Living in an Italian Town Without a Train Station

PART 156: It might be interesting to share how we pulled off living in Italy for part of the year. I will post some steps and what we are learning along the way.

We love every minute of it, and what was once a dream is our life!

We live in Tuscany in the Fall, then return again in the Spring, and spend the rest of the time in California (as I explained in a previous blog, we only live in Italy for part of the year).

Step 1: As we explore areas in Italy, we discover some gems worth sharing. Some are well-known tourist magnets, and others are lesser-known but always amazing. 

This week, we will explore whether living in an Italian town without a train station is a viable option.

Step 2: When deciding where to live in Italy, transportation was a major factor. Should we choose a location near a train station, or would we feel comfortable driving? Once we moved to Italy, would we have a car, and if so, would we buy, rent, or lease it? How reliant did we want to be on public transportation, and how much would we depend on a car?

These were all important questions to consider as we evaluated our options for living in Italy.

Step 3: Beginning in Puglia and transportation

As many followers of this blog are aware, we started our journey by living in Puglia. We were situated in a smaller town about a half-hour drive from Lecce, a major city well connected to Rome and other cities by train.

Although we didn’t need a car to get from Rome’s airport to our home in Puglia, we quickly learned that having one was essential to truly experience the region. Whether it was seeing the thousand-year-old mosaic floor in Otranto’s cathedral, attending a festa in a hilltop village, or visiting friends who lived in the countryside, a car turned out to be our lifeline.

During our time in Puglia, we got comfortable with driving and found some affordable car rental and leasing options (see our blog about having a car in Italy: link).

Although our town in Puglia has a local train station that connects to Lecce, we never used it. We relied on our car for most travel, except for our arrival (from Rome to Lecce) and our departure for California (from Lecce to Rome).

Step 4: Next step: Tuscany and transportation

Before buying in Tuscany, we’d visited often enough to know that exploring areas like the Val d’Orcia without a car is nearly impossible. Cities like Florence or Siena don’t require driving—if anything, it’s a headache—but our hearts were in the smaller towns: Pienza, Montepulciano, San Quirico, Montalcino. We wanted to wind our way through the rolling hills, vineyards, and medieval villages that buses and trains can’t easily reach.

By the time we began house hunting in Tuscany, we were completely comfortable with the idea of driving here. Even living near a train station wouldn’t have changed the fact that most of what we wanted to see would require a car.

Step 5: Our Decision: Living Near a Train Station or Not?

I understand the appeal of living along a major train route, as it offers easy access for travel, simpler visits from friends, and the option to avoid renting a car. We explored various towns with train stations in the areas we were interested in, but either we didn't like the towns or the housing options were outside of our budget.

However, when we removed the requirement for a train station from our housing search, the possibilities expanded significantly.

Ultimately, we chose the Monte Amiata area in Tuscany, where the nearest train station, Grosseto, is about 45 minutes away. This area appeals to us due to its proximity to cultural and historical sites, easy access to the Val d'Orcia, and opportunities for an active lifestyle, including hiking, cycling, skiing, and a well-equipped gym. Additionally, the housing options were within our budget parameters.

In terms of our town itself, everything we need—shops, supermarkets, a post office, and historical landmarks—is within walking distance from our home. Still, for adventures beyond our immediate surroundings, having a car is essential.

Step 6: Regrets?

Do we have any regrets about not living near a train station in Italy?

It's not that we oppose the idea of living near a train station; it simply never aligned with the towns we were interested in or could afford. Once we found our home in Monte Amiata, we knew it was the right choice for us. Our time in Puglia had already made driving feel natural, so the transition was seamless. We have no regrets at all.

Step 7: Should you live in a town without a train station?

What works for one person may not work for another, so I can't say whether someone should live in a town in Italy without a train station. If fear of driving is preventing someone from exploring this option, I recommend practicing driving abroad to overcome that fear. If the cost of owning a car in Italy is a concern, consider leasing or long-term rental options.

If someone absolutely wants to live in a town along a train route, it’s important to find a town or city that has a train station and also meets their budget and personal criteria. For some individuals, living near a train route is essential, while for others, it is less critical. We have discovered that by letting go of the need for a train station, we have opened ourselves up to many more options, especially in Tuscany, where we are settling down.

Insights:

Whether or not to live along a train route in Italy depends on personal priorities: budget, lifestyle, travel habits. Our experience is just one example, but I hope it’s helpful for anyone weighing the options.

More next time.

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