Among the most loved travel options (not only by Italians) there is the train. The merit lies in it being a sustainable means of transport, but also because it offers a certain comfort and the possibility to admire landscapes that change kilometer after kilometer. There are many rail journeys that take your breath away, but the tour we are about to talk about is a true one-of-a-kind, because it runs from Sicily to Scotland (and vice versa).
The eight-stop train itinerary
It consists of eight fascinating stops, the train itinerary conceived by Rocco Forte Hotels, a hotel chain with iconic addresses, that take you from the extraordinary mosaic of colors of the Sicilian landscapes to the deep and mysterious panoramas of Scotland. All of it stopping in dreamlike places and staying in hotels that restore the world.
A journey designed to valorizе slow travel, while using a form of transport with a reduced environmental footprint. An itinerary that allows you to rest your gaze on the diverse landscapes that characterize the stretch between the Gulf of Palermo and Messina or the splendid Alpine peaks that touch the skies near the Brenner Pass.
Guests aboard the train can enjoy complete autonomy throughout the route, customizable both in travel direction and in the stops that make it up and in the duration of stays in the different cities.
The magnificent destinations
We begin in the beautiful city of Palermo and more precisely from Villa Igiea, the historic city luxury hotel overlooking the sea, where guests can be enveloped by the warmth of local hospitality and the warm Mediterranean sun. We then head back toward our magnificent Capital, Rome, to stay at the Hotel de Russie, whose true name is Palazzo Lucernari and which stands out as a building designed by Giuseppe Valadier, located in the splendid historic center of the Eternal City. A true oasis of peace, also thanks to the iconic garden surrounded by towering pine trees and blooming citrus.
The next stop is another Italian masterpiece: Florence, cradle of the Renaissance and one of the most important art cities in our country. Here the stay is at the Hotel Savoy, a magnificent and historic palace that rises on the site of the ancient Medici towers and the Church of San Tommaso, with a unique view directly onto Piazza della Repubblica.
The rail journey continues, crossing beyond the Alpine arc, until it reaches Munich, a city that has a lot to tell and deserves a visit also for its museums, some of which are among the most famous in Europe. The architectural beauties, the churches of the historic center, and all that this evocative corner of Europe has to offer are certainly not lacking.
Back on the move, this time heading toward Berlin, one of Europe’s liveliest cities, characterized by an eclectic mix of modern and classical architecture. From Germany the passage goes through Belgium, with a stop at the fascinating Hotel Amigo, a palace with 500 years of history and with a cobbled pavement that originally adorned the surrounding streets of the city.
We then arrive in London, a city that needs little introduction, before concluding the journey in Edinburgh, Scotland. A place that, without a doubt, is capable of making dreams come true: it offers picturesque glimpses that have graced the pages of Harry Potter and many other places of precious interest—a location that is a concentrate of magic.
Perfect for romantics, families, and modern explorers, this rail Grand Tour is an extraordinary slow-travel adventure where autonomy and luxury blend harmoniously, allowing a unique immersion in the splendor of our continent.
