Greece and Italy

So I guess my main question is this: How do you travel from Italy to Greece (Santorini, Corfu, Crete, Athens) by train/ or ferry?

And which is the BEST option. Train or ferry?

Should I book advance?

Eurail says that you can get from italy to greece by train… but I have a hunch this would take days.

Please offer suggestions/ tips. This is my first eurotrip & I want to explore France, Italy, & Greece.

We (four of us) are planning on traveling from Athens to Palermo, Italy at the end of October 2009 to explore Sicily for four or five days. I have several questions. 1. What would be the best (shortest time; best $ value) method of travel: a) train – ferry – train or b) car – ferry – train or c) ? We will be renting a car for the time we will spend in Greece.

2. Would purchasing a Eurail Pass be worth it?

3. Can you rent a car in Greece and take it to Italy?

4. Would a trip to Naples be doable? We have roughly eight days before we have to get back to Athens.

Thanks!