Ciampino is a small town bordering Rome and is best known for its airport. The budget airline RyanAir has this airport as its home base. Most of the city is modern. The town has less than forty thousand inhabitants. For the average tourist, Ciampino does not have much to offer.
Ciampino travel guide
Useful information
Region: Lazio. Province: Rome. Postal code: 00043. Area code: 06. Town hall: Largo Felice Armati, 1 (tel. 06790971). There is no tourist office in Ciampino.
Public transportation: There is a direct train connection between Roma Termini and the center of Ciampino. If you want to go to the airport, you will have to take a bus after that. From the center of Rome you can also take the subway to Anagnina (last stop on line A) and then take a Cotral or ATAC bus. Be careful to take the right one, because some buses go directly to the airport and do not stop in the center.
Airport: The G.B. Pastine airport is located partly in Rome and partly in Ciampino. It is used for over 90% by flights of the budget airline RyanAir. There are several ways to travel to Rome from the airport.
What to see in Ciampino
Ciampino is a relatively young city. Therefore, there are no monuments from the Middle Ages. The churches in the city itself were built in the 20th century and are not very interesting. In the countryside there are still some remains from Roman times that are worth seeing.
Villa of Quinto Voconio Pollione
The Villa di Quinto Voconio Pollione was discovered by chance in 1880, during the construction of a railroad line. Sculptures found here can be seen in the Vatican Museums and in the Musei Capitolini.
Ancient Roman road
Stretches of the ancient Appian Way and the pilgrim’s road Via Francigena run through the territory of Ciampino.
Villa Segni and Casale dei Monaci
There are some 17th century monuments, including the Villa Segni and the better-known Casale dei Monaci.
San Luigi Gonzaga Church
The oldest church in Ciampino is the church of San Luigi Gonzaga.
San Giovanni Battista Church
The church of San Giovanni Battista is no more than a century old, although it contains a 17th century altarpiece.
Church of the Sacro Cuore di Gesù
The Sacro Cuore di Gesù Church dates back to the same period.
Parco Regionale dell’Appia Antica
This enormous park starts just outside the center of Rome and stretches 16km, even beyond Ciampino.
Caryatid Fountain
The fountain in the Via Quattro Novembre is called “Flight of the Caryatid” (Volo del Cariatide). A caryatid is a statue of a female figure used as a column.
Piazza della Pace monument
The monument in the Piazza della Pace is dedicated to the victims of war.
Villa Maruffi
The Villa Maruffi is another ancient villa.
Chiesa della Beato Vergine Maria del Rosario
The Chiesa della Beata Vergine Maria del Rosario is open from 07:00 till 12:00 and from 16:00 till 19:00.
A brief history of Ciampino
In the past, Ciampino was not a municipaliy, but a frazione (suburb) of neighboring Marino. In Roman times, the territory of the current city was sparsely populated and mostly contained farms and some rural villas. The city is named after a 17th century papal prelate, who had a large estate in the area.
Roman times
The area where Ciampino is located was but sparsely populated in Roman times. It was more of a midway point between Rome itself and the area known as Castelli Romani. The existing settlements were mostly located near the current stations of Capannelle and Casa Bianca. Archeological finds from the area are on display in the Vatican Museums and the Museo Nazionale Romano (Baths of Diocletian).
17th century
In the 17e century, the scientist and archaeologist Giovanni Giustino Ciampini settled in the area. He constructed an enormous mansion, that came to be called Casale di Ciampino after his death.
20th century
The area remained mostly unpopulated until the beginning of the 20th century, even though there was a railway line running through the territory. Construction of the current city of Ciampino started in 1916. The initiative came from the Cooperativa Colli Parioli.
The construction of the airport, also in 1916, was a major impulse. At the time, it was a military airport only. Still, in 1921, there were only 154 people officially living in Ciampino.
The first church, dedicated to the Sacro Cuore di Gesù, saw the light in 1925. At the same time, work started for an impressive, richly endowed college for the daughters of the wealthier part of the population.
The fascist era left but few traces in the city itself. The airport and the college, however, were both bombed in 1943.
After the war
Ciampino started expanding in the mid-60s. Many houses were built, although the standard of living remained low. There was no drinking water in the houses, not enough schools and whatever green areas existed were replaced by concrete.
Until 1974, Ciampino was part of Marino. Then it became a municipality.
In the 2nd half of the 80s, the city started getting its current outlook. The economy is still very dependent on the airport, which is the Roman base of the budget airline RyanAir.
How to reach Ciampino by car
The city is located about 15 kilometers southeast of Rome. By car, it is most convenient to follow either the Via Appia Nuova, or the Via Tuscolana followed by the Via Anagnina.
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