We will be travelling from Venice to Siena for the Palio on August 15, which also happens to be Ferragosto, an Italian holiday. We have Eurail Selectpasses and are wondering if we should make reservations. Has anyone had any experiences travelling by train on Ferragosto, particularly to Siena the day before the Palio? Also, we will be in Rome in August. Are the taxis to the airport air-conditioned? My husband has high blood pressure and we're thinking that if it's too unbearbly hot, we'd take a cab to Fumicino instead of the train. Grazie mille.
Posted by
bergamo
401 posts
I'd book ahead, just as about everyone is on vacation that week, and more specifically, everyone will be off that day, plus this year Ferragosto falls on a Friday and that means people will be taking the long weekend and you want to be sure you can get there without problems.
I'm concerned about your husband at the Palio, because it will be packed with people in the square and it will be very, very hot with shade at a minimum. Actually Italy in general is very hot in August, hot and humid in Venice, with a drier heat as you head south, though more and more places are air conditioned.
The train to Fiumicino is air conditioned, as are all taxis.
Posted by
OP
San Francisco, CA, USA
271 posts
Ciao Claire. Many thanks for the info you shared about Ferragosto, the Palio and hooray, hooray, the air-conditioned trains and cabs to Fiumicino. And thanks especially for your advice about the heat at the Palio. Our room at Hotel Alma Domus is the only air-conditioned accomodation for our entire trip so now I'm relieved that my husband will have some refuge should the heat become intolerable. Your help is much appreciated.