Validate those train and bus tickets!

Travel in Italy is especially inexpensive and easy by train, bus, and metro rail, but you must validate your tickets before boarding trains and buses or face a big fine if you are caught. For Italian train lines, use the yellow boxes located in the stations before boarding your train. One time I boarded a train without enough time to get my ticket validated, so I tracked down the conductor immediately to get him to hand-validate my ticket to avoid the fine. Validate bus tickets by inserting them in the machines located just inside the entrance to the bus. Ride easy and travel worry- and fine-free.

Read this link on About.com to learn how to read and understand Italian train tickets.