Our plan to fly Atlanta to Milan, and then connect to Pisa has unraveled due to the sudden cancellation of the Alitalia leg to Pisa - We planned to train from Pisa to Vernazza, where we stay the first night - Would it be easier to just keep the Atlanta to Milan flight and train to the CT from there ( looks significantly longer on the map), or consider some of the Delta alternatives including Atl - New York - Pisa, or Atlanta - Paris - Pisa - thanks

According to the Trenitalia website it takes 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 hrs to go from Milan Central Station to Vernazza by train, if that helps.

Hi bynar, here is the trenitalia website, the English language version.
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

And here is the website for the Malpensa Shuttle Bus that will take you from Malpensa Airport to the Milan Central Train Station.

http://www.malpensashuttle.it/e-default.htm

Personally I would keep the Atlanta to Milan (Malpensa) flight, take the very comfortable Malpensa Shuttle Bus (luggage goes underneath the bus) to the train station in Milan and than take the train.

Even if you change flights with a stopover in either NY or Paris..usually a horror for those changing planes..you would still have to take the train so why not take the nonstop flight and than take the train from Milan? Just my thinking. Do have a good time in Italy, and you will!

Hello bynar
From Milano airport to Centrale and to Vernazza you consider 1 hour more
3-4 hour total 4-5 hours
From Pisa airport to Pisa Centrale 5
minute by train and from Pisa C. to
Vernazza 1,5 hours
About you the rebus
mino
from vernazza

thank you for the helpful recommendations - milan,bus,train it is - bynar

From Milan many connections require a change of trains in Genoa so try to get on the trains that do go direct from Milano Centrale station to Monterosso from where shuttle trains trundle constantly to the other four 5 Lands towns