advance purchase Italy trains

[filthiestfis]

Is it necessary to buy train tickets in advance for travel from Venice-Florence or can I buy them on the day of travel (or day before)?

[JoolsTwo]

When we were in Florence a few years ago we just bought tickets on the day to go to Rome - the main problem was speaking Italian to do so - but we did manage.

[thugulike]

If you buy tickets on the day be prepared to stand. We booked months ahead and found someone in one of our seats. My hsband had to stand all the way. it was only when the ticket collecter came round we found the other guy had a ticket for a month later and ours was the valid one. There were no seats left on the train at all.