If you’re visiting Florence and suddenly have a craving for authentic tortellini alla Bolognese for dinner, it’s never been easier to get to Bologna. You can hop on the high-speed Freccia Rossa (the Red Arrow) from the Santa Maria Novella railway station in Florence and arrive at the Bologna Centrale station in 37 minutes.
Operated by government-owned Trenitalia, this last segment of the high-speed Italian rail network extending from Turin to Naples opened in December.
In the past, my husband and I had traveled two hours between the cities by car on the tollway. That meant renting a vehicle, paying for tolls and fuel and worrying about unpredictable traffic jams and construction bottlenecks along the way. But the most daunting problem was finding a place to park once we got there. Bologna is pedestrian-friendly and eminently walkable, but auto access to the historic center is limited, requiring a pass.
With departures almost every half-hour, the new train proved to be economical, dependable and relaxing. A second-class ticket is 24 euros (about $33). Reservations are compulsory, but we avoided the queues in the train station by purchasing tickets at a nearby travel agency.
The air-conditioned cars are clean and comfortable, with large picture windows. Seats are arranged in fours, two seats facing another two, with a large stationary table between them offering lots of breathing room. If you have a suitcase or packages, you can easily stash them behind your seat or on the shelf above.
At speeds averaging 130 mph, we covered the distances so quickly that we were amazed when the train pulled into the station — on time.
Reservations can be made online no later than 24 hours before departure but within 60 days of your travel date. Not all non-Italian credit cards are accepted
Tickets are paperless, but you need to know your seat and car number. Visit http://www.ferroviedellostato.it.
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