboard Trenitalia’s Frecciargento (ETR.485)| Scenery: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ | Comfort: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
| Journey Leg | Views |
| Naples to Caserta | Right Hand Side – Mount Vesuvius |
| Caserta to Foggia | Left Hand Side – mountainside |
One of Italy’s jaw-dropping cross-country routes. On this journey you pass Mount Vesuvius in the distance on your right and then cut through the Apennine mountain range with beautiful views. The fastest journey times are as little as 2 hours 30 minutes with a change of train required from a regional train at Caserta and a Frecciargento train from there to Foggia, but important to check before travel as some journey times are considerably longer and involve a bus.
5. Italy’s East Coast ๐ฎ๐น
Onboard Trenitalia’s Frecciargento (ETR.700) | Scenery: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ | Comfort: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโ๏ธ
| Journey Leg | Views |
| Foggia to Rimini | Right Hand Side – Adriatic Sea (recommended) Left Hand Side – green fields, some hills |
Often favoured less compared to its west coast counterpart, Italy’s east coast should not be overlooked as it offers fantastic sea views of the Adriatic Sea for almost all of the journey from north to south. It is served by high speed, high comfort Frecciargento and Frecciabianca trains – ideal for relaxing in a large, comfortable seat, enjoying a glass of wine and getting lost in a good book.
6. Verona ๐ฎ๐น to Bolzano ๐ฎ๐น (towards Austria ๐ฆ๐น) on the Brenner Railway
Onboard Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa (ETR.500) and DB-รBB EuroCity | Scenery: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ | Comfort: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
| Journey Leg | Views |
| Verona to Bolzano | Left Hand Side – mountains and most of the River Adige (recommended) Right Hand Side – mountains |
The advertising poster at Verona Porta Nuova station doesn’t need to try hard to sell this journey… simply stunning and my favourite Italian railway route to date. This route is the gateway from Italy to Austria and the excitement continues long past Bolzano, where it reaches the border of the two countries at the Brenner Pass. This is the steepest point on the Italian and Austrian standard gauge rail networks at an ear popping 1,371 metres.
Upon departure from Verona, the train soon becomes engulfed by spectacular mountain scenery on both sides. And if that wasn’t enough you can also be confident you are heading in the right direction as the route follows the River Adige for the entire journey to Bolzano.
Please find a link to a special video featuring this journey onboard the Frecciarossa 500 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. Milan ๐ฎ๐น to Domodossola ๐ฎ๐น (towards Switzerland ๐จ๐ญ)
Onboard Trenitalia’s EuroCity (ETR.610) | Scenery: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโ๏ธ | Comfort: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโ๏ธ
| Journey Leg | Views |
| Milano to Domodossola | Right Hand Side – views of Lake Maggiore Left Hand Side – mountains |
One of two routes from Italy to Switzerland is this route via the border station of Domodossola. This is the most direct route across the border from Milan with trains travelling to the Swiss cities of Zurich and Geneva via the Simplon Tunnel and Brig. The full route is served by comfortable and modern looking pointy-nosed pendolino trains.
Soon after departure you’re spoiled for choice for views on both sides of the train, from views of Lake Maggiore on your right and mountains on your left of the Ossola Valley with views of the Italian Alps. Bring your own food and drink as the bar on the train doesn’t open until Switzerland.
8. Circumvesuviana ๐ฎ๐น, Naples Circular around Mount Vesuvius
Onboard Ferrovia Circumvesuviana FE220 and ETR211 | Scenery: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ | Comfort: โญ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ
| Journey Leg | Views |
| Barra to Barra (clockwise) | Right Hand Side – views of Mount Vesuvius |
Yes that’s right – this is one of two railways in Italy that travels around the full circumference of a volcano. An interesting, but a scary concept! This one is called the Circumvesuviana and with its metro style operation, it serves local communities around Mount Vesuvius.
The full route isn’t designed for tourists as such, but you can enjoy views of Mount Vesuvius by sitting on the right hand side when travelling clockwise and tie this in with a visit to Pompeii or Herculaneum, which both have nearby stations with a frequent service. You will need to change trains at Poggiomarino to complete the full circle.
Please be aware to complete the full circumference you can purchase a 180 minute ticket for โฌ4,90, however if you break the journey to visit Pompeii or Herculaneum then separate tickets must be purchased – there is no ‘day’ ticket.
9. Circumetnea ๐ฎ๐น, Catania Circular around Mount Etna
Onboard Ferrovia Circumetnea| Scenery: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโ๏ธ | Comfort: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ
| Journey Leg | Views |
| Catania to Giarre Riposto (clockwise) | Left Hand Side – views from a-height (recommended) Right Hand Side – views of Mount Etna |
| Giarre Riposto to Catania (southbound, clockwise) | Left Hand Side – Ionian Sea |
The second railway in Italy that circles a volcano is around Mount Etna in Sicily. This impressive narrow gauge railway, the Ferrovia Circumetnea, is one of those journeys where you’re rewarded for your patience, as the most scenic part of the journey is along the routes most northern point. You can travel clockwise or anti-clockwise on this route, but best to check times in advance as there is a change of train required at Randazzo and limited journey opportunities for travelling the full circle. There is also a required journey on the mainline from Riposto to Catania (separate ticket required), which also has scenic views of the Ionian Sea.
Few people use the route to travel the full circle, but if you do it’s probably the best โฌ10,30 you will spend for 4 hours and 30 minutes of travel. I found it to be mainly locals travelling from A to B on the first section of the Ferrovia Circumetnea from Catania to Randazzo and I was the only customer travelling for the Randazzo to Riposto leg, the most scenic part. A fantastic experience.
10. Tirano ๐ฎ๐น to St Moritz ๐จ๐ญ
It would be rude to exclude this spectacular railway journey across the Swiss Alps, the route designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This route is the more touristy route taking longer in journey time but with delightful scenery to match. Pictures will be coming soon (once I’ve been on the journey to take them!).
Have I missed any scenic railway routes in Italy? Let me know your recommendations!
This article was first published in January 2021.
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