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Whether it’s the delectable cuisine, the mild Mediterranean climate, or the ancient heritage, Italy is on the radar of millions of Americans flying across the pond this winter, and what better way to experience one of Europe’s most beautiful countries to experience than by train?
Train traffic is seeing a revival this year on the Old Continent, with multiple routes between major destinations and even different countries. highly sought after Italyit is no exception:
We’ve had a sleeper launch from Rome all the way to Puglia, not to mention a cross-border service connecting Italy to Slovenia And Croatia, and now a new high-speed train is ready to improve connections between two of the country’s most important cultural hotspots.
This season, American travelers can travel with a ‘red arrow’ from Naplesthe capital of southern Italy, all the way to Goriziaan underrated gem in the North:
Everything you need to know about the new train
Tourists can board the ship from September 15 Frecciarossa trains from Naples, in Campania, to Gorizia, in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, without the usual train changes at transit hubs, connecting the two very different, fascinating, all the same cities for the first time.
Stops are planned in Rome, Florence, Bologna and Venice, but unlike before, travelers will do so no longer have to resort to multi-train routes from the capital of Italy’s sun-drenched south to the far northeast.
Tickets for the Frecciarossa from Naples to Gorizia starts from just $46 one way, with departure times below:
From Naples to Gorizia
- Naples Central – 4:09 PM
- Rome – 5:19 PM
- Florence – 7:20 PM
- Bologna Centrale – 8:01 PM
- Venice (Mestre)* – 9:37 p.m
- Gorizia – 11:30 PM
*The train does not go to the Venezia-Santa Lucia station, which is located in the city of Venice itself; instead it serves Venezia-Mestre, in Mestre, the neighboring municipality, 8 minutes away by train.
From Gorizia to Naples
- Gorizia – 6:12 am
- Venice (Mestre) – 8:40 am
- Bologna – 10:02 am
- Florence – 10:48 am
- Rome – 12:50
- Naples – 2:03 PM
Although part of the same country, Naples and Gorizia couldn’t be further apart if they tried – and indeed, they are on opposite sides of the railway line:
The chaotic, beautiful capital of the Italian South
Naples is a vibrant Mediterranean metropolis best known for its bold character: there are none of the overly polished attractions built for the pleasure of tourists here, as you might expect in other picture-perfect Italian destinations.
As we’ve noted before, this isn’t the kind of place where visitors roll out a red carpet: tourism is very much a secondary detail in Naples, where the locals unceremoniously live their lives with ancient Roman ruins and stately squares as a backdrop.
That’s the beauty of it.
It may feel rough to some, with the maze of winding streets, chipped ink on pastel facades and hanging laundry between neighboring houses, spanning impossibly narrow alleys, but it feels authentic Southern Italy, that’s what we mean.
If you are in Naples, don’t forget to try theirs greatest culinary triumph– you guessed it, Neapolitan pizza, and La Marsadona may have the best – and don’t miss visiting the historic ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, two well-preserved Roman settlements that were once buried under volcanic ash.
The most Slovenian city in Italy
Gorizia, on the other hand, is everything you would expect from Italy not are.
For starters, not only does it border the border with Slovenia, but it also straddles the border with Slovenia, as it is one of the few European municipalities governed not by one country, but by one country. two:
While historic Gorizia, or the ‘old town’ as you prefer, is on the Italian sidethe more modern, still charming New Town falls under Slovenian jurisdiction.
As you might imagine, you’re unlikely to find any of the Mediterranean appeal of Naples here, even though this is, in theory, the same country. the natives have learned more than just Slovenian jargon.
As you stroll through the city, you will encounter elegant 17th-century city gates, such as an ornate Leopold Gate, majestic palaces from the Habsburg era (read with Austrian influences) and an almost intact medieval core dominated by a hilltop fortress: know you, the ultimate European combo.
Gorizia’s main attractions may all fall within the Italian domain, but as we have noted before, it also has an unmistakably Slovenian character: even the name comes from a Slovenian word, goricameaning ‘little mountain’.
As for the kitchen, it is ordinary as Slovenian as it is Italianwith both your usual Štruklji (rolled dumplings) and the more regular pizza and pasta served in multi-ethnic restaurants.
If you’re a foodie like us and curious about how Italy’s most Slovenian city fares gastronomically, don’t miss Trattoria Turri: their Ljubljanska (fried cheese with steak and ham) flavors heavenly.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
