train travel

Ever found yourself glimpsing out of a train window and found yourself noticing something amazing? You may be on your way to somewhere else, but immediately you want to visit this place. First of all, you may think is it possible to change your plans? But, maybe perhaps due to time constraints, it may not be possible. Read on about four locations that having glimpsed out of a train or bus window, I knew I had to visit them one day.

Certosa di Pavia

Returning by a train years ago from the Cinque Terre to Milan I happened to glimpse out of the train window, and I noticed an incredible looking gothic building.

Due to the train moving so quickly, I was not able to get a proper look. Because of all its decoration, I did wonder that it might perhaps be a religious building. I did get another chance to visit Lombardy many years later, and finally, I visited the monastery of Certosa di Pavia.

The Carthusian monastery of Certosa di Pavia is 8km north of Pavia and is accessible via a branch railway line from Pavia. Trains run hourly. From the train station, it is a pleasant 10- minute walk via a path that follows the perimeter of the ancient monastery walls.

Visiting the monastery

Standing outside the monastery really is an attack on the senses. I, first of all, could not help but notice that all surfaces of the facade are decorated with statues, reliefs and inlaid marble.

Secondly, after having visited the Duomo in Milano, I concluded that the exterior was similar and almost certainly another example of the Lombard style.

The interior, in contrast, is Gothic in design and therefore follows the more traditional Latin cross plan with two aisles, a transept and a nave.

For me, most noteworthy were the paintings by the Renaissance painter from Milan, Ambrogio Borgognone and the fifteenth stained glass windows by Zanetto Bugatto and Vincenzo Foppa.

The colours were amazing to see. After having visited the monastery, I would certainly recommend joining one of the tours that run hourly. And, above all, with Pavia being only 8km don’t forget to visit this ancient university town as well.

Trevi

The Umbrian town of Trevi is beautiful. When I first glimpsed Trevi out of a train window, I was based in Perugia and was catching trains to visit Spello, Assisi and Spoleto.

Trevi due to it being on top of a hill, it stands out. Every time I saw it it was a different colour, be it golden or pink.

Getting there

And so, returning from Spoleto one sunny afternoon, finally; I got off the train at Trevi to investigate. Trevi is 2km from the train station, and I assumed there would be a bus.

Unfortunately, though, I had already missed both buses up to the hilltop town for the day. Un-phased I began to walk.

Visiting the town

The walk there was beautiful because I was walking past vineyards and farmhouses. The road up to Trevi zigzagged steeply. The old Roman road, the Via Flaminia, runs through the town.

It was a hot day. Therefore, to hide my breathlessness, I took lots of photos. I finally reached the top, and there was silence. Due to it being mid-afternoon I had arrived during siesta. There was no-one about. I reached the centre of the city where there was a bar open.

After a rewarding glass of beer, I turned my attention to exploring Trevi. The shops and churches had now reopened for the afternoon.

I left Trevi in the early evening. Walking back to the train station, the views of the town in the late afternoon were spectacular. Bathed in sunlight the town was now a pinkish colour.

Ostuni

On my first visit to Puglia many years ago, I had intended on visiting Ostuni. Unfortunately, I had run out of time. It looked amazing as I glimpsed it out of a train window practically every day.

Getting there

I returned to Puglia in 2016, determined to visit Ostuni. I stayed in the nearby city of Brindisi for the reason that it is about 30 minutes by train to Ostuni.

Rather than wait for a bus, I opted to walk the 2.5km up to the city.The walk did involve walking beside a road for some of the time. I avoided this by walking off the path adjacent to the main road. The track is beside ancient olive groves. What an introduction!

The white city

Ostuni is known as the white city and glimpsed from a train window it is stunning. Interestingly, special limestone-based paint is used to give the city a white-washed painted style and act as a deterrent from diseases. Diseases include the plague.

Therefore, as a result of Ostuni successfully avoiding outbreaks of disease, a law was passed. Every year all buildings must be re-painted.

Visiting Ostuni

After a gradual climb, I reached the top of this beautiful hilltop town. Access to the city is via gates, but there are also alleyways and narrow streets to enter. I opted for the latter and started wandering, taking photos along the way.

All lanes seemed to lead back to the central Piazza della Libertà where the beautiful church – Chiesa di San Francesco is. Leaving the main piazza, I explored the nearby streets.

I also discovered where the artisan shops, restaurants and churches are. I remember I was forever walking up steep tiny streets to investigate and take photos.

After much walking around and discovering, reluctantly it was time to leave Ostuni. I contemplated leaving only after I visited an enoteca by the Duomo and enjoyed a glass of the locally produced white wine Impigno.

Castiglione del Lago

I had always been curious about Lago Trasimeno and the castle fortress town beside it. Often, I had caught trains between Cortona and Arezzo and had passed through the lake region.

Finally, one-day last year, when staying in Florence for a month, I decided to visit Castiglione del Lago. Due to the lakeside town being about 90 minutes by rail from Florence I was able to visit as a day-trip.

Getting there

From the train station, it is about a 15-minute walk to the town. You know you will have arrived when you reach the stone stairs up to the town gate. Climbing the stairs gives you your first proper glimpse of the lake, and it is rather impressive.

Exploring the town

In Castiglione del Lago there is one main street that begins at the town gate and ends at the castle. Hence when you enter the town, there is an array of restaurants, cafes, artisan stores and enoteche (wine stores).

Before visiting the castle, I opted to explore, leaving the main road every so often. Along the way, I would come across tiny churches and restaurants.

The castle

Because of its elevation, the views from the castle walls and towers are spectacular. You get a real sense of just how large the lake is.

It is possible to walk around the entire castle complex. To reach the furthest of the two towers, it does involve walking through a narrow (defence) tunnel built into the castle walls. A real sense of history is ever-present.

Walking by the lake

For lunch I sampled the local pasta in a wild boar ragu and one of the Trasimeno DOC wines Berlingero. To walk off my lunch, I headed down to the outside castle walls path. I then headed down again to the lake shore.

I walked along the lake for a while, just to get a sense of how large the lake is.

Before returning to Florence, I took time for a rewarding gelati, followed by and then a glass of the locally produced Sangiovese from an enoteca.