When in Italy, don't trust the train schedules!

Just a warning to those of you who might be traveling by train, esp. regional trains between cities and outlying areas. Don't trust the train schedules, don't buy tickets online, and verify with personnel at the main stations when you get there, if the trains are running -- at ALL.

We just returned from Firenze, parked the car at a station 14km north of the city, had no problems getting in, other than the fact that the train stopped on the other track (counter-intuitive) and we couldn't buy tickets anywhere (had to buy them from the train attendant upon boarding).

Our return should have been simple. We saw the train on the placards by the tracks (printed, behind glass) bought the tickets, they were only about 2euros each, and then waited. Waited. Paid 13euros to go to other station when our regional train never came. Waited some more, one train came but did not stop at our outlying station. Another hour passed. Asked attendant, "oh, those trains don't run anymore at all." WTF?

Pissed, and very late getting started back home (now it is 12:45pm) we pay another 40euros for a cab to take us directly to our car.

Italy gets zero points for ease of transport. Lots of points for good food and nice people, but shitty transportation systems.

Have been daydreaming about a trip to the Amalfi Coast....did you guys get down there?

it's very easy to get around in Italy, the Autostrada are well marked and secondary roads are in good shape, signage, etc. I don't like driving in major cities, so I wouldn't attempt to do Rome or any other metropolis. Drive as far in as you can, park your car somewhere safe, and get a cab to your hotel. Screw the trains!

And your car stereo. We had the hubcaps on our rental car stolen at the train station in Pordenone.

And we saw TONS of cars with windows busted out and stereos gone around Florence and environs.

little unguarded station and my car would be stolen. When we rounded the corner and I saw my baby, I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy!!! We parked a good 15 km outside of Florence, to the north. There wasn't anything going on in this village, so I felt it was safe.