Italy's rail system is immense and connects almost every corner of the country. I was recently even able to take a train to Naples from Sicily, which can be tough to access. Sicily is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Messina, which is several miles wide and notoriously difficult to navigate. 

Fortunately, state-owned railway company Trenitalia operates a train that goes through Sicily, crosses the Strait of Messina, then heads north to Rome. Since there's no bridge connecting Sicily to the mainland, the train travels part of the way by ferry. My journey began on land in Sicily.