For a quieter escape that still delivers in the romance department, consider the town of Assisi, 17 miles east of Perugia in Umbria's rolling hills, reachable by train from all major Italian cities.

The Espresso Assisi was scheduled to depart from Rome’s Termini station every Saturday and Sunday morning from October 5th to November 30th, arriving in the mediaeval hill town of Assisi, east of ...