Are train tickets refundable/changeable?

There is great information on trains on the Man at Seat 61 website. For Italy, except for the longer distance trains, you don't save money buying in advance. I sure wouldn't want to lock myself into places and times. I typically bought our tickets at the train station, but you can use the trenitalia app.

When you buy the tickets, the website or app will clearly show you the different ticket classes and which ones might be refundable and which would not. Go to the Trenitalia website and start the booking process just enough to see where this information is displayed.

To follow up on the good advice above, here's where you can find info on the different types of tickets for Trenitalia "fast trains" (Frecce trains) here:

https://www.trenitalia.com/en/offers.html

For shorter journeys using regionale trains (those have no assigned seating) there's no need to buy in advance but they do have different validation processes depending on whether they're e-tickets bought on the app or paper tickets purchased at the station.

For e-tickets:
https://www.trenitalia.com/en/purchase/digital-regional-ticket.html

Paper tickets are validated in time-stamping machines - usually located at or near the platforms - before boarding. Easy.

Info on Italo "fast train" tickets:
https://www.italotreno.it/en/the-train/fares

These two have widest national rail networks. There are also regional commuter-type trains - such as the Circumvesuviana in the Campania region - that you may or may not need depending on where you're going.

Jules M,
"For Italy, except for the longer distance trains, you don't save money buying in advance." Thank you for this information, but can you clarify what you mean by "longer distance trains"? We are planning Rome to Naples, and also Florence to Rome as well as Rome to Chiusi-Chianciano and Chiusi-Chianciano to Florence. Are any of those considered longer distance? Thanks again.

The first two are most definitely long distance high speed trains which need reservations. Both of the high speed companies serve Rome, Naples, Florence, etc.

The last two, to and from Chiusi-Chianciano Therme, can be reached by all Trenitalia Regionale Veloce, Regional, or Inter City or a combo of Freccia and Regionale. So the conditions will depend on which of those combinations you choose. Inter Cities is considered a high speed (well relatively) train and requires reservations.

Look at the trip lengths, the change times for those that have you change at Orte or Arezzo, compare the time saved vs. cost for your choice, and what the options are at the time you want to travel.

For Florence be sure you check which Firenze station the train takes you to. Some are Rifridi, some are SMN. For the centre of Florence, the main station, you want Firenze SMN - Santa Maria Novella.

The shortest answer to your question, "Are train tickets refundable/changeable?" is for cheap tickets, no; for enough money, yes or maybe.

Rome to Chiusi-Chianciano and Chiusi-Chianciano to Florence.

Judy, does this mean that you'll be staying in Florence? Just curious why you wouldn't be returning to Rome if this is a day trip to Chiusi?

So, it is a complicated itinerary. Three days in Rome which includes a day trip to Naples. Rome to Panicale (Chuisi) for 2 days, Panicale to Florence for 3 days, then back to Rome.

Trenitalia does provide an option to purchase the ability to get a refund, even on otherwise non-refundable tickets, for 1 or 2 euro per ticket. You'll go through the steps to select the ticket, and when you get to the page where you enter the traveler details, there will be a section at the bottom "Do you need anything else for your trip?" One of the options is "Ticket Refund Option." This saved me a bunch of money when I accidentally bought tickets for the wrong day for my party of 5!
It's worth it to take the time to read the descriptions of all the service levels and what they offer. Sometimes you can get a higher class of service for very little or no extra money. Like airfare pricing that is dynamic, sometimes it doesn't make any sense.

Below are the terms and conditions for the refund option:

With the “tiRimborso” (Ticket Refund) option, Economy and Super Economy tickets, Young and Senior offers, and Me&You and Insieme offers are now refundable!

The “tiRimborso” option costs €2 for Super Economy, Me&You and Insieme offers and €1 for Economy, Young and Senior offers on all sales channels.

With this option, you can request a refund up to 12.00am on the second day before the train's departure, subject to a 10% deduction to the original amount paid.

The amount will be credited to the same payment method you used for your original purchase.

The option is valid for Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca, Intercity, Intercity Notte and Eurocity tickets on national routes. It cannot be purchased for tickets with a total cost less than or equal to €10. The amount paid for the “tiRimborso” option is non-refundable and does not contribute to the calculation of the refundable or compensable amount.

For the Me&You and Insieme offers, the “tiRimborso” option must be purchased by all members of the group and refunds will only be granted on condition that the request is made at the same time and for all passengers. A partial refund of the offer for only some members of the group is not permitted.

Rome to Panicale (Chuisi) for 2 days, Panicale to Florence....

There isn't any train service to Panicale. How are you planning to get there from Chiusi-Chianciano? Bus? I'm also a little concerned about your day trips given you have a traveling partner with mobility issues.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/disability-certification

What are you planning to do in Naples and some of your other locations, aside from Rome?

Kathy,
We plan to taxi from Chuisi to Panicale. The trip to Naples is actually to visit Moiano, which is where my grandfather was born. I just found out this information, and I thought that while we are in Italy, why not see where my ancestors hail from. We are planning to have a private car service pick us up at the train station and take us to Moiano. Alternatively, I am now looking to see if maybe hiring transportation from Rome to Moiano and back might work better overall. I reached out to some services, but haven't heard back yet. I also see that Mydaytrip.com might be an option, but I am still checking out reviews. We have planned a tour from Panicale for an olive oil tasting, lunch, and wine tasting. We don't have our itinerary sketched out for Florence yet.

Sounds like you've worked a lot of it out, Judy! Just asked the question out of concern. :O)