The rail Italy

to the coastline, each is an eclectic mix of characterful houses, steep terraces and quaint harbours filled with fishing boats.

What they were most definitely not made for is motor vehicles.

But each location is linked by punctual trains which make village-hopping incredibly easy. The trains pass up and down the coastline through tunnels carved through the cliffs, offering stunning views of the ocean. You can enjoy breakfast in one village, then have lunch and dinner in another.

Alternatively, try hiking from one to the next along the Sentiero Azzurro cliffside trail.

After a couple of days exploring the Cinque Terre I hopped back on the train and headed for stately Turin in the north. Following a quick change in Genoa, in less than four hours I was exploring the city on foot.

The lovingly refurbished Porta Susa station also happens to be a gateway to the rest of Europe.

French TGV trains, which provide a fast service to Paris and Lyon, run

HIGHLIGHT Lucca from there, as well as daytime coastal trains to the south coast of France.

Turin is a glorious old city in the shadows of the Alps, which rise to the north-west. Italy’s original capital, its refined air is founded on sumptuous baroque buildings and boulevards lined with trattorias and cafés.

Losing track of time wandering the miles of arcades and sipping coffee in the city’s old cafés is all too easy. Try the fabulous Caffè San Carlo, or Café Al Bicerin, which dates from 1763 and bears the name of the city’s delicious speciality hot drink of bicerin, a mix of espresso, chocolate, and milk.

Surprisingly Turin is also home to one of the most impressive collections of Egyptian artefacts outside of Egypt. The Museo Egizio, founded in 1824, has more than 26,000 objects.

So if you are planning a cultural adventure through Italy, consider taking the train.

Cheap, easy and punctual, they offer the perfect route to the heart of La Dolce Vita.