Civitavecchia-Rome (Italy)

Port Civitavecchia is the passenger (ferry and cruise) and cargo port of Rome City - Italy's capital and largest city. Civitavecchia is approx 80 km / 50 mi northwest of Rome. The arriving cruise tourists can reach Rome's main train stations as well as Fiumicino Airport (40-50-min drive distance from the seaport).

Port Civitavecchia (locode ITCVV) has a total of 5 cruise terminals (combined area ~120,000 m2 / 1,29 million ft2 / 0,05 mi2) with 7 berths/quays (total length 3,2 km / 9850 ft in piers), and 5 cruise-dedicated large parking lots.

Civitavecchia ("Terminal Venezia Passeggeri" in Italian) is the world's 10th busiest cruise port (2,2+ million passengers annually) and a major Mediterranean homeport/turnaround port for roundtrip itineraries. The world's top-10 cruise ports by annual passenger volumes (stats 2023) are in Florida USA (Port Canaveral/Orlando, Miami, Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale), Mexico (Cozumel), Bahamas (Nassau), China (Shanghai), Spain (Barcelona), Bahamas (Out Islands), and Texas USA (Galveston).

The Port's cruise shipping business annually generates ~EUR 92 million in direct revenue and expenditure, with an economic impact/contribution to the Lazio region of EUR 400+ million, including EUR 200M+ in expenditure by the visiting cruise tourists (passengers and crew). This business also supports 1700+ local jobs (direct and indirect).

Due to its proximity to Rome City, Civitavecchia is the main cruise port for transit passengers (~1,6 million) in addition to turnaround passengers (~1 million), to a total of 2,6+ million cruisers annually. The Port's max daily passenger capacity is 40,000. Due to its vicinity to Fiumicino Airport, Civitavecchia is also the principal Italian homeport for major cruise line companies. Each year, around 1 million passengers start and finish their cruise in Civitavecchia.

Roma Cruise Terminal's busiest day so far was on July 16, 2016, when it hosted 10 ships.

The Civitavecchia-Rome train distance is 61 km / 38 mi (or ~50 minutes travel time). Annually, Port Civitavecchia handles 2000+ passenger ship calls (by both ferries and cruise vessels) and ~2 million travelers, ranking it Europe's 3rd busiest and the Mediterranean's largest. The city has population around 60,000 and covers an area of approx 72 km2 / 28 mi2.

The founding of Civitavecchia is set around 889 AD when the first inhabitants established Civitasvetula (old/ancient town) which was later changed into Civitavecchia. The Roman Emperor Trajan founded Port Civitavecchia (as Centumcellae) in the 2nd century. Due to its position, the city was prone to incursions by pirates and in 1508, Pope Julius II commissioned the building of a fortress for protection. Both Michelangelo and Bramante contributed to the design of Forte Michelangelo (1537-completed), which can still be visited today.

By the 17th century, following the embellishments carried out by its rulers over the years, Civitavecchia could boast of being one of the most beautiful Mediterranean ports. Unfortunately, most of the city's historical buildings and port were destroyed by the Allied aerial bombardments in 1943 (during WW2/1939-45).

The town of Civitavecchia and the surrounding towns and villages have a lot to offer to the visiting tourists, including the following Roman and medieval archaeological sites.

• The old hospital in Piazza Calamata, the fountain of Benedict XIV and the old city (around Piazza Saffi), which houses the Chapel of the Knights of St John.
• Forte Michelangelo (1535-completed) and its Bell Tower were designed by Michelangelo. The fortress is built on the remains of Roman army barracks.
• The Cathedral of St Francis (17th-century built by Francesco Navona)
• The Archeological Museum houses a large collection of Roman and Etruscan artifacts.
• Piazza Leandra has frescoes from the school of Raffaello Sanzio.
• Terme Taurine (open-air museum) was built on the site of Emperor Trajan's villa and baths.
• Finconcella's hot baths are from the Roman times and are still in use today.
• The Market is a must-see, with its surrounding taverns, coffee shops, and eateries offering foods made from local produce.
• Sant' Agostino beach is approx 15 km / 10 mi from Civitavecchia.

Civitavecchia has 108 hotels and B&Bs/Bed & Breakfast, as well as a number of good restaurants and pizzerias.

At ~20 min drive distance from the town tourists can visit the Etruscan necropolis of Cerveteri and Tarquina (known for its medieval towers, necropolis and the Etruscan museum). In Santa Severa bathers can visit the medieval castle. Bracciano (lake district) and Orsini-Odescalchi (castle and military aviation museum) are also worth visiting.

North of Civitavecchia you may visit the hilltop towns of Tolfa famous for one of Europe's major street artists' festival (Tolfarte) and its Butteri (cowboys) and Alumiere, famous for its palio (horse races), during which the town's districts compete in a series of donkey races. Other places of interest include Bomarzo with its Garden of Monsters (Giardino dei Monstri) and Civita Bagnorego (dying city). The historical papal city of Viterbo is an hour's ride from the cruise port. Ostia Anticha is one of the very best preserved Roman cities. Another place of interest is Sutri, with its mithreaum, a unique underground temple from the times of the Etruscans, later adopted by the Romans and then converted into a Christian Church.

On June 25, 2023, the Port had a 6-ship day and handled 31000+ cruise tourists. The vessels were Costa Fortuna, MSC Seashore, Norwegian Breakaway (NCL), Oceania Vista, Odyssey of the Seas (RCI-Royal Caribbean) and Viking Sea (Viking OCEAN).

Cruise itineraries to and from Civitavecchia-Rome

Itineraries out of Civitavecchia usually visit destinations (ports and islands) in the Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The most visited ports are in Croatia (Dubrovnik, Korcula, Split), Montenegro (Kotor), Slovenia (Koper), Albania (Durres), also in Greece/Greek Islands, Italy (also on Sicily Island), Malta (Valletta), Turkey.

Holy Land cruises visit ports in Israel (Ashdod, Haifa), Greece (Piraeus-Athens), Egypt (Alexandria, Port Said) and also Turkey (Istanbul).

The most commonly operated are 7-day one-way itineraries from Rome to Barcelona (Western Med), to Athens and to Istanbul (Eastern Med). Many voyages to Barcelona include stops at French Riviera (Cote d'Azur) ports - Antibes, Bandol, Cannes, Cassis, Marseille, Sanary-sur-Mer, St Raphael, St Tropez, Toulon, Villefranche-sur-Mer (Nice),Monte Carlo (Monaco).

Most one-way "around Italy" itineraries from Rome end in Genoa. However, there are also Around Italy roundtrips from Rome (between 14-17-days long, depending on itinerary/call ports).

Most roundtrips from Civitavecchia are 7-8-day long Adriatic itineraries visiting Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Albania, Greece, and often Italy's Bari, Ravenna or Ancona on (the way back).

Seasonal ship relocation voyages (RepositionCruises.com) offer Transatlantic crossings between Rome and Florida USA, Caribbean island countries, or South America (Santos Brazil, Buenos Aires Argentina). Suez Canal transition voyages link to ports in Asia and even Australia (Brisbane QLD, Sydney NSW).

Civitavecchia-Rome cruise terminal

Civitavecchia-Rome tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

Civitavecchia is a great place to spend some time. As this is the port of Rome, most of the passengers rush to see the capital city with its Colosseum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, the Sistine Chapel and the Spanish Steps, but Civitavecchia has a lot to show too. It is among the most fascinating culturally cities in Europe. You can learn a lot about the Italian life and history. Among the interestins places are the old hospital, the fountain of Benedict XIV, the walls of the old city and quaint squares. Also you can visit:

• Forte Michelangelo: fortress dating since the 16th century. Pope Julius II commissioned it and in 1535 Giulano Leno finished it. Michelangelo designed the center tower. The walls of the fortress are thick over 6 meters and it is built on Roman barracks’ remains.
• The Cathedral of San Francesco d’Assisi: built on 17th Century church by Francesco Navona, an architect. The Cathedral of Cathedral of San Francesco d’Assisi is impressive with stained glass frescos and windows designed in Neoclassical-Baroque style.
• Civitavecchia Beach: this small beach has yellow sand (mixed with rocks) and is located opposite the railway station, just steps away from the seafront promenade.
• La Scaglia Necropolis (6th-5th centuries BC): take a look at the underground works in a chilling atmosphere.
• Civitavecchia’s Archaelogical Museum: the building was property of Pope Clemente XIII. It was made for the garrison of the pope and dates from the 18th century. There is Roman and Estrucan artifacts exhibition.