(CNN) – The launch of the new Orient Express La Dolce Vita may be a long way off, but the highly anticipated service certainly seems worth the wait.
Designs for the 11-car train, which celebrates La Dolce Vita in the 1960s, have been unveiled, revealing a lavish interior that feels more like a boutique hotel than a railroad car.
The Orient Express La Dolce Vita consists of six trains, each with 12 “luxury cabins”, 18 suites, a “suite of honor” and a restaurant cart offering a “five-star dining experience” including “award winning Italian wines and exclusive gourmet cuisine.” “.
Each train will travel through 14 regions and 131 cities around Italy, as well as from Rome to Paris, Istanbul and the Croatian port of Split, with trips lasting between one and three nights, when it begins welcoming passengers in 2023.
Five star service
A new show for the Orient Express La Dolce Vita, which will debut in 2023.
Courtesy Orient Express La Dolce Vita / Accor / Dimorestudio
The routes will cover about 16,000 kilometers of north-south railway line, including a trip from Venice to Trieste, along the Dalmatian coast to Split, along with tours through the hills of Tuscany and around Sicily.
Those stopping by in Rome will spend the night at the first Orient Express Hotel, Minerva, housed in a 17th-century Baroque palace in Piazza di Minerva, once it opens its doors in 2024.
“Train travel represents a greener option for transportation, promoting trips to major cities as well as small and medium-sized sites with cultural sites and attractive landscapes,” says Luigi Corradi, CEO and Managing Director of Trenitalia.
new vision
The train, whose first launch is scheduled for 2023, dates back to the “La Dolce Vita” period of the 1960s.
Courtesy Orient Express La Dolce Vita / Accor / Dimorestudio
“La Dolce Vita will accelerate luxury rail tourism and will attract many passengers as a safe and environmentally sustainable method of transportation that protects the environment and allows them to rediscover the most amazing places in our region.”
Designed by architectural and design studio Dimorestudio, the train’s decor subtly combines the golden age of Italian design with a more modern feel. There are colorful carpets, huge windows and contemporary artwork.
Roma Termini Station will serve as the hub for each route, and will provide an executive lounge dedicated to Levant Al Sharq where guests will enjoy a warm welcome and refreshments while they wait for their flights.
“These trains offer a new vision of luxury travel that goes beyond our imaginations,” says Sebastien Bazin, Accor’s Chairman and CEO.
move forward
The luxury service is set to travel across 14 regions and 131 cities around Italy.
Courtesy Orient Express La Dolce Vita / Accor / Dimorestudio
“Our relationship with Arsenale Group has broken new ground in perfect harmony with the Orient Express heritage and philosophy, and is indicative of our continuing desire to move forward.
Unsurprisingly, a stay at the Orient Express La Dolce Vita will come at a hefty price, with trips averaging around €2,000 (about $2,255) per person per night.
Chef Carlo Cracow was on standby to cater to those on board, providing a taste of what guests will experience at the upcoming service.
The luxury train has been in service since 1982, and it travels across Europe from March to November as well as Istanbul once a year.
CNN’s Julia Buckley contributed to this report.
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