Saturday, June 4, the season 2022 opens the historic convoy "Train of Dante", which connects Tuscany and Romagna along the lands that the Supreme Poet crossed on his way between Florence and Ravenna.
After the success of last year, starts the journey that every weekend, until November 1, leads tourists to discover the villages of the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines that have fascinated and inspired Dante - Among the novelties of the 2022 edition, Liberty interiors and compartments of 1a, 2a and the standard class and the formula "cruise" between Brisighella and Faenza, in Ravenna, which allows you to stop an hour and thirty to visit the places - In the ancient convoy, built more than a century ago, you can abandon to slowness: on each carriage there is an assistant who tells the story of the territories crossed by this special railway line - At each stop you can visit museums and castles or taste typical dishes, taking advantage of the agreements included in the ticket - The project is financed by the Emilia-Romagna Region and developed by Apt Servizi Emilia-Romagna with Toscana Promozione Turistica (www.iltrenodidante.it).
Green velvets, wooden interiors, Art Nouveau details, engine in historic livery: after the great success of last year, the 'Dante Train' starts again in summer 2022, a project intended for the 700 years of Alighieri’s death by the Emilia-Romagna RegionRomagna, and developed by Apt Servizi Emilia-Romagna with Toscana Promozione Turistica. Also this year every Saturday and Sunday, from 4 June to 1 November, a historical convoy will accompany travelers from Florence, the birthplace of Dante, to Ravenna where his remains rest, and return, for a full immersion dantesca rhythm slow (www.iltrenodidante.it).
A unique travel experience, 136 km aboard a Liberty train, full of charm and atmosphere of the past, that crosses the heart of the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines to discover the lands that Dante Alighieri visited on his journey of exile, along an enchanting path that combines famous art cities and medieval villages completely immersed in unspoilt nature. In 2022, 32 programming days are planned in June, July, end of August, September and October, to close the programming on November 1.
Second edition News
The program this year includes two formulas: on Sunday the Dante Train leaves from Florence at 8.50 to reach Ravenna in the morning (11.57) stop in the station in Ravenna until the restart, scheduled for 17.54. Four intermediate stops: Borgo San Lorenzo, Marradi, Brisighella and Faenza, all places that have marked the life of Dante. On Saturday you can choose the new formula "cruise". In this case there are three technical stops and the prolonged stop (1h.30') in Brisighella and Faenza alternately. With the formula "cruise" travelers can complete the purchase with excursion options to Brisighella and Faenza.
Another novelty concerns the historical convoy: with its ancient carriages, this special train, called "Centoporte", made available by the Fondazione FS Italiane, which travels on the Faentina railway line, the first in Italy to cross the Apennines, is presented in this second edition with three environments: one open for the standard class - at the time third class - with the characteristic wooden interiors, the first class and the second class with upholstered sofas and Liberty details, for a total of 230 seats in addition to the postal wagon and the historic engine.
The service on the Dante Train is also personalized and high quality: on each car there is a travel assistant who takes care of accompanying travelers in their experience and tell the story of the places touched during the exile of the Alighieri, that most influenced its existence and work. The assistants also provide valuable information on what to visit at each train stop: museums, fortresses, theatres and palaces, which passengers can access free of charge by showing the entrance of the Dante Train ticket, even on a different day than the trip. In addition, you are entitled to a discount in restaurants and local affiliated countries touched by the route for a dedicated stage
Il Treno di Dante Itinerary
The train leaves from Florence, the city where Dante was born in 1265. The city offers many places to visit that tell the Poet, including the House of Dante and the nearby Church of Santa Margherita, where the Poet met Beatrice, which tradition wants is buried here. And again the profile of the Poet carved on the floor of the square of the Church, while the mask of Dante is kept at Palazzo Vecchio. Continue towards Vaglia, the first town of Mugello (Fi), and then reach the first stop of Borgo San Lorenzo. The train then leaves for Ronta (Fi), and again Scarperia and San Piero a Sieve (Fi) - two countries that have always been united and dominated by the Medici family - to continue on the hills of Vicchio that gave birth to Giotto and Beato Angelico. Past Crespino del Lamone - a village known for its water quality and fountains - the train continues and stops at Marradi (Fi), the Apennine town where the poet Dino Campana was born, and then stops at Brisighella (Ra), one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The next stop is Faenza (Ra), famous worldwide for pottery, and finally Ravenna, the city where the Supreme Poet completed the composition of the cycle of the Comedy and spent the last years of his life until his death in 1321. Here stands the Tomb of the poet near which the Museum and the House dedicated to the Poet were recently inaugurated.
The success achieved in 2021
In its 2021 programming, the "Dante Train" has marketed over 3,200 travel tickets, for a total of 5,025 passengers in the 28 days of connection between Florence and Ravenna. 113 private operators were involved, including 20 museums, 1,914 entrances to affiliated museums, as well as more than 2,100 "registered" travellers who had lunch in one of the 19 affiliated restaurants. The activity has seen the involvement of 33 tour operators/travel agencies/associations with which a commercial collaboration has been activated in Italy and abroad, operating on 9 tourist packages and 9 excursions. The 238 reviews issued by travellers have certified a very high level of approval, with an average score of 4.7/5.
