Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia is a port city on the Tyrrhenian coast in the Metropolitan City of Rome, stretching several kilometers along the shoreline. The harbor basin is enclosed by two long piers, while a breakwater topped with a lighthouse marks the entrance.

Emperor Trajan founded the settlement in 100 AD under the name Centum Cellae and built a port with vaulted structures along the waterfront. During the Middle Ages, popes developed it into an important defense point for the Papal States.

The name comes from Latin and means old city, a reference to Roman port structures that shaped the settlement from its earliest days. Residents maintain a close connection to the sea and organize local festivals along the waterfront during summer months.

Ferries to Sardinia, Sicily, and Barcelona depart regularly from the harbor, while regional trains provide a direct link to Rome. The old town and waterfront promenade are easily walkable and offer shaded sections for warmer days.

Roman vaulted cellars beneath several buildings in the center now serve as storage spaces and wine cellars for local merchants. The foundations of these rooms partly date back to the original harbor structures of antiquity.

Location: Metropolitan City of Rome

Elevation above the sea: 13 m

Part of: Province of Rome

Shares border with: Santa Marinella, Allumiere, Tarquinia

Website: http://comune.civitavecchia.rm.it

GPS coordinates: 42.10000,11.80000

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:03