We took Trenitalia from Rome to Florence and back, and I'm kind of baffled by the 2-star Yelp…read moreaverage. I guess we rode the Frecciarossa, the fastest and likely best train in the system, but we had an easy 5-star experience. The Frecciarossa--Italian for "red arrow"--is one of Trenitalia's long-distance high-speed trains, with a maximum speed of 190 miles per hour. It takes about three hours to drive between Rome and Florence. The Frecciarossa covers that ground in an hour and a half. We booked our tickets a couple weeks in advance, buying Super Economy Business tickets for €34.90 apiece (including a €2 charge for seat selection). Super Economy Business sounds like an oxymoron, but Super Economy just means you can't change your plans and get a refund. If you're a tourist who can commit to a schedule, Super Economy is probably the way to go. I don't know what the standard coaches were like, but our seats were quite clean and comfortable. The trains ran on schedule, and the rides were smooth and painless. I think I fell asleep both ways. For all I know, Trenitalia's lesser trains are all garbage, but I can't complain about the sleek red Frecciarossa. If you're traveling around Italy, high-speed rail seems like the way to go.

Depends on what train you get. They are old and outdated, the staff is rude and 1st class was…read moreterrible(I can only imagine what coach was like). The trains are dirty, the bathroom is disgusting, and you see the worst side of Italians on the train.