The renderings of the highly anticipated La Dolce Vita train are in, and it certainly appears that the newest (and poshest) offering from Orient Express is worthy of the hype.
A successor to the 150-year-old original luxury Orient Express train, La Dolce Vita is officially set to begin service in Italy for the first time in nearly 50 years in 2023. Comprised of six trains, La Dolce Vita will traverse 14 regions and three international destinations, offering unprecedented passage through the Italian landscape.
But the views aren’t the only noteworthy thing about La Dolce Vita. The interiors — designed by Dimorestudio, a global architectural and design studio founded by Emiliano Salci and Britt Moran in the early aughts — are, based on the latest series of renderings, straight out of a swanky, vintage-inspired five-star boutique hotel. The accommodation, where guests are welcome to stay anywhere from one to three nights, are bright and contemporary but with all of the opulence Oriental Express has long been associated. Per a report from CNN, each train will feature 12 deluxe cabins, 18 suites and an “Honour Suite,” reservations for which will average around €2,000 (or $2,255) per person a night.
“The concept for the new trains pays tribute to ‘La Dolce Vita’, a historical period of great eclectic and artistic fervour in Italy during the 1960s,” the Orient Express website says. “This was an iconic era when Italy enhanced its creativity in the fields of industry, art, entertainment and shared it with the world.”
The itineraries, of which there are 12, are meant to “provide a highly emotional travel experience, appealing to all five senses.” While diverse in nature, they’re all designed with a slower, more thoughtful tourist in mind. Eventually, they’ll even expand to include a stopover in Rome, where the first Orient Express Hotel, Minerva, is scheduled to open in 2024.
“Train travel represents the greener choice of transportation, enhancing trips to great cities as well as small-medium sized locations with appealing cultural sites and scenery,” Luigi Corradi, CEO and General Manager of Oriental Express partner Trenitalia, said.
“La Dolce Vita train will accelerate luxury rail tourism and will appeal to many passengers as a safe and eco-sustainable way of moving that protects the environment and allows them to rediscover the most fascinating places in our regions,” he added.
The addition of the trains was formally announced earlier this year.
And while you wait for the Dolce Vita to arrive, you can always book another luxury rail journey — we recently rounded up five of the best that are based right here in North America.
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