train tickets before or after

For me it depends on 2 things. When will you be traveling? and how absolute is your time? If you are traveling in high season, especially on the week-ends, you may find the tickets unavailable, but if you are a bit flexible or traveling in shoulder or low seasons, you should be fine getting them there. It is usually easier and cheaper to buy when you get there.
Linda

Im leving u.s.a on march 8th and traveling to venice on the 11th

If you like "peace of mind" then go online and book it. I am heading to London and Paris and booked my train for June/ July... only because I'm traveling with my niece. If it were just me and hubby, I would wing it.

buy them in Italy. When you're in Rome go to the Termini station and use the self-service kiosk. They have an English menu (select the British flag). If you buy them by midnight the day before you travel you get the amici (20%) discount. Look at the trenitalia site and you'll see there's lots of trains each day, something like hourly on weekdays, so there's no chance you won't get a seat (and you're travelling off-season). I'd say go 2nd class and save the difference to buy a nice glass of wine in Venice.

Website is http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html and you should use "roma" and "venezia"

If you wait until you are in Italy to buy the tickets, get them the day before. That way you can take advantage of the 20% savings on the Amica fares.

Not true about Amica fares. It is true you must purchase 24 hours ahead but it is not true that buying a ticket 24 hours ahead gets you those fares. Like any limited availability discount, they may not be available on a particular train as they may have already sold out. So the best bet is to check as soon as you know for sure you are what date/time you are going. If they are available then, go for it. If not, you can buy to insure you get good seats or wait until later.

I found that one train would not have Amica fare available on my date of travel but another might so if you are flexible, you can check for earlier/later train or earlier/later day.

thanks everybody its been very helpful your advice. I didnt know about the amica fare since is my first time traveling by train but I will check it out. thanks again.