|
Rome, Italy Port Reviews
Civitavecchia
To or From Rome
On Your Own Shore Excursion
By Tom Ogg
Ships Docked in
Civitavecchia
One of the most daunting
things about cruising in or out of Rome is the fact that
the port is over 50 miles away on the coast south of
Rome. If you haven't had transfers included in your
cruise, then you face the task of getting to or from the
port to the airport., which is another distance in the
opposite direction from Rome. A taxi from the airport to
Civitavecchia is going to cost hundreds of dollars and
organized shuttles are not much cheaper. Fortunately,
Italy has a superb train system and this is the best way
to get between the airport, Rome and Civitavecchia. Here
is how to do it.
The Civitavecchia Port
Shuttle Bus
Upon arrival in
Civitavecchia your ship will clear immigration and you
will be allowed to disembark the ship. The docks in
Civitavecchia are located quite a ways from the port
entrance and you will be required to board one of the
port motor coaches to make your way to the entrance. The
coach will drop you off right next to the main entrance.
If you are arriving from Rome to board a ship, you will
need to go through the entrance and then wait for the
coach a the little bus stop that you see to your left
(pictured above).
Looking Towards the
Port From McDonalds
You will see a McDonalds
once you exit the port gates, simply walk towards it up
the street and around the corner that it sits upon. If
you are walking from the train station, use this
McDonalds as a focal point, as you will be able to see
the port entrance from it.
The Road to the Train
Station
Once you pass McDonalds,
you will be at the intersection pictured above. Simply
cross the street and continue on the wide sidewalk. The
train station is only a few blocks away.
The Road From the Train
Station
After leaving the train
station, simply walk a few blocks until the sidewalk
terminates. Cross the street here and turn to the left.
You can see the McDonalds sign on the left-hand side of
the above picture.
The Civitavecchia Train
Station
You can't miss the
Civitavecchia train station. It is located right on the
main shopping street in downtown Civitavecchia.
The Ticket Counter in
Civitavecchia
Be sure to purchase your
ticket at the train station. If you a caught riding the
train with no ticket, you will pay a heavy fine.
IMPORTANT - The Train
Ticket Validation Machine
Before you board any train
in Italy, you MUST VALIDATE the ticket. If you
are caught riding the train with an un-validated train
ticket, it is just like you had no ticket at all and you
will pay a heavy fine. Right after you purchase your
ticket make sure each and every one is stamped. This is
true in ALL Italian train stations. It doesn't
matter if you didn't know about it, you will pay a heavy
fine.
The Civitavecchia
Station Sign
If you are arriving in
Civitavecchia, look for this sign. Most Civitavecchia
trains will terminate here, but if you are on a train
that is continuing, be sure to get off when you see this
sign.
Roma S. Pietre Sign
If you are arriving from
Civitavecchia and want to get off the train to visit the
Vatican, be sure to look for this sign. It is only a few
block to the Vatican and St. Peters Basilica. You can't
miss it, simply look for the huge dome and walk toward
it. This is a great way to start your sightseeing in
Rome. Once you have explored the Vatican and all it has
to offer, you can grab a taxi to the Spanish Steps and
walk to all of the sights Rome has to offer.
Rome's Main Train
Station
If you are transferring to
your hotel or the airport, or simply want to start your
exploration of Rome from the main train station, you
train will terminate here. Termini is Italy's hub train
station and is huge. You can catch a train from here to
just about anywhere in Europe.
The Sign for the
Civitavecchia Train in Termini Station
If you are heading towards
Civitavecchia from the airport, you will arrive on the
Leonardo Express train. If you already have your ticket
to Civitavecchia, simply walk to your left as you debark
the train out to the gates locate quite a ways from the
main terminal. Be sure to check the monitors to see
exactly which track the train is going to depart from.
Also, do not forget to validate your train ticket!
Purchase Train Tickets
Just Beyond These Doors
If you are continuing on
to the Rome Airport, you will need to go into the main
part of the train terminal and purchase a ticket to the
airport on the Leonardo Express. This non-stop train
takes about an hour from the Termini station to the
airport. It is the best way t get between Rome and the
airport.
The Leonardo Express
The Leonardo Express
always operates from the same track so you will have no
problem finding it. The train terminates right in the
heart of the Rome airport, so getting to and from the
train is a complete cinch.
Rome Sunset Taken From
the Leonardo Express
Just as a word of caution,
never schedule yourself on the last train that will just
make it back to the ship on time. Italian trains are not
known for their precise scheduling. The last thing that
you want to do is to get stuck in Rome with your only
option taking a taxi to Civitavecchia. Riding the trains
in Italy is a fun and rewarding experience and the
passenger is always treated to visual experiences that
one can not get any other way.
As a last bit of advice,
always be aware of your surroundings while in the train
stations and on the train. Pickpockets are everywhere
that there are crowds of people in Europe and the trains
are no exception. Always keep your luggage where you can
see it and keep a diligent eye out for any unusual
behavior around you. |
