Exploring around Civitavecchia

For cruisers arriving in the port of Rome, there are several inexpensive ways to spend a day ashore close to where your ship is docked at Civitavecchia.

It has been estimated that 25% of the cruisers arriving in Civitavecchia do not go into Rome, an hour away, since they have already been to the Eternal City and prefer to explore the area around the port of Civitavecchia.

As a local resident who has lived in this magical corner of Italy for almost half a century, I would recommend this Etruscan Triangle itinerary as an ideal introduction to the area. The itinerary includes the nearby towns of Tarquinia, Tuscania, Viterbo, Vetralla and, if time permits, a visit to Vulci.

Maximize your day in Civitavecchia by leaving the port area with the free shuttle bus from your ship to the port entrance next to the castle-fortress designed by Michelangelo in 1508. From here you can either pick up your rental car, a taxi or one of the many local drivers booked ahead of time by email. We can recommend several trustworthy English speaking drivers who live in the area, are licensed to do day trips. There are a limited number of taxis available since the city of Civitavecchia only allows 20 licensed taxi drivers.

Rental cars can be booked through the Autoeurope link on this site. Their pick-up spot is hidden close to the port entrance, so be sure to ask for directions. This perhaps the most convenient and inexpensive way to visit the area for four people sharing a car. There are also several multilingual official guides who live in the area and can be hired for the day. Email macryan@alice.it for info.

For an unforgettable day try the Cooking Class and trekking offered at Fontana del Papa in Tolfa which includes transport to and from your docking. Perfect for a Pre or Post cruise stay!

For those who prefer to use public transport a bit of planning ahead is a must. Find the main square and catch a bus of the local transport system that will bring you to nearby towns. Check the timetables carefully on www.cotralspa.it and you can see many of the nearby towns for just a few euro. Always remember to ask exactly where, when the bus will return to the same spot and leave time (always double the time it takes to go out, to arrive back to the dock).

Learn how to say the name – Civita- vecchia (means old city)- not just “port”. Even better, have a post card of your ship with you, and always carry along the information and phone number of your ship’s port liaison. Some Rome taxi drivers have taken cruise passengers to the air-port causing them to miss the ship’s departure.

Tarquinia –World Heritage Site

The first stop on the Etruscan Triangle Itinerary is Tarquinia, 20 minutes from Civitavecchia port, which was recently added to the list of World Heritage sites .

Tarquinia is a stunning walled medieval hill town full of towers not unlike the famous “Manhattan of the Middle Ages” , San Gimignano in Tuscany . It is also unique for it was an important Etruscan site as the many 6-8th centuries B.C. painted tombs in its necropolis testify.

In the center of town, near the Barriera San Giusto bus depot and parking lot the magnificent 16th century Palazzo Vitelleschi houses the National Etruscan Museum. Its three floors of vases, sarcophagi, and gold jewellery will captivate but do keep some time to walk through the town and explore Tarquinia’s narrow streets, lovely piazzas full of shops and medieval buildings. Walk to the top of the town and along the walls to S. Maria in Castello for magnificent views over the surrounding countryside.

Take a quick break for a slice of pizza in the main piazza or a snack at the necropolis site. A bit out of town is the Necropolis with painted tombs dating from the 8-6th centuries B.C.

Bookshops are located at both the Museum and Necropolis where it is likely that the only book in English will be “Travels to Tuscany and Northern Lazio”, an historical “on the road” with descriptions of what this area, Florence, Orvieto and Viterbo were like in the 18th century .

Pre-publication orders are now being taken for “Etruria Past and Present” travel, historical essays and itineraries. In order to keep the price down to a reasonable 12 euro we need to have an idea of the print run .

Tuscania is famous for its lovely historic center which has been perfectly restored after the destruction by an earthquake in 1971. D.H. Lawrence claimed that the views from the hillside of Tuscania over the Marta Valley were the most beautiful in all of Italy.
Vetralla with its amazing English connections is the third side of the triangle in this itinerary.
Viterbo is only 14 kms away and boasts Europe’s most perfectly preserved medieval quarter, San Pellegrino and the Papal Palace where the original Conclave was held in the 13th century.
Vulci is a Roman site with remains of roads, baths, nature reserve, arched bridge and picturesque surroundings.

Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa

Itineraries

Exploring around Civitavecchia

Etruscan Temple

The Royal Cardinal’s Route

Layer cake of history

Favorite Drives

Fulvio's Recipes

Lifestyle

Notes from Italy

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