Men's Journal

The real reason to ride Trenitalia’s new Frecciarossa is speed.

Three-course meals and Illy cappuccinos are nice, but Trenitalia’s new Frecciarossa — which travels in northern Italy’s Po Valley and through the picturesque Amalfi Coast — tops out at an absurd 186 mph, shaving an hour off the Milan-to-Rome trip (raileurope.com).

The train’s blistering speed leaves barely enough time on a 1-hour-and-10-minute leg between Rome and Naples to fire up a laptop and absorb the latest salacious Berlusconi headlines. There are complimentary newspapers available, though (good for brushing up on Italian), for those who’d rather read than watch the countryside whizzing by.

What’s more, consummate travelers will be pleased to note that the train allows travelers to transport bicycles and motorbikes. This could be a welcome benefit if your travel plans to the peninsula involve speeding not only between its cities, but inside them. On a Vespa, like the natives.

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This article originally appeared in the February 2010 issue of Men’s Journal.

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