The network
How Italy fits together by rail
Italy's network is essentially one high-speed spine from Turin to Salerno, with everything else hanging off it. Understand the spine and the rest of the country becomes easy to plan.
The spine
Turin to Salerno
Every city below is on one continuous high-speed line. Two or three trains an hour run along most of it.
Turin
Northwest terminus, one hour from Milan
Milan
The northern hub; lakes, Switzerland and Venice branch from here
Bologna
The crossroads — everything north-south and east-west passes through
Florence
Midpoint of the country and the best base in Tuscany
Rome
The national hub
Naples
Gateway to the south, Pompeii and the Amalfi coast
Salerno
Where the high-speed line ends and the coast begins
Off the spine
The branches that matter
Milan – Verona – Venice
The northern cross-country run, 2h 13m end to end.
Bologna – Rimini – Ancona – Bari
The Adriatic side, slower and much less travelled.
Genoa – La Spezia – Pisa
The Ligurian coast, all regional, no reservation fees.
Rome – Orte – Perugia
Into Umbria on regional trains.
Salerno – Reggio Calabria – Sicily
The long southern run and the ferried Intercity.
Verona – Bolzano – Brennero
Up the Adige valley into the Alps.
Planning rule of thumb
Anywhere on the spine is under three hours from anywhere else on the spine. Anywhere off it — Puglia, Sicily, Umbria, the Ligurian coast — needs half a day and usually rewards you for taking the slow train.