Romantic Railways Through Northern Italy

Venice’s grand canals, distinctive architecture, and romantic charm have held continuous allure for artists over the centuries. Traveling from all over the world, they sought to convey its luminosity in paint or record its details in line.

Add the timeless magic of Venice to your home with this textile wall art. With every woven fiber, this fine-art poster captures the poetic beauty of the city’s gondolas and historic architecture.

1. The Venice-Bologna Railway

A trip from Venice to Bologna is a fantastic way to experience the beauty of Northern Italy in style. With hourly trains departing from the Venice Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia and arriving at the Centrale station in Bologna, you can be soaking up Italian culture, savouring regional cuisine, and admiring Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper in just under two hours!

Traveling by train is also one of the most environmentally-friendly ways to reach Bologna. By taking a regional or high-speed train, you’ll be emitting up to 30 times less carbon dioxide than for a flight or car journey between the same destinations. Plus, you can enjoy the scenery through the window while listening to a playlist that’s just right for your train ride.

When you book your Venice to Bologna train tickets in advance through Omio, you can find some of the lowest fares available online. Buying tickets up to 30 days in advance will allow you to save on average 31% compared to prices found on the day of departure.

The railway journey from Venice to Bologna will take you past many of the Veneto and Emilia-Romagna region’s most iconic landmarks and cities. For example, you can get off at the train stop in Verona and see the Arena di Verona – an ancient Roman amphitheater that’s renowned for its acoustics.

You can also take a break from the train journey to visit Venice and its famous canals and bridges, or to admire its stunning churches and palaces. Stroll through narrow alleyways in the heart of the historic city centre, or enjoy a coffee in the sun in Piazza San Marco. This is the most celebrated square in all of Venice, and it’s a delight to sit back and watch the world go by.

2. The Venice-Torino Railway

Step off the train in Venice and step onto a gondola. You can then wind your way through the maze of intricate canals, watching locals and tourists strolling by or gliding through the water as you take in St Mark’s Basilica & the Doge’s Palace.

If you prefer the comfort of a high-speed train, you can travel from Venice to Turin on one of the numerous daily direct services offered by Frecciarossa, Intercity Notte, Regionale, Italo, or Frecciabianca, operated by Trenitalia. On average, this 226 mile (365 km) journey takes around 5 h 43 min and ticket prices start from $36 (EUR31).

The train travels from Venice Santa Lucia to Turin Porta Susa on the main north–south line of Italy’s national rail network. The station is a major transport hub, with 20 platforms and a historic terminal building opened in 1864. While most trains to Venice, Florence, Rome & Naples depart from here, high-speed TGVs & Frecciarossa trains headed to/from Paris leave from Turin Centrale, a different terminal a few blocks away.

Travelers looking for a more luxurious experience can upgrade to business class on a day trip or overnight trip. The premium class of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express trains evokes the era of glamorous European travel with vintage carriages, elegant onboard service and delicious cuisine. It’s an extravagance, but one that should be experienced at least once in a lifetime. It’s possible to book these experiences by itself, but they’re often sold as part of a larger tour that includes accommodation and guided excursions.

3. The Venice-Milano Railway

The Venice-Milano railway line connects the city of Milan in Lombardy with the seaside town of Venice in Veneto. It is one of the most important railway lines in Italy and is classified as a trunk line. It has two pairs of tracks and is fully electrified. The main cities along the route include Milan, Brescia, Verona, Vicenza and Padua.

Traveling between Venice and Milan by train is an easy way to experience some of the most beautiful scenery in Italy. The journey is only about three hours long, and it is comfortable enough for travelers to relax during the ride. There are a variety of trains that run daily between these two beautiful cities, including high-speed trains like the Italo and Frecciarossa. In addition, there are also a number of regional trains that run between Venice and Milan.

When traveling from Venice to Milan, it is best to book a ticket in advance. This will ensure that you get a seat on your preferred train and can avoid any last-minute delays or problems. Tickets can be purchased online or at train stations in Italy. Trains in Italy usually open for booking six months in advance, but it is also possible to set a booking alert for your trip to receive an email as soon as the tickets become available.

The Venice Santa Lucia train station is located in the heart of the historic city of Venice, and it is easy to access a variety of destinations across Italy from here. In addition to the high-speed Italo and Frecciarossa trains, there are a number of regional trains that run between the city of Venice and other popular tourist destinations, such as Padua, Bologna, Lake Garda and other nearby locations.

4. The Venice-Pescara Railway

Train travel is a much-underrated way to experience Northern Italy’s imposing mountain ranges framing azure lakes & hilltop villages. Whether you opt for the newer, more glamorous Frecciarossa trains or SNCF’s TGV, it will be hard not to fall in love with this iconic journey.

The Venice-Pescara railway takes you from the Venetian lagoon to a seaside resort on the Adriatic coast via three of Italy’s most beautiful historic cities. Aside from its scenic beauty, the route also provides a unique insight into the different cultures that have shaped this region of Italy over the centuries.

Venezia Santa Lucia is a terminus station in the Cannaregio district of Venice’s historic city, and is connected to the mainland district of Mestre by the Ponte della Liberta (English: Bridge of Liberty). It is one of two main railway stations in the city (the other being Venezia Mestre), both managed by Grandi Stazioni.

It’s a 4 hour and 31 minute trip from Pescara to Venezia Santa Lucia, and is operated by Trenitalia Frecce, Trenitalia Intercity & ItaloTreno. It’s a direct service that runs daily, although the schedule can vary depending on the day of the week and public holidays.

The high-speed Frecciarossa trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You’ll also have access to a buffet car if you upgrade to business class or first class tickets.

5. The Venice-Trieste Railway

Taking the train to Trieste is a convenient and relaxing way to visit one of northern Italy’s most fascinating cities. Unless you plan to explore beyond the city limits, the easiest way to get from Venice to Trieste is by catching a Trenitalia high-speed Frecciarossa or Frecciabianca train from the Venezia Mestre station (sometimes written as Venezia Santa Lucia). These trains depart from the Venetian mainland instead of Venice’s main island, and will save you an extra transfer.

On average, it takes around 2 hours to travel the 115 km route between Venice and Trieste, with some services getting you there in as little as 1 hour 54 minutes on the fastest services. There are normally 27 trains per day running along this route, and you won’t have to worry about making multiple changes as most of these journeys are direct. Frecciarossa and Trenitalia run modern comfortable services on this route, with plenty of space for luggage as standard.

Once you reach Trieste, the terracotta rooftops and cobblestone streets will feel like home. Wander past the ornate shops in the central Piazza dell’Unita d’Italia and see the fairytale white turrets of Miramare Castle, built in 1860 by Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian. The castle’s interiors and extensive gardens are a must-see for history lovers, and the spectacular vistas from the castle make for an unforgettable photo opportunity.

Trieste is also proud of its literary connections – poets and novelists from Rilke to Stendhal have all visited this elegant city, which has a reputation for intellectualism. Salon-style conversation continues to thrive at the gorgeous bookshop Caffe San Marco, where high ceilings have nurtured lofty ideas since 1914.

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