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Getting from Rome to Florence

Without a doubt, Italy's shining stars when it comes to history, art and culture are Rome and Florence. Luckily, the two cities are located in close proximity to each other, and Italy's extensive and efficient train system makes transportation between the two cradles of civilization a breeze.

The Italian railway is operated by the state-owned Ferrovie dello Stato and is composed of several kinds of trains that vary in speed, price, comfort and general cleanliness. While the train system is subject to strikes and delays like all other Italian institutions, they tend to be less frequent and less severe, making train travel the most popular form of domestic transportation in Italy.

The quickest and easiest way to get from Rome to Florence is on the Eurostar, a high-speed service that runs from the Termini train station in Rome to the Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence. The Eurostar fleet is new, clean and quick, and the whole 230-kilometer trip will take around an hour and 40 minutes. Frequency varies throughout the day, but you can usually count on catching one about every half hour.

Those with tighter budgets can opt to take the Intercity or Intercity Plus trains, which are cheaper, slower and a little less clean (make sure to pack antibacterial hand sanitizer). The departure frequency is about the same as the Eurostar, but the journey takes between two and a half and three and a half hours.

Train stations
The main station in Rome is Roma Termini, located centrally near the Piazza della Repubblica. Roma Tiburtina is more popular with locals and is situated further from the center.

In Florence, the Stazione Santa Maria Novella is just a hop, skip and a jump from all of Florence's main attractions, including the Duomo. Campo di Marte and Firenze Rifredi are smaller stations and are on the outskirts of the city.

Purchasing tickets
You can reserve tickets quickly and easily on http://www.trenitalia.it, which has an English language component. For the Eurostar, search for a ticket from Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella, and keep an eye out for frequent web specials on the route.

Rome to Florence Train Fares
Eurostar or Eurostar Alta Velocita
First class: 51.30
Second class: 36.10

Intercity Plus
First class: 35.00
Second class: 26.50

Intercity
First class: 24.55
Second class: 15.85

** all figures are based on web fares on http://www.trenitalia.it, as of October 2, 2008

also see -> Michelangelo's Florence | Amalfi Coast on a Budget

Venice Tourist Attractions | Milan Tourist Attractions