(Finance) – Italy is full of museums. Archaeological, natural, technology and music. Fans of trains, tracks and stations find in Italy a network of railway museums that represent a true treasure of history and culture. From north to south, they are places that take visitors on an immersive experience in the world of rails. Each museum has its own peculiarities and tells a unique part of the history of Italian railways.
Those who want to explore the place where the history of Italian railways began can only visit the National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa. Located between Portici and Naples and managed by the FS Italiane Foundation, it is easily reachable with the metropolitan and regional trains of the Naples-Salerno line or with the evocative journey on board the historic Pietrarsa Express train.
Saturday 18 Mayon the occasion of International Museum Day and European Night of Museumswill open its pavilions from 7.30pm to 1amto a symbolic price of one euro. Fondazione FS Italiane thus offers the opportunity to spend an evening immersed in the beauty, history and culture of the railways, in a quiet, exclusive and private environment. During the evening visit, visitors will be able to admire beautifully restored vintage locomotives, historic carriages, models and working models that reproduce trains of different eras and sizes with detailed care.
In Piedmontan unmissable stop is the Piedmont Railway Museum in Savigliano, Cuneo. Located in an old railway factory, the museum offers a fascinating experience which takes visitors back in time to the golden days of steam locomotives and train travel. There The external part of the museum houses almost 200 unique objects including wagons, carriages, freight wagons, special vehicles, bicycles and other memorabilia. To reach Savigliano you can take a train from many cities in the Piedmont region and beyond. Once you arrive at Savigliano station, the museum is about a 20-minute walk away.
In the heart of Venetian hills, in Schiothere is a unique attraction of its kind: the World of Miniature Trains. This museum is a paradise for train enthusiasts of all ages and offers an exciting journey into the world of small-scale rails. From Schio train station, a short walk of about 15 minutes will lead to this extraordinary museum. Here, visitors will be amazed by the precision of detail and craftsmanship of the railway models, which reproduce the locomotives, carriages and scenery of real railways.
For travelers exploring the Tuscan city of art, Florence, it is possible to visit the HZERO Museum. Here it is possible to explore a model railway covering 280 square metres, one of the largest in Europe. Located just 500 meters from Florence Santa Maria Novella station, this museum offers a journey into the world of model railways.
Always in Tuscanyin the province of Florence, you can visit the Signa Museum which preserves a unique heritage linked to railway history. Collected here are the railway memorabilia that were once part of the museum of railway objects located in the Porta a Prato station, in the heart of the city of Florence. These objects are authentic relics of great historical and technical-industrial value, which narrate the fascinating evolution of the world of trains and railways.
In Abruzzo, in the suggestive context of Montesilvano railway stationthere is a real jewel for railway enthusiasts: the Train Museum. Visitors have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of rail transportor, exploring historic locomotives, restored carriages and memorabilia that tell the story of the golden eras of Abruzzo’s railways. Outside it is possible to admire two ancient locomotives and eight towed vehicles from different historical periods. Inside, in the specially set up sections, there are relics, artefacts and evidence of the operation, traction, maintenance and railway signs of the past. To reach the Train Museum, just take the train to Pescara and then continue with a short regional or local journey to Montesilvano station. The Museum is located inside the station itself.
In Sicilythe Museum is located at Porto Empedocle Centrale station, located inside the historic railway station of Porto Empedocle. This museum combines the past and the present: on the one hand, it continues to serve as a hub for the transit of trains that cross Sicily, while on the other, it offers visitors a compelling immersion in local history, through the exhibition of numerous finds that narrate the deeds and exploits of times gone by. Porto Empedocle is also known for its literary connections, being close to Luigi Pirandello’s house and often mentioned in the novels of Andrea Camilleri, who set the adventures of his famous character, Inspector Montalbano, here.
Finally, you can visit a interesting museum also in Puglia, in the heart of Lecce. It’s about the Railway Museum of Puglia, an unmissable stop for locomotive lovers and those who wish to explore the history of rail transport in the Puglia region. Once at Lecce train station, the museum is only a 15-minute walk away, offering visitors a unique opportunity to discover historic locomotives, restored carriages and artefacts that tell the story of the local railways. Through historical documents, period photographs and other artefacts, visitors will be able to explore the evolution of rail transport in the region and understand the importance of railways in the social and economic fabric of Puglia.