Italy is one of the most visited destinations in the world and it has so many great cities to see and enjoy. I wanted to focus this guide on a few of the most beautiful cities there and a little bit more about traveling there by train. Especially because it is a very fast and efficient way to get around and see a lot. I hope you enjoy reading about it.
Why travel by train
One of the best things about train travel in Italy is definitely the fact that it is cheap, fast and efficient. Italy is not a huge country and many cities are located very close to one another, making train travel one of the best ways to get around and explore the entire country. European trains also tend to be extremely well organised and they run on time, which makes them very useful for people travelling not only in Italy, but the entire continent. I think it is one of the best ways to travel without a doubt and no doubt a rather comfortable way to travel.
Cities to visit
Rome
Rome is one of the most incredible places that you could possibly imagine and one of the most beautiful on the entire planet. It truly is somewhere where you can take a walk back in time and see much of Italy’s impressive history. Imagine strolling the ancient streets and seeing ruins that are thousands of years old. There are of course the most famous sites like the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum and the Vatican, but there are hundreds of museums and historical sites that you probably never knew existed. Rome is one of those places that absolutely needs to be at the top of your list when visiting Italy by train, but you should never stop at one trip, you will always discover something more to see and it is just so incredible to see it for yourself. The next city you could visit could be Florence and you can take a train from Rome to Florence.
Florence
After taking the train from Rome to Florence, you will be in one of the most incredible cities on the planet and the birthplace of the modern world. If you can imagine every art museum or piece of art that you have ever seen, then you will start recognising everything. Here you can find Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture and so much more from the golden Renaissance period of art. The city is unique with its narrow cobbled streets and beautiful buildings that are incredibly grand. It has some of the most iconic architecture in the world. If you are hungry, you definitely need to try a Florentine steak, which is a delicious steak that comes from a Tuscan breed of cow called “Chianina”. If you are looking to get an incredible view of the city, the Belvedere is a great way to see the entire city from high up. The Belvedere is also a great place to explore and see various, interesting art exhibitions.
Naples
The south of Italy is known for its warm and welcoming people and Naples is a great place to visit by train as one of your next destinations. You will enjoy the amazing pizza, which is the tastiest and freshest that you can get. The crispy base with buffalo mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes is something to savour and it will truly be the best pizza you ever eat. Naples also has some of the most stunning nature with Mount Vesuvius, as well as incredible history, which you can see at the Castel Nuovo and the National Archaeological Museum. This is an incredible mix of flavours, history, and culture, which make it an ideal destination to stop off and enjoy on your train journey through Italy.
Milan
Milan is the fashion capital of the world and one of the most modern and cosmopolitan cities on the entire planet with strong tourism, economics, history art, culture and much more. The heart of the city definitely is the Duomo, which is one of the most stunning churches that I have ever seen in my life with its incredible white exterior, thousands of statues, over 100 spires and the fact that it took 500 years to complete! Food and drink are also taken very seriously in Milan too, so you will be sure to find the best pizza, pasta and coffee that you can imagine. What I love about Milan too is that the northern cuisine is somewhat different with more grains incorporated in the diet rather than pasta. Great examples of this are things like polenta or rice, which are just as delicious as even the best pasta.