parosblue

i am planning to go to Italy at end of June '10 for a week, then travel to Greece for the remainder of July. I know Greece well, but have never been to Italy.
I would like to see Florence and see some of the countryside of Tuscany. Then I plan to get a ferry in Ancona to Greece.
Any advice about getting to Ancona - should I drive or is the train/bus reliable?
Any tips on taking the overnight ferry to Greece?
Thanks for any insights.

kybourbon

You can get to Ancona from Florence or Rome in about 3 - 3 1/2 hours by train.

I've taken the overnight ferry (Superfast II)from Bari to Patras. We had a couple of cabins which were typical of cruise ship cabins. I had an outside twin and we also had an inside quad. Some ferries are nicer than others and while they aren't on the scale of big cruise ships, they do usually offer disco, small casino, movie theater, etc.

Dobermina

I've never actually taken a bus or train since I only visited while the wars were on....Too long ago! But I do hear the trains are very reliable and am not sure about the cost as compared to the ferry. I know without a cabin of any kind and if you don't have a car the ferry was always cheap, and reliable. If costs are similar it really boils down to how many countries you want to say you saw or if you prefer land or sea travel. As a lover of the sea, I would happily take a ferry over again. And the ferry from Ancona I've never taken, but the one from Brindisi to Igominista is 9 hours and some change. I imagine the one from Ancona is similar.....and a ferry definitely saves some travel time.

treplow

We, too, travelled by ferry between Patras and Bari, except in the reverse (Greece to Italy). Thesearevery comfortable ships.It pays to sprin g for a cabin (you also can sit in airliner seats).

parosblue

Thanks so much for your responses! For those of you who have taken a ferry between Italy and Greece, did you purchase your ticket in advance? I'm wondering if I can wait until I'm in Italy to get ferry tickets for a cabin.
Any idea if the train ride between Florence and Ancona is scenic?
Or would we get a better view of the countryside from a car?

kybourbon

You might catch a sale if you book in advance. They run specials sometimes, but since you are traveling in season, I wouldn't count on it. Superfast operates a route from Ancona, but 2010 schedules/prices aren't out yet. I don't know which other lines sail from there.
http://www.superfast.com/site/conten...pressYear=2009

GeoffHamer

ANEK Lines, Minoan Lines and Superfast all operate from Ancona to Greece.
www.anek.gr
www.minoan.gr
www.superfast.com
Each company has a daily service and the ships are amongst the best ferries in Europe, with swimming pools and all the usual amenities. July and August are the peak season, so it's a good idea to book in advance to get a cabin.
By train from Firenze, you'd change at Bologna or (probably more scenic) Faenza to get to Ancona. There are trains to Ancona Marittima or, from Ancona Centrale, there are buses to the port.