Italy - Get Around

Travel between major cities aboard speedy Eurostar trains, for scenic vistas of the Italian countryside and no parking hassle.

Italy is a long peninsular often described as a ‘boot' due to its shape. In the north, the snow-capped Alps run towards major cities Turin, Milan, Verona and Venice. The Apennine mountains form a 1,000km spine down the centre of the peninsular, near Florence, Rome, Pisa, Siena and Tuscany. In contrast to the hard-working north, as one moves further south the Italy around Naples and Bari becomes hotter, more temperamental, poorer and less developed. The islands of Sardinia and Sicily lie off the west coast in the Mediterranean Sea.

Trains, operated by FS (Ferrovie dello Stato) are cheap, comfortable and efficient. Due to the mountainous nature of the country, generally north-south routes are fast, and east-west journeys slower. Fast Eurostar trains (for which you need to pay a supplement and make reservations in advance) run between most major cities.

For speed around Italy, it's best to drive along the autostrade (toll-paying motorways). Italians are notoriously fast drivers, and negotiating city centres can be a challenge, especially in the south and most notably in Naples. During summer, and especially at weekends, roads to the coast become congested – a good moment to stick on some Pavarotti. Drive on the right.

Car ferries and hydrofoils connect the mainland to Sardinia and Sicily plus the smaller islands. The main ports are Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples and Villa San Giovanni.

Italian driving can make you wonder if speed restrictions are optional. You can either go with the flow or do the right thing, whatever seems most wise at the time.

Trenitalia Rail website

Admire architectural harmony in the 2nd-century AD Pantheon in Rome, in Palladio's geometrically planned Renaissance villas in the Veneto, and in Italy's chic 21st-century design hotels.