rail-holidays
A holiday by rail offers the opportunity to experience the many individual aspects of Italy’s widespread appeal. The country is lauded for its beautiful scenery, Renaissance architecture and admirably sophisticated culture.
With a population of over 60 million, Italy is one of Europe’s biggest, most influential countries. It is a financially healthy nation with a flowing economy, producing thousands of exports. It is also very accommodating to tourists — Italy is fully aware of the appeal of its culture and attracts millions of visitors each year.
Things to know
- Italy has a truly beautiful lake district, which attracts millions of visitors each year. The country’s biggest lake is Lake Garda, which is approximately 370 square meters in size
- The Italian region of Tuscany is well known for it’s fine wines, especially it’s Chiantis
- The Dolomite mountains stand between Italy, Switzerland and Austria. The mountain range was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2009 for it’s unique biodiversity of flora and fauna
Key Destinations
Italy by rail
The boot-shaped nation that rests at the bottom of Europe can often be neglected when travelling – the shape of the country may tempt voyagers to transport via boat rather than over land, but the sun-roasted Italian countryside must not be missed. Our rail trips ensure that you see the best of it, and at a leisurely pace.
Fantastic cities
Italy’s diverse cities provide something for everyone. If you look carefully, you’re sure to find the perfect city to suit your desires. Perhaps it will be the art galleries of Florence that you love most of all. Or the Colosseum of Rome. Or perhaps it will be the languid beauty of Venice’s canals and the staggering opulence of its Piazza San Marco that will pull you back to Italy again and again.
Food and drink
If you’re a fan of rich cheeses and juicy tomatoes, Italian cuisine will melt your heart. Pizza and pasta are synonymous with Italy, but you can get just as much satisfaction from their plethora of national desserts, such as hazelnut chocolate, tiramisu and gelato (their rich, far superior ice cream) – all of which should be consumed by the bucket load when staying in glorious Italia.
Rich cultural history
Passion is exemplified by the Italians, whether in their emotional opera music, world-changing paintings, or sporting endeavours. Free-thinking Italians pioneered the Renaissance movement, both its architectural triumphs and contribution to the arts and science. Michelangelo’s St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City is widely considered one of the finest architectural works in history, while his statue of David is still admired for its strikingly precise attention to detail. The statue now sits in the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence.