L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano T h e r e i s s o m e - t h i n g a k i n t o poetry in a nice t r i p b y t r a i n : t h e l a n d s c a p e r u n n i n g f a s t o u t s i d e t h e windows, the soft lulling of the carriage, the opportunity of daydreaming, thinking, a n d r e f l e c t i n g w h i l e y o u move towards a new desti- nation. Of course, it's not always this nice, as any person who has to take a regular com- muters' train in and out of work may tell you. But if you e n j o y t h e o l d - f a s h i o n e d allure of train trips and you, too, find them a tad magic, then you'll happy to know there are plenty of special touristic routes that you can take and enjoy without wor- rying about crowds, noise, delays, and dirty seats. Let's take a look at a handful of picturesque trips, perfect to discover Italy by train… P i e d m o n t - T h e foliage train If you like the colors of the fall and would like to discover those of Italy, look no further than the Treno d e l F o l i a g e , w h i c h h a s connected Domodossola and Locarno (Switzerland), since 1923. Its traditional white a n d b l u e c a r r i a g e s r u n through 52 km of Piedmon- tese and Swiss woods, across alpine bridges, valleys, and fable-like villages. The trip takes about two hours and runs every day of the year, but if you want to enjoy the vivid colors of our fall, of course, book between Sep- tember and December! You can find more information at www.info@vigezzinacen- tovalli.com. Matera Since its year as the Euro- pean Capital of Culture in 2019, Matera has become an increasingly popular des- tination for travelers, even if we were all stopped by the pandemic for a long while. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage, Matera is also a nice destination to reach by train. If you leave from Bari and travel towards Basilica- ta, you'll traverse the plains j u s t a l o n g t h e P a r c o Nazionale dell'Alta Mur- g i a , e n j o y i n g o n e o f t h e most characteristic land- scapes of our South. Once you reach your destination, t h e r e i s p l e n t y t o d o : the sassi, of course, but also t h e v a s t u n d e r g r o u n d archaeological area of the city, as well as its charming town center, which bustles with life, all year round. And don't forget to try some local food and wine while you're there! If you fancy taking t h i s t r i p , c h e c k o u t www.isassidimatera.com Tuscany - Val d'Orcia W h o d o e s n ' t d r e a m o f Tuscany? It's perhaps the most quintessential Italian destination, and its gentle, beautiful hills came to rep- resent a symbol of the Bel Paese. If you want to explore a special area of this region, t h e n j u m p o n b o a r d o f t h e T r e n o N a t u r a . V a l d'Orcia became part of the UNESCO World Heritage in 2014 and it's well worth a trip! This is an area known for its vineyards and chest- nut tree woods, as well as its traditional villages and the Via Francigena. The journey d e v e l o p s o v e r t h e 5 2 k m b e t w e e n A s c i a n o ( S i e n a ) and Monte Antico (Grosse- to) and can be booked every day of the week. While trav- e l i n g o n a v i n t a g e t r a i n , you'll get the opportunity to stop and see some of the prettiest villages of the val- ley and, in particular times of the year, even to partici- pate in special events like fairs and sagre. If you are i n t e r e s t e d , c o n s u l t t h e www.fondazionefs.it website and look for the Treno Natu- ra Toscana. Sicily: Territori del- l'Etna W i t h i t s 3 3 5 0 m e t e r s (almost 10.000 ft) Mount Etna is the tallest active vol- cano in Europe. The area around the volcano - and the volcano itself - is of great interest for its geological and natural characteristics, like i t s i n a c t i v e c r a t e r s , f o r instance, which can be the destination of nice trekking sessions and walks. If you are not an active type, how- ever, you can still enjoy the peculiarity of Mount Etna's landscape, by taking a trip o n t h e F e r r o v i a C i r c - umetnea, which connects Catania to Giarre-Riposto, running through dark hills made of set lava and many, many vineyards. If you want t o l e a r n m o r e , v i s i t www.parcoetna.it. Liguria – The Cinque Terre Express T h i s i s a c l a s s i c ! T h e C i n q u e T e r r e Express, the touristic train that brings you from Levan- to to La Spezia and stops at e v e r y s i n g l e o n e o f t h e f a m o u s l i g u r i a n v i l l a g e s : M o n t e r o s s o , V e r n a z z a , C o r n i g l i a , M a n a r o l a a n d Riomaggiore. You'll travel along the sea and across the Parco Naturale delle Cinque T e r r e . T h e s e r v i c e r u n s every 15 minutes, every day of the week, and the ticket, only costs 4 euro or around 5 USD. Interested? Then you c a n b o o k y o u r t i c k e t i n advance at www.thetrain- line.com. Calabria – Da Reggio Calabria a Scilla This train line is consid- ered one of the most breath- t a k i n g i n t h e c o u n t r y . I t joins the regional capital, R e g g i o C a l a b r i a , t o t h e ancient borough of Scilla. The landscape is typically Mediterranean and you can't e s c a p e t h e g r e e n o f t h e maquis and the deep blue of the sea. Once in Scilla, you'll definitely enjoy your stay: the village is dominated by the Ruffo Castle and opens on two enchanting beaches, M a r i n a G r a n d e a n d C h i - analea. You can find all the infor- m a t i o n y o u n e e d at www.scilla.asmenet.it. GIULIA FRANCESCHINI The Treno Natura of the Val d'Orcia (Photo: Gutescu Eduard/Dreamstime) The poetic flair of train traveling in Italy LIFE PEOPLE PLACES TRAVEL TRADITIONS

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