We took an overnight sleeper train from Catania to Naples; at Messina the whole train is loaded on a ferry for the 40-minute crossing to mainland Italy
Rethymno: More of Crete
Rethymno is a rare combination of history and modern-day luxury, with its multicultural old town, tropical beaches and exquisite Cretan cuisine.
A number of years ago, after staying in Taormina, we took that train during the day from Catania to Rome. It was fascinating watching as the train cars moved onto the ship. We were able to be on deck as the ship crossed the strait.
But, other than that, the trip was a bloody bore. We took the train because I thought we’d see the Italian countryside. Ha-ha.