Overview Rome, the capital city of Italy, is one of the most popular vacation destinations and tourist attractions in the world. Within the city are some of the most famous, ancient and interesting attractions in the world.
Because there is so much to do in Rome, on a cruise it's really hard to see everything in the time allotted. That is why it's highly recommended to schedule a shore excursion, either through the cruise line or independently, to allow for an organized way to see the attractions that interest you.
You cannot actually take a cruise that ports in or leaves from Rome. Because of this most major cruise lines use the major cruise port in Civitavecchia, located about 1 1/2 to 2 hours away from Rome (via car).
Rome has a typical Mediterranean climate. The most comfortable months temperature-wise are April through June and mid-September to October. July and August are the hottest months of the year, while January and February are the coldest.
Destinations The following destinations can be visited on a cruise leaving from Civitavecchia, Rome:
Africa & Middle East
Mediterranean
Northern Europe
Transatlantic Cruises
Western Europe
Currency The official currency is the Euro. ATM machines are available, but make sure you use one that works with the card you're using. ATM machines will usually give you a better exchange rate than a bank or hotel. Using a credit card is a great way to avoid having to exchange currency.
Language The official language of Italy is Italian. However, in the major tourist areas you'll find many people that speak English as well.
Tourist Attractions Rome is a history lover's dream come true. There's a seemingly endless list of famous and historic places to visit.
The Roman Forum is the area around which ancient Rome developed. Another popular ancient landmark in Rome is the Colosseum. Built around 70-80 AD, it is the largest amphitheatre ever built in Rome. It was a venue where gladiators competed. Located between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill is the Arch of Constantine, a triumphal arch that was built during the early 4th century.
The Pantheon is an ancient building in Rome that was originally constructed as a temple to the ancient Roman gods, but since the 7th century has been used as a Christian church.
The Circus Maximus is an ancient area in Rome that was used for various forms of entertainment, including horse and chariot racing. In fact, the first Roman Games were staged in this area. Today, the Circus Maximus is a park that is often used for concerts, celebrations and meetings.
The Spanish Steps are a set of 138 steps in Rome that connect the Piazza di Spagna (located at the bottom of the steps) to the Piazza Trinità dei Monti (located at the top of the steps). Located at the base of the Spanish Steps is the popular Fontana della Barcaccia, a famous fountain in Rome. Tourists are quite attracted to this beautiful area of Rome that is around many of the designer shopping stores and restaurants. As such, the hotels in this area are quite popular.
There are many museums and galleries in Rome. Some of the more popular among them are the National Museum of Rome (a set of buildings split between various branches in the city), the Borghese Gallery (a very popular art gallery), the Museum of Roman Civilization and the Castel Sant'Angelo. The Castel Sant'Angelo is a towering building in Rome that was originally a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
Music is a very important aspect of Roman culture. As such, there are quite a few popular music venues in Rome. For example, the Parco della Musica is one of the largest music venues in the world.
Within Rome is the sovereign city-state known as Vatican City. It is a walled city that is ruled by the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. The Pope's home, Apostolic Palace, is located within Vatican City. Popular tourist attractions within Vatican City are St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums. Included in the Vatican Museums is the Sistine Chapel. This is a chapel within the Apostolic Palace, in which its Michelangelo-painted ceiling is world famous. This city is very popular and can get quite crowded, especially if the Pope is scheduled to speak. Please be aware that you can spend an entire day at Vatican City if you want to see all of its attractions, so plan accordingly and prioritize what's most important to you if you want to see the other attractions in Rome.
Port Location The cruise port in Civitavecchia is located about 1 1/2 to 2 hours away (via car) from Rome. There are also usually shuttles available (for free) to take you to downtown Civitavecchia, if you like.
Traveling via train is a nice transportation option between Civitavecchia and Rome, as it takes only about 1 hour to transit between them this way. The train station is only about 5 to 10 minutes away (by car) from the cruise port in Civitavecchia. The train will take you right into the heart of Rome.
