What You Need to Know: Useful Information

The historic train from Ancona to Fabriano and Pergola offers a scenic journey through the beauty of the Marche region, perfect for those looking to explore at a leisurely pace. The Ferrovia Subappennina Italica offers a nostalgic experience with its 1930s carriages and steam locomotives. The train departs from Ancona station, a city overlooking the Adriatic Sea. From here, the train heads inland, passing through varied landscapes that range from the Adriatic coast to the rolling hills of the Marche region and the Apennine mountains. The first important stop is Fabriano, a city famous for its paper-making tradition and its well-preserved medieval center. Finally, the train arrives in Pergola, a historic village known for its art, museums, and beautiful nature. The route offers picturesque views of valleys, rivers, and green hills, making the trip very enjoyable for photography and nature lovers. This historic train is perfectly convenient for those who want to experience something different from the usual public transport, allowing you to relax completely and immerse yourself in Italian railway history.

Scenic Tracks & Steam Locomotives: A Guide to the Subappennina Italica Railway -

Getting There

By train

The nostalgic journey begins directly at Ancona railway station, a major regional rail hub overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Ancona is easily accessible via frequent high-speed Frecciarossa or regional Trenitalia trains running along the Adriatic mainline from cities like Bologna, Rimini, and Pescara.

By car

To reach the starting coastal terminal by car, take the A14 highway (Autostrada Adriatica) and exit at Ancona Nord or Ancona Sud, following the main city signs directly toward the station and maritime port areas where long-term parking options are available.

By bus

For regional transit travelers, local ATMA intercity buses run extensive daily networks connecting various interior hilltop towns of the Marche region straight to the central bus terminal outside Ancona station.

Below you'll find the location marked on Google Maps. Click on it to open the location directly on your device's maps.

Useful contacts

What to Bring & Pro Tips

  • Because this historic train operates as a specialized vintage experience rather than standard daily transit, we always recommend checking timetables in advance and buying tickets ahead of time to secure your seats on these strictly limited runs.
  • The 1930s carriages are spacious and beautifully well-maintained, but they lack modern climate control systems; dress in comfortable layers to easily adapt to the changing interior temperatures as the train moves from the coast into the mountain valleys.
  • Bring a camera with a fast shutter speed to easily capture the picturesque views of valleys, rivers, and green hills through the vintage windows.
  • Make sure to pack a light artisanal lunch or snacks, as the slow-paced journey is designed for complete relaxation without the standard fast-casual dining cars found on modern high-speed lines.

The “Hidden Gem”:

Once you have stepped off the wooden panels of the vintage train in Pergola, leave the station behind to marvel at the breathtaking Museum of the Gilded Bronzes of Pergola (Museo dei Bronzi Dorati).

Instead of looking at standard ancient pottery fragments, this museum houses the world's only surviving monumental gilded bronze sculptural group from Roman antiquity. Discovered by chance by local farmers in 1946, the massive, meticulously reassembled statues date back to the 1st century BC and depict Roman knights, draped women, and magnificent horses covered in pure gold leaf. Standing in the darkened, state-of-the-art room before these shimmering, thousands-of-years-old treasures offers a wonderfully dazzling, sophisticated break from the natural scenery of the tracks, rewarding travelers with a look at one of the rarest archaeological masterworks in existence.