 |
The
Port of Rome |
The city of Rome lies about 12 miles (20 Kms) from the sea and its port is
at Fiumicino, close to the main airport of Rome, Leonardo da Vinci, also
known as Fiumicino, where the Tiber river flows into the sea.
Fiumicino, which in fact means "little river", provides good
mooring for yachts, right within the township, whereas many other berths
and shipyards are available in "Fiumara Grande", the "big
river", where the Tiber divides into two streams before flowing into
the sea. Porto Romano, a new marina just
completed provides modern
berthing facilities.
Apart from some good fish restaurants, Fiumicino is not particularly
attractive, but does give you easy access to the airport and opportunity
for visiting the city of Rome. The best way of reaching the city is to
take a taxi to the airport and then the train right into the main station
of Termini, in the city centre.
A local tourist attraction in the area, very much worth visiting, is Ostia
Antica, the ancient port of ancient Rome, now silted in and about 1 km
from the present shore-line. The ruins are spread over a very large area
and are quite intact. Another attraction is the ancient port of Claudius,
42 AD, also silted in, with its naval museum of the Roman ships, right
within the airport area.
A note of caution before sailing into Fiumicino, one must check the
formation of sand banks at the river entrance before entering with a boat
and you must give particular attention when the sea is heavy, with a
Libeccio wind.
A
significant land-mark is the old light-house, built in 1946 on the ruins
of the one bombed during the war. Its position is latitude 41°44'36 and
longitude 12°13'30 and is 32 metres high. However it is no longer
functioning and the smaller lights are to be used at the river entrance.
There is an oil-tanker platform offshore, so beware of the traffic.
Useful Links:
Capitaneria
di Porto di Roma
Map
of the Commune of Fiumicino
All
roads lead to Rome
www.portodiroma.it/eng/fram1/ind_f_en.htm
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Copyright L. Camillo 2000 |