The one exception here is compact coastal areas like the Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast. These regions are composed of tiny towns connected by narrow, winding roads - a terrifying drive if you're not highly experienced. Here you may want to use local busses and ferries to get from one town to the next.

Busses

The final mode of Italian transportation is the public bus. It's possible to get schedules on the internet before you go, but frankly I wouldn't try. The best way to handle Italian bus systems is to simply wing it. If you're in a city or a coastal area, odds are there will be a stop nearby. Purchase your tickets ahead of time at local tobacco shops, then relax and have fun figuring out the schedule. Get friendly with locals waiting at the stop - odds are, even if the sign is totally unreadable, they can tell you which bus will get you where you want to go... even if the only Italian word you know is "Duomo!"

A Final Note...

After all of these Italian transportation options, I thought I'd end by reminding you of the one form of transportation that never goes out of style: your own two feet! Whether you use a train, plane, or automobile to get to your destination in Italy, once you arrive there's simply nothing like meandering around. Shop in an outdoor market... Admire ancient architecture... Stroll through town on a moonlit night... Italians are walkers, and they'll inspire you to become one too.

When in Rome... travel as the Romans do!