Civitavecchia...where to go from there besides Rome?

[spunks]

We have been to Rome many times and have spent time in Civitavecchia itself so where do ya'll recommend besides these places?

 

Thanks

Doug

[sailawaygirlfriend]

From Civitavecchi, take local bus to Tarquinia, a delightful, old, historic, Etruscan town about 20-30 minutes drive. Walking from port toward cathedral, get the Cotral bus opposite the cathedral, first buying ticket at Piazza Calamata/World School market, Casa del Gelato.

Tickets are €1.30 if you buy them ahead.The tickets are €7 each way if you buy them on board the bus.The bus is about20-30min and will drop you off in front of the Barriera San Giusto just outsidethe city center wall and 30 meters from the Etruscan Museum. There is a free'Navetta' that will take you to the Etruscan Necropolis. The tourism office isalso here where you can ask for a free map of the city. For further informationgo to www.etruscantourism.it or write to etruscaninfo@etruscantourism.it.

Bus times Port to Tarquinia: Time table Cotral Mon-Fri: : 06:30 08:0009:03 09:20 10:05 11:15 12:05(P2) 12:12

Saturday: 06:30 08:03 09:03 09:18 10:03 12:03

Sunday and holidays: 09:15

Tarquinia to Port: Time table Cotral: Mon-Fri:13:35 15:00 15:55 16:4017:35 18:20 19:30 20:45

Sat: 13:34 14:57 15:55 17:28 18:14 19:22 20:40

Sun and holidays: 17:45

 

Just did this trip in February and it was one of the best days off ship.

Ellen

[cruisemom42]

I second the recommendation above. The Etruscan tombs and the museum in Tarquinia are fantastic.

[Hlitner]

I guess we are a bit contrarian because Tarquinia has never been a favorite place. We just could not get real excited about the tombs but do acknowledge that many others enjoy learning about the Etruscans. Personally, if we want to go to ruins we prefer renting a car and driving to Ostia Antica (a few minutes from Rome's airport (FCO). Another option is to go to Orvieto (one of the better known hill towns of Umbria. It is also possible to go to Tivoli (easy to do with a rental car or private tour) where you can visit both Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana) and Villa d'Este (Tivoli's gardens).

 

Note: It is possible to get to Ostia Antica using trains.....but driving is a lot faster and more convenient.

 

Hank

[4rkidz2016]

I second Orvieto - my daughter and I rented an apartment there for a week a few years ago and was incredible - it is possible to catch the train from Rome - its half way to Florence. Once there at the station you get the venicular up the hill (just don't get there after its closed at night like we did). I agree though about driving - it is a lot of fun, just make sure you remember to 'shift' to the right or left when on curved roads as they don't stay in their lanes and watch out for the mopeds on both sides. But once you get used to it - it's easy and car rentals are cheap.

[cruisemom42]

I guess we are a bit contrarian because Tarquinia has never been a favorite place. We just could not get real excited about the tombs but do acknowledge that many others enjoy learning about the Etruscans. Personally, if we want to go to ruins we prefer renting a car and driving to Ostia Antica (a few minutes from Rome's airport (FCO). Another option is to go to Orvieto (one of the better known hill towns of Umbria. It is also possible to go to Tivoli (easy to do with a rental car or private tour) where you can visit both Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana) and Villa d'Este (Tivoli's gardens).

 

Note: It is possible to get to Ostia Antica using trains.....but driving is a lot faster and more convenient.

 

Hank

 

 

Hi Hank -- it may have been a while since you've been to Tarquinia, but they now regularly have all of the tombs open. (There was a time a few years back when only a few of them were open on any given day...) I was just there a year ago and it really was splendid.

 

That said, all of the places you name are also good choices. But if someone is in Civitavecchia on a somewhat time-limited port day and doesn't want to rent a car, Tarquinia remains one of the top options, at least in my reckoning...

[SuiteTraveler]

I recommend something altogether different yet quintessentially Italian - your Italian guide will be impressed that you know of these places as they are more typically visited by Italians, yet they are equally special if not more special than many of the sights in Rome.

 

Start your morning with a drive past the ruins of Roman Aquaducts to Bomarzo to the Il Parco dei Mostri di Bomarzo - The Park of Monsters. This is a Renaissance garden:

http://www.italianways.com/the-garden-of-monsters/

If you are lucky the valley will be shrouded in early morning fog and you can visit it as it was intended, almost completely alone.

 

Next, head to Villa Lante to view one of the most beautiful Renaissance gardens in existence:

http://www.gardenvisit.com/gardens/villa_lante

I must admit, I was quite jealous of the fountain table there with the sweeping view all the way to the coast. How magical it must have been to have dinner there!

 

Stop at a non-tourist restaurant for lunch (your driver can recommend something) and then head on to either Lake Bracciano or Vila Farnese (the building that the Pentagon is based on.)

http://www.italia.it/en/travel-ideas/lakes/lake-bracciano.html

https://www.romeartlover.it/Cimino6.html

 

The great thing about all of these locations is that they will be fairly uncrowded and you can experience them as the people they were built for originally experienced them. It is a magical experience and far off the beaten path.

[julsngraham]

These sound right up our street? would this be done with a tour operator/driver/tour guide??

 

 

I recommend something altogether different yet quintessentially Italian - your Italian guide will be impressed that you know of these places as they are more typically visited by Italians, yet they are equally special if not more special than many of the sights in Rome.

 

Start your morning with a drive past the ruins of Roman Aquaducts to Bomarzo to the Il Parco dei Mostri di Bomarzo - The Park of Monsters. This is a Renaissance garden:

http://www.italianways.com/the-garden-of-monsters/

If you are lucky the valley will be shrouded in early morning fog and you can visit it as it was intended, almost completely alone.

 

Next, head to Villa Lante to view one of the most beautiful Renaissance gardens in existence:

http://www.gardenvisit.com/gardens/villa_lante

I must admit, I was quite jealous of the fountain table there with the sweeping view all the way to the coast. How magical it must have been to have dinner there!

 

Stop at a non-tourist restaurant for lunch (your driver can recommend something) and then head on to either Lake Bracciano or Vila Farnese (the building that the Pentagon is based on.)

http://www.italia.it/en/travel-ideas/lakes/lake-bracciano.html

https://www.romeartlover.it/Cimino6.html

 

The great thing about all of these locations is that they will be fairly uncrowded and you can experience them as the people they were built for originally experienced them. It is a magical experience and far off the beaten path.

[scoochy12]

These sound right up our street? would this be done with a tour operator/driver/tour guide??

 

We are interested in this as well.