kiwiajeossi
Traveller
53 comments
Posted 6 years ago
We\'re likely to have a free day in Florence, thanks to ALL major attractions being closed on Tuesday May 1, and are considering a train trip just for the sake of a train trip. We\'re not looking to GO anywhere, the journey is the point. Are there any routes you\'d recommend that could be done in a day trip from Florence, either directly or via Siena? Anywhere off the beaten track and where I might be forced to rely on my (hopefully by then not quite so) shaky Italian would be fun. The smaller, the better, quite frankly. We\'d be happy to make a full day of it if needed, from 07:00 to 18:30
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
The route from Firenze to Faenza via Borgo San Lorenzo would be a idea; then to Bologna and return via Poretta Terme - Pistoia - Prato to Firenze. The lines from Firenze to Faenza and Bologna to Pistoia are old crossings of the Apennin mountains and supposedly very scenic - but I havent travelled there yet.
You might also think of going to Cinque Terre - not quite sure if that is in your plan anyway?
I dont remember the route Firenze - Empoli - Siena - Chiusi as being particularly scenic...maybe also a daytrip from Firenze to either Assisi or Perguia would be interesting for you? :)
kiwiajeossi
Traveller
53 comments
Thanks for the great suggestions! I think I may actually have travelled one of the toutes you suggested, as it happens. When I was in San Marino for work 15 years ago, we took a train from Rimini to Florence. I remember that the Bologna-Florence leg was on an older train that went across the Appenines, and it was a very scenic trip indeed. Many thanks for helping me with this.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
You\'re welcome. Bologna - Florence could well have been on the classic "Direttissima" line which has been opened in the 1930ies - one of the first two-track "high speed lines" of the time.
The line via Porretta (the "Porrettana") is much older dating back to the 1860 and has a much more winding track, climbing higher up the mountains - the newer line has longer tunnels, cutting beneath the mountains.
There is a much more recent high speed line too, dating back to 2009. You can see all three lines on [ux]http://openrailwaymap.org/[/ux]