Rental cars or road trips are a thing of the past. Railtripping is the new order of the day. And there’s no better place to start than Italy. In this newsletter, we’ll explore why and how the Italian Green Pearls® hotels and vacation rentals encourage their guests to travel by rail.
Information for the press: You are welcome to copy and publish excerpts or complete verbatim versions of this newsletter. Please note the copyright and the instructions for the use of the images.
The Italian Rail Network: Routes, Apps and Trains
The Italian rail network is very well developed. In northern Italy in particular, both large and small cities and towns can be reached by regional trains and buses. In southern Italy, the network is somewhat more limited, but even there, railroads such as those of the Ferrovia Circumvesuviana or regional trains in Puglia offer attractive rail trip destinations.
Travelers can get a good overview of the rail connections in the Trenitalia app. In addition to the major routes, many regional connections can also be found there. Another research and booking option is the Europe-wide booking platform The Trainline, where travelers can find out about trains and prices.
Also worth mentioning are the so-called racetracks that connect Milan and Salerno. In addition to Trenitalia, the private company Italo also offers fast travel between major cities. The high-speed trains reach speeds of up to 400 km/h on some routes; so a trip from Milan to Rome only takes about three hours. By comparison, it takes between six and seven hours by car.
Railtripping in Italy: The Sustainable Green Pearls® Route
A sustainable rail trip also includes choosing accommodation that is committed to environmental protection, social work and sustainable business. From South Tyrol to Sicily, you’ll find unique hotels and vacation apartments that do just that and have therefore earned the Green Pearls® label.
Railroad romance on the Ritten
In light of the Alpine panorama that travelers can admire in South Tyrol, it is hardly surprising that a train journey becomes a memorable experience. The journey from the north across the Alps already offers numerous views that can be enjoyed by all passengers on a train ride.
From the train station in Bolzano, it is a short walk to the valley station of the cable car that connects the city with Oberbozen on the Ritten. As a guest of the Green Pearls® hotels located there, guests receive the Ritten Card for their stay and can use the gondola free of charge, among other things. On the South Tyrolean high plateau, the historic Rittenbahn connects the individual villages. All Green Pearls® partners are located either directly at a train station, or can be reached within a ten-minute walk.
Sustainable Hotels on the Ritten
Luxurious and relaxation-oriented, ADLER Lodge RITTEN offers suites as well as private chalets either nestled on the hillside or arranged around a lush natural pond. Wellness and relaxation are top priorities. In addition to signature treatments, the forest sauna and heated infinity pool offer space for relaxation.
Close to nature and bee-focused: At APIPURA hotel rinner, everything revolves around the bee. Starting with the own organic honey on the breakfast table to the weekly honey dinner. A special experience is the Api wellness, where guests breathe the air from the beehive. On the occasion of their 50th birthday this year, there are also a few other special offers.
Family-friendly and located directly on the lake: Hotel Weihrerhof is located on the shores of Lake Wolfsgruben, one of the cleanest swimming lakes in Italy. In addition to plenty of space for children to play and frolic, there is also plenty of room to relax and unwind. For example, during a hike to the newly declared power points around the hotel or a visit to the boathouse sauna.
On the Tracks in Lombardy and a Side Trip to the Coast
From the Bolzano train station, travelers can easily reach many of Italy’s major cities. For example, there is a direct connection to Rome. To get to Milan, rail travelers will need to change trains once in Verona. This is a great opportunity to explore the city from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
From Milano Centrale station, the tram takes just under ten minutes to the heart of the metropolis – and to the Hotel Milano Scala. The sustainable city hotel is Italy’s first zero-emission hotel and is located not far from the numerous sights of Milan’s cultural center, including La Scala. Also accessible by tram is the neighborhood developed on a former industrial brownfield site around the green twin skyscrapers Bosco Vertikale.
Rail travelers can get from Milan to Naples without changing trains. Stopovers include numerous small towns as well as Bologna, Florence, and Rome. For those who prefer the sea after the mountains and the city, you can also take a detour from Milan to Genoa and from there along the coast to Florence. A particularly beautiful section of the route is the almost thirty-minute drive along the Cinque Terre. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the small towns along the way.
Taking the Train to Sicily
The train journey to Sicily is an experience in itself. There is actually a direct connection from Rome to Palermo. No changes necessary. The train boards a ferry in Villa San Giovanni and disembarks in Messina in Sicily. There is also the option to book an overnight train on the route. Perfect for travelers who do not plan a stopover in Naples and want to arrive in Sicily at the first rays of sunshine.
A visit to the city at the foot of Mount Vesuvius is definitely worthwhile. Visitors can also visit the famous Pompeii or the archaeological site of Herculaneum by regional train. The route network reaches as far as Sorrento and a loop around Mount Vesuvius is also possible by train. If you are looking for an overnight stay outside the city in the middle of nature, you will find it at A‘ Cràpa Mangia. The historic estate is located in the Cilento National Park, just under 60 kilometers south of Salerno. Lovingly furnished vacation apartments, each with its own terrace, await guests. Sea view always included. The regional train takes travelers to Castellabate, from where it is a good 12 kilometers to the estate. The team will gladly organize a transfer.
In Sicily, traveling by train becomes more complicated. There are only a few rail routes and many places are not even connected to the rail network. Therefore, ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA offers a private transfer as well as special conditions for renting a car. This may also be an E-car: A free charging facility is available at the resort. The wellness hotel is located on the south coast of the island at the gates of the Torre Salsa nature reserve. Pristine beaches, olive groves, and orange trees are part of the landscape that surrounds the resort. Those who wish can also rent e-bikes or an e-car on-site to explore the rest of the island.
And then for those who don’t want to miss out on a rail-tripping adventure at the very end, the Ferrovia Circumetnea is not to be missed. The historic narrow-gauge railroad takes travelers on a tour through vineyards and lava fields around Mount Etna. The numerous stops in the towns around the volcano invite further exploration before the evening ends on the beach of the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA.
For more information on sustainable accommodation in Italy and other inquiries, please contact us at press@greenpearls.com or visit our partners’ microsites at www.greenpearls.com.
