Exploring Italy by Train

By Nancy J. DiDio- During our first visit to Italy several years ago, my husband Fred and I became infatuated with everything about this charming country of Fred’s ancestry. We have revisited there numerous times since to experience the customs, marvel in the architecture and history, and best of all, to enjoy the food. We have returned from each trip with many fond memories, but one trip which stands out is a train trip we made through Northern Italy.

When I made the suggestion to Fred that we do the train trip, I had never even been on a train. The thought of using that mode of transportation in a country we had only begun to know was a bit intimidating. But, I had read that train travel in Europe is safe and efficient, so it likely would not be any more challenging than touring by auto, which we had done a couple of times. And, it offered some advantages: we wouldn’t get lost, something which had frequently happened in our auto trips; there would be no long searches for parking places; and we could sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery instead of fumbling with maps and watching for signs, all while being wary of the infamous Italian drivers. The decision was made, and the planning began.

We planned a flexible itinerary in a big circle beginning and ending in Milan, along the main train routes of the area, which would limit the number of connections we needed to make. Our route would take us east to Venice, then head southwest to the Mediterranean coast, then north to the Piedmont region before returning to Milan and our flight home. We did research on the main towns along the route, choosing a number of possible destinations, but decided to forego making reservations other than for the night of our arrival, preferring to decide as we went where to stay. Because it was Spring, we anticipated no problem finding accommodations along the way. Our first night was to be spent in Verona, an hour by train from Milan.

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