Travel with Julie

How To Read An Italian Train Schedule

Let's say you have successfully purchased a train ticket and feel confident you know how to read the information on it.  What now?  Now, you must be able to decode the train schedule!

In Italy's train stations, you will find posters that represent the daily train schedules -- "Arrivi" are the arrivals and "Partenze" are the departures.  Arrivals are usually on white paper while departures are usually on yellow or gold.  Once you find the "Partenze" schedule, you can locate your train.

Trains are listed in order by their time of departure FROM the station you are in.  The poster is sectioned off by hour in a 24-hour clock time (it's OK if you have to count on your fingers to know that 18:00 is 6 PM -- I do it all the time!)

In my example above (and I apologize for the fuzzy photo -- this poster was behind plexiglass), the outbound train is departing from Roma Termini at 11:05 AM.  It is the first train departing after the 11:00 hour.  You also find the train number, the final destination and arrival time (good information to know if you're destination is BEFORE the last stop).  All other stations listed are the stops made in between.  The times following these stops are when the train is scheduled to depart from those stations.

On the far right in the blue circle is the platform (Binario, or BIN) the train is scheduled to depart from.  Once you've identified your train and its platform, you are on your way!

So you see, taking the train in Italy isn't as scary as it seems.  Trust me, one ride and you'll be hooked!

How To Read An Italian Train Ticket

I thoroughly love riding the trains in Italy.  It is an easy and inexpensive way to travel the country.  However, I remember the first time I chose to take the train from Rome to Florence and how intimidated I was by the process.  I quickly learned that half the battle in navigating the train station is knowing how to read your ticket.

Being the ultimate planner that I am, I purchased my tickets and reserved my seats in advance by using RailEurope. It cost a few dollars more than purchasing tickets at the station, but I find comfort in having tickets and assigned seats in hand prior to reaching the train station.  

From the photo above (and you may click on it to enlarge it), you can decode the mystery of all the relevant information.  The other gobbledygook really doesn't matter.

That's all there is to it!  The next challenge: reading the train schedule....but, I'm saving that for the next post!

10 Reasons I Love Italy In The Springtime

Spring has finally sprung!  As temperatures rise and the trees and flowers bloom, I begin to dream about spring in Italy. Here are 10 reasons why I love Italy in the springtime:

1. Fragolini (tiny wild strawberries) are a sweet treat.  Markets throughout Tuscany sell them in early April.
2. Fields surrounding Marostica are blanketed with bright red cherries (considered among the best cherries in Italy).
3. Flowers abound:  Azaleas on Lake Como; red poppies in Tuscany; tulips and irises near Verona; blue-violet campanulas and genians in the Dolomites.
4. Prized vegetables such as asparagus and artichokes come into season.
5. Festivals begin.  From food and wine to celebrating saints, spring brings much to celebrate!
6. The heat and tourist crowds have not arrived.
7. Easter traditions and rituals top the agenda:  Mass led by the Pope at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome; a huge cross is lit with burning torches near Rome's Colosseum; Scoppio del Carro (explosion of the cart) displays spectacular fireworks and parades in medieval costumes.
8. Outdoor concerts begin.
9. Coastal towns wake up from their winter slumber and are often cheaper to visit in spring.
10. The Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy--a long distance bicycle stage race for professional cyclists) takes place.

First Friday Foto Therapy

Vines Inside The Alcazar, Segovia, Spain.

Taken by:  Julie Gilley

On the first Friday of every month, I will share a photo from my travels or yours.  If you'd like a chance to see one of your fabulous vacation photos published on this site, send it (in .jpg format) along with a brief description to:  julie@MyFarAndAway.com.

Cure your travel bug with a little Foto Therapy!