The charms of taking the train can often be lost in the terrors and horrors of commuting but, while on holidays or travelling, there is something quite Old World and delightful about sitting back in a train carriage and just watching the world go by.
This is particularly true of places such as Italy, where the train is both the best way to traverse the country and also happens to cut through swathes of the incredible countryside, offering you wonderful views of the beautiful surroundings and scenery.
If you were to take just a single train route while exploring Italy, however, the Circumetnea train is one keep in mind.
This is particularly true of places such as Italy, where the train is both the best way to traverse the country and also happens to cut through swathes of the incredible countryside, offering you wonderful views of the beautiful surroundings and scenery.
If you were to take just a single train route while exploring Italy, however, the Circumetnea train is one keep in mind.
This 110 km long railway is a private line that runs around the base of the Mount Etna and takes you through an incredible journey past medieval towns, through volcanic landscapes and around the volcano itself, taking in its majesty from every angle.
This completely charming and one of a kind journey has been described in the past by travel journalists and train enthusiasts as “the most beautiful circular trip that can be done in [under] seven hours on the face of the Earth” and it all kicks of in the little village of Giarre – Risposto.
The tiny train is made up of just a single car and goes past quite the diverse and fascinating variety of sights such as: Randazzo, a medieval site built entirely of lava that is the closest village to the summit; lunar landscapes made from lava; the sea; pistachio-filled plantations; citrus groves; cacti loaded with fruits; and rows of olive and fig trees.
The whole trip takes around three hours and passes through a string of villages, with the possibility for users to drop off and get back on at any point of the journey and as they please. As such, it is a wonderful way to see the area.
This unusual feature of the route dates back to when it was once used by farmers to reach to the fields and they needed to be able to jump off where necessary. What is incredibly unique and interesting is that, today you can still request to stop anywhere you would like.
Therefore this train route makes for the perfect way to explore much of the landscape and countryside of Sicily at your leisure, while being thrown back in time and experiencing the area in a very special way. Just browse our luxury villas in Sicily and check it out for yourself!
This completely charming and one of a kind journey has been described in the past by travel journalists and train enthusiasts as “the most beautiful circular trip that can be done in [under] seven hours on the face of the Earth” and it all kicks of in the little village of Giarre – Risposto.
The tiny train is made up of just a single car and goes past quite the diverse and fascinating variety of sights such as: Randazzo, a medieval site built entirely of lava that is the closest village to the summit; lunar landscapes made from lava; the sea; pistachio-filled plantations; citrus groves; cacti loaded with fruits; and rows of olive and fig trees.
The whole trip takes around three hours and passes through a string of villages, with the possibility for users to drop off and get back on at any point of the journey and as they please. As such, it is a wonderful way to see the area.
This unusual feature of the route dates back to when it was once used by farmers to reach to the fields and they needed to be able to jump off where necessary. What is incredibly unique and interesting is that, today you can still request to stop anywhere you would like.
Therefore this train route makes for the perfect way to explore much of the landscape and countryside of Sicily at your leisure, while being thrown back in time and experiencing the area in a very special way. Just browse our luxury villas in Sicily and check it out for yourself!