Also back for 2025 is the Bella Italia Express: the rail journey through Italy on the FS Foundation’s ETR.252 Harlequin electric train. A tour that takes you to rediscover the beauty of our country by touching emblematic cities such as Florence, Bari and Rome. The Bella Italia Express sets sail from Milan on Feb. 28 and concludes its journey on March 4.
Harlequins, as the elegant multiple units of the 252 series are called, were part of the modern image of Italian high-speed transportation in the 1960s. And now you will be able to take them on a discovery tour of Italy.
A real railway cruise to discover our cultural heritage departing from Milan.
How the Bella Italia Express works
You leave from the Milano-Centrale station at about 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 28. We take a seat on the Harlequin seats and let ourselves be transported serenely admiring from the window the world flowing before our eyes. First stop Florence. The hotel where you stay overnight is located near the main train station. Upon arrival, you have the opportunity to participate in a guided tour of the city. The rest of the day is at leisure to wander around independently. Overnight stay in Florence.
And then it’s off again on March 1 further south to Bari, your luggage being transferred separately to your hotel in Bari. We travel along Lake Trasemino to Perugia, the capital of Umbria. At Foligno station, the train changes direction and climbs again. The train follows the Topino River until it crosses the Apennines again at the tunnel of the same name in Fossato.
Via Fabriano, it finally heads toward the Adriatic coast, which is reached at Falconara Marittima. The journey continues along the Adriatic via Ancona – Pescara – Termoli – Foggia to the port city of Bari, which is reached in the late afternoon. You then reach the respective hotel. Evening at leisure.
After a good night’s sleep, you get back on the train and pass through the provinces of Puglia and Basilicata. You pass through Taranto, Potenza, pass through the Gulf of Naples to “land” on Roman soil at Termini station where you will discover the wonders of the Eternal City.
Overnight in a central hotel in Rome and the following day is dedicated to visiting with its treasures. You can also join an organized city tour with a tour guide.
On March 4, we depart Rome and head north. You pass through Civitavecchia, Livorno and arrive in Pisa with its leaning tower. From there you reach Liguria with its wonderful Cinque Terre overlooking the sea, one of Italy’s most beautiful train routes along the Riviera di Levante and through the Cinque Terre villages on the Ligurian Sea. Over and over again the train disappears into the tunnels, only for a brief moment and then the view of the sea and small villages clinging to the rocks returns.
After admiring these unique places you travel via Alessandria to Valenza, where you cross the Po again. Via Mortara we reach Milan Central Station again around 4 p.m. Individual return trip or possibility of planning an extra day in Milan. In case you need it, a suitable hotel stay can be arranged if unable to depart the same day from Milan.
Costs
The trip costs 1190 euros in a double room. There is a supplement of 690 in the case for single room. The price includes: exclusive 1st class travel on the Harlequin. Overnight stays in good hotels with breakfast included at the various stops, coach service, luggage transfer from one hotel to another, and welcome dinner the night before departure in Milan. Not included in the tour price are all meals not mentioned, drinks, and personal expenses.
More info can be found on the website. To book click here.