Tourism in Italy: luxury travels by rail

Rome, 15 June 2021 

Inimitable travel experiences aboard luxury carriages to visit various places throughout the Italian territory, with reserved routes from North to South, to reach the most well-known tourist areas along with those logistically less serviced or frequented. This is all whilst savouring the utmost comfort, in accordance with the best five-star standards.

The first rail tourism project with a luxury offering was presented today by Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenale SpA – a company active in luxury hospitality – together with Luigi Corradi, CEO and General Director of Trenitalia (FS Italiane Group), in the presence of the Minister of Economic Development, Giancarlo Giorgetti, the Minister of Tourism, Massimo Garavaglia, the Councillor for Public Works, Territorial Protection and Mobility for the Lazio Region, Mauro Alessandri, with a welcoming from the Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi.

This opens up a new frontier in the luxury hospitality market, focused on the great appeal of the Italian territory, thanks to its characteristics (seas, lakes, hills, mountains and villages, along with the historic locations, cities of art, regional food and wine offering, together with the Mediterranean climate) and on the path of slow, sustainable and more authentic tourism, thanks to which “the most secret beauties” of Italy can be reached. Today, following the period of crisis owing to the pandemic, such facets become fundamental for the growth and relaunch of tourism in Italy.

With investments already active and a portfolio of luxury hotels soon to open – which includes, amongst others, Soho House and the Orient Express (the former Hotel de La Minerve) in Rome, Rosewood in Venice and the Santavenere in Maratea – Arsenale sets out on its second division in the tourism sector. The project confirms the company’s development strategy which, in addition to the enhancement of prestigious Italian assets in the luxury sector flanked by the largest international brands, integrates its capacity for a premium offering to create a new cutting-edge hospitality of the highest level, ready to face the challenges of the tourism market in the near future.

Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenale SpA, commented: “We have added a new and important step to the development and growth of Arsenale. Tourism is not just about hotels and restaurants. Italy is an all-round experience and it is precisely from this experience that we must start out once more for an integrated and complete offer. We want to connect Italy and generate that word-of-mouth which, in the coming years, will lead tourists to discover the destinations that are lesser-known today. We would like to be able to take passengers on new itineraries, where the resilience of Made in Italy shall construct over time dedicated experiences, new hospitality and a completely Italian warmth. The Dolce Vita train is a tribute to Italy – the beauty and uniqueness of our territory, its excellence, the cities of art, the unique features of the landscape, through to the good food and dining experiences that are the hallmarks of our country and for which reason, they will be the pillars of our offer and our iconic trains. With the gradual stabilisation of the global health situation, we are convinced that the luxury sector will act as a driving force for the recovery of national tourism. Our work is aimed at creating the conditions to welcome once more the millions of travellers who, over the next 50 years, will choose Italy as their first destination. This is not just a desire but a commitment.” 

“Travelling by train to visit Italy from North to South means choosing a safe and eco-sustainable vehicle, protecting the environment whilst rediscovering the most fascinating, hidden and unique places throughout the Peninsula,” declared Luigi Corradi, CEO and General Director of Trenitalia. “The Dolce Vita Train is a project heading in this direction, bringing a new form of luxury slow tourism to the railway, to enhance the beauty of our country, from the great cities of art to the small provinces.”