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Ellie’s Adventures: Venice to Verona by Rail

Citalia is the only UK tour operator that can book Italian train tickets in advance, so you can be sure that every element of your trip is sorted and pre-booked before you get there. Our background in train travel makes it easy to combine a trainload of destinations into one trip, creating the holiday of a lifetime, saving money on air travel, and maximising your time spent in this breath-taking country.

In November 2021 our Marketing Executive Ellie Harding went on her own Italian cross-country rail adventure to Venice, and Verona, flying into Venice Marco Polo Airport and departing from Malpensa Airport, Milan. Capturing moments along the way, Ellie shares her trip with us.

It felt incredible to be back in Italy after two years. Using the Trenitalia train was an inexpensive, easy and fast way to hop between cities, making it perfect for a multi-centre holiday, combining several destinations!

“It was truly amazing to be able to immerse myself in Italian culture, architecture, and cuisine again and I would highly recommend to anyone thinking about visiting Italy to just go! You won’t regret it!”

Venice

I flew from London Gatwick to Venice Marco Polo Airport, where my Citalia water transfer was awaiting on arrival, which took me to the glorious five-star Hotel Londra Palace, which has the most breathtaking views of the Venetian Lagoon.

As I entered Hotel Londra Palace, I knew I was in for a special stay as I walked under the sparkle of glamorous chandeliers. The hotel exudes vintage Venetian flair, preserving traditional elements, such as physical room keys, which made my stay feel truly regal. My hotel concierge Luca reserved a table for us at a nearby trattoria, the authentic Ristorante Al Giardinetto da Severino. The food was delicious, enjoyed in a mythical vine-covered courtyard.

My first day in Venice was all about exploring! I made sure to tick off the iconic landmarks, such as Rialto Bridge and St Mark’s Square, but Venice has so many hidden gems that beg to be discovered. One of my favourites is Libreria Acqua Alta, a unique bookshop with repurposed gondolas and resident cats that wait for affection.

I would also highly recommend seeing the 360° views of Venice from the spiral scala (ladder) staircase of Palazzo Contarini Del Bovolo, which most people don’t even know is there!

Venetian Islands

I made sure I went on Citalia’s much-loved 3-island excursion, which includes some of the lesser-known islands around Venice. The tour started in the quant glass town of Murano where I watched an unbelievable glass making demonstration before browsing the shops filled with Murano glass treasures.

Then I headed to the whimsical island of Torcello, which is home to just nine residents and made for the perfect lunch spot. Lastly, I took in the famous rainbow island of Burano, which features the most colourful houses, shops, and restaurants. The vibrant colours of these buildings are protected so they can’t be repainted with any other colours.

Verona

It was my first visit, but I've fallen in love with Verona and I’m already dreaming of when I can go back! If you add Verona to your Italian itinerary, you won’t be disappointed! As the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet I got to tour Juliet’s house, her iconic balcony and see the many love locks and letters that visitors leave for Juliet.

Less than a 10-minute walk away stands Verona’s breathtaking must-visit Roman Amphitheatre. You’ll pass lots of authentic restaurants and high-end shops and boutiques that you can get lost in along the way too!

I stopped off at a Bruschetta stand on my walk back to the train station. It was delicious, all the flavors complement each other, and the Italian tomatoes are so refreshing. The walk from the Palazzo della Gran Guardia to the train station took about 20 minutes and showed me parts of the city I would never have seen.

The train to Milano Centrale Railway Station took less than an hour and a half and gave me the opportunity to have a look around Milan before catching the express train to the airport. All the train journeys were quick, easy, and great value, allowing me to visit 3 iconic cities, all their main sites and even some hidden gems in just 3 days. I can’t wait to arrange my next multi-stop Italian adventure!