For many travelers, autumn is the moment to discover numerous Italian regions through art and culture, or perhaps to savor the specialties offered at the various seasonal fairs. Even better if they are reached in a unique and evocative way: seated in the carriages of historic trains. With their atmospheres, wooden benches, and wide windows, they seem to have stepped out of an old-time film and invite passengers to slow down and simply enjoy the journey.
Among the regions to be explored at a leisurely pace is Friuli-Venezia Giulia, which, from mid-October to early November, offers four special runs designed to connect towns and villages with country fairs, cheese festivals, and places of memory.
Historic Trains in Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Autumn itineraries
The first train, which departed on October 4 from Gorizia, reached Cavasso Nuovo to celebrate the red onion and the pumpkin, a Slow Food presidium. And what about the upcoming itineraries? With the schedule in hand, we tell you about them with dates and prices!
Sunday, October 18: from Trieste to Codroipo for San Simone
In Codroipo, autumn has a fixed appointment: the San Simone Fair, which every year draws visitors from across the region (and beyond). The historic train leaves Trieste and drops passengers right at the heart of the festival. Here, you stroll among stalls offering Friulian specialties and local producers, with activities organized by the local associations and community groups.
Sunday, October 25: from Treviso to Venzone
The train to discover Venzone departs from Veneto and accompanies passengers to one of the Friuli’s emblematic villages. The day is devoted to the town’s artistic and cultural heritage and to the technique that brought it back to life after the 1976 earthquake: anastylosis. The collapsed buildings were rebuilt by recovering the original pieces and returning them to their places, one by one. Seeing the result in person, exactly fifty years after the quake, makes the visit even more meaningful.
Wednesday, November 4: from Trieste to Redipuglia
This run is dedicated to memory. The convoy reaches the Sacrario di Redipuglia, the monument that houses the remains of thousands of World War I soldiers. After guided visits, travelers sit down to the soldier’s rations, the simple meal that fed the troops at the front.
Sunday, November 8: from Sacile to Gemona
The calendar closes with a journey for gourmets. From Sacile, the train takes passengers to Gemona del Friuli, which for the occasion hosts “Gemona, cheese…and surroundings”. It is a show-market where you can taste the local cheeses and buy them directly from those who produce them.
Prices and how to book
Fares are fixed and do not vary with distance: you pay the same price whether the trip is short or long. On trains hauled by electric or diesel locomotives, a round trip costs 10 euros for adults and 5 euros for children aged 4 to 12. Those traveling only in one direction pay 5 euros (2.50 for children).
To experience the ambiance of steam-hauled convoys, the cost rises slightly: 15 euros for the round trip for adults, 7.50 euros for children aged 4 to 12, and 7.50 euros for a single journey. On all trains, children under 4 travel for free.
Tickets can be purchased on the website or app, selecting the “Historic Train” option, or at the station, at the ticket office or self-service machines, and at authorized travel agencies. Each train can accommodate up to 250 passengers, so it’s wise not to wait until the last moment to reserve your seat.
