Page 628 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

626  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Arriving by Sea, Rail and Road

Italy is served by an extensive network of roads, railways
and international ferry lines. Road and rail links cross into
the country from France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia,
and there are through train services from as far afield as
Budapest, London and Barcelona. Road connections into the
country are generally of motorway standard, though delays
can occur at some of the many Alpine passes and tunnels
during bad weather or peak summer holiday periods.
Self-service help points with train
information on screens
cities to Milan, Turin, Venice and
Verona. There are also direct
services from Vienna, Spain and
the south of France. Motorail
connections exist from several
centres in northern Europe and
the Channel ports.
The popularity of low­cost
airlines has forced international
train travel to be a little more
competitive – if booked online.
Special discount fares, however,
are often available for senior
travellers and for people
under 26.
Ticket windows at Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station Trains can be extremely busy
during peak periods, particularly
on Friday and Sunday evenings,
Arriving by Car Arriving by Train and during the Christmas and
Most roads into Italy from the After air travel, arriving by train Easter holiday periods. July and
rest of Europe involve Alpine is the least painful way to August can also be frantically
crossings by tunnel or mountain reach Italy. busy, especially
pass. The notable exceptions are Countless on routes from
the approach from Slovenia in services Platform sign Germany and ports
the northeast (on the A4 motor­ (including many connecting with
way) and the French Riviera sleepers) link Greek ferries in the
route that enters Italy as the Italian towns and south. Reservations
A10 motorway at Ventimiglia. cities with places on most services
The most popular route from as far afield Exit sign are advisable.
Geneva and southeast France, as Brussels,
via the Mont Blanc tunnel and Budapest and Barcelona.
A5 motorway, enters Italy close Connections from Paris (and Arriving by Boat
to Aosta and Turin. The Gotthard London, via Eurostar) run to Most people arriving in Italy by
Base tunnel also runs between Turin, Milan, Venice, Bologna, boat do so from Greece, using
Switzerland and Italy and is Florence or along Italy’s west services from Corfu and Patras
57 km (35 miles) long. Another coast, via Genoa and Pisa, to to Brindisi and other south­
approach from Switzerland uses Rome and Naples. Services also eastern ports. Boats are
the St Bernard Pass and tunnel. operate from German, Swiss crowded in summer, as are
Further east, the main route and other northern European connecting train services from
from Austria and southern Brindisi to the rest of Italy.
Germany crosses the Brenner Other international con­
Pass and goes down to Verona nections include ferries from
on the A22 motorway via Trento Malta and North African ports
and the Adige valley. The passes to Palermo, Naples and various
are rarely closed for bad weather, southern Italian ports. Boats also
but snow and fog can make run from towns in the south of
progress slow on the winding France to Genoa, Livorno and
roads through the mountains. ports on the Italian Riviera,
Most motorways are toll­roads A Frecciargento train on the track at Venice and from the Croatian coast
that you pay for as you exit. railway station across the Adriatic to Venice.

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