Italian News Headlines 19-03-2024 - Statistics released for 2022 show Italy produced 40% of Europe's tomatoes --- Jannik Sinner rises to ATP number 3 in the world after his semi-final win in Rotterdam --- Jannik Sinner becomes the first Italian to win the Australian Open tennis tornament --- Italian social media influencer, Chiara Ferragni, is under investigation for fraud over a Christmas Cake sponsorship deal with Italian cake manufacturer, Balocco --- A man and a woman died when their Mercedes SUV broke through the barrier of a car park overlooking Lake Como and plunged 10 metres into the water --- Interbrand, the world's leading brand consultancy, has valued Italy's 'Vespa' at over one billion euros --- Judges in a bomb-proof courtroom in Calabria, have sentenced 200 'Ndrangheta members to more than 2,200 years in prison --- The number of 3-Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy has risen to 13, with a total of 395 recognised overall --- Controversy over Italian Government plan to set up migrant processing centres in Albania
Getting Around Italy
Getting Around Italy

Travel Guide to Transportation in Italy

Italy has an area of over 300,000 square kilometres. It is approximately 1,130 kilometres long and has approximately 7,600 kilometres of coastline. Over a third of the total area is mountainous, over 700 metres high, and the Alpine ranges in the north and the Appenines range down the centre can make travelling round the country somewhat challenging.

When Italy was a destination on 'The Grand Tour', intrepid visitors struggled around the country by boat, foot and donkey, encountering a multitude of perils on the way. However, modern-day transport facilities in Italy are mostly well developed and armed with the correct information, visitors should be able to reach their destinations in relative comfort.

Italian Motorways

Getting around Italy, italian transport, trains in italy, eurostar, intercity trains, regional trains, buses, ferries, italian motorways, toll charges, coach travel in italy, italian car hire

There are 3,408 km of motorways in Italy, used by 4 million motorists. They are mostly well maintained, fast and fairly free of traffic. They operate on a toll system. As you enter a stretch of motorway, you will pass through an 'Alt Stazione' where you take a ticket from an automatic machine. When you exit that part of the motorway system you will pass through another 'Alt Stazione' where you present your ticket and pay the toll charge. Payment can be made automatically with cash or credit card, or at a manned kiosk. It is possible to buy a 'Telepass' which allows you to pass through the 'Alt Stazione' without stopping. The Automobile Club Italiano (ACI) is the Italian breakdown organisation equivalent to the AA in Britiain. If you breakdown anywhere in Italy, dialling 116 will put you through to the nearest ACI centre. On the motorways, there are emergency telephones every 2 kilometres.

Italian Trains

Getting around Italy, italian transport, trains in italy, eurostar, intercity trains, regional trains, buses, ferries, italian motorways, toll charges, coach travel in italy, italian car hireFalk2, CC BY-SA 4.0 httpscreativecommons.orglicensesby-sa4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

There are three types of train in Italy. The Eurostar is the premium grade. It is fast, comfortable and good value for money. Getting around Italy, italian transport, trains in italy, eurostar, intercity trains, regional trains, buses, ferries, italian motorways, toll charges, coach travel in italy, italian car hire The Intercity trains are less modern but still relatively fast and efficient. The Regional trains tend to be the oldest, the slowest and the least comfortable, especially in the south. However, they do amble around the countryside, stopping at all the most inaccessible places, so they too have a role to play. The rail fares in Italy are generally very reasonable.

Italian Buses

Getting around Italy, italian transport, trains in italy, eurostar, intercity trains, regional trains, buses, ferries, italian motorways, toll charges, coach travel in italy, italian car hire

In Italy there is a very efficient inter-city bus service. The buses are modern, comfortable, fast and well equipped. They also provide a very economical way of traveling around the country. See our bus timetable for details.

Italian Ferries

Getting around Italy, italian transport, trains in italy, eurostar, intercity trains, regional trains, buses, ferries, italian motorways, toll charges, coach travel in italy, italian car hire

There are a lot of islands off the coast of Italy, including the major ones of Sardinia and Sicily, so naturally there are a lot of ferries traveling backwards and forwards. The major ferry terminals are: Genoa, Civitavecchia, Napes, Palermo. Ancona, Bari and Brindisi. There are other, smaller ones at Livorno, Piombino, Catania, Porto Torres, Portoferraio, Salerno, Savona and Venezia. See our ferry timetable for details.

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