Fiumicino is of course known mostly for being the location of Rome’s international airport Leonardo Da Vinci (FCO), but it is also the name of the third biggest city in the province of Rome. The city is located at the end of the Via Portuense, at the delta of the river Tiber. There are several archaoelogical excavations on its territory, including those of the Port of Trajan. The suburb of Fregene is a favorite beach destination for Romans.
All about Fiumicino (city guide)
Tourist information
Town hall: Via Portuense, 2498 – Fiumicino (tel. +39 06 65210245). ZIP code: 00054. Number of inhabitants: Approximately 80,000.
By car/public transport
By car: From Rome follow the A91 to the coast.
Public transport: The Terravision buses that provide a connection from the central station Termini to the airport then continue to the city of Fiumicino itself.
What to see and do in Fiumicino
The Sant’Ippolito Church was built in the 13th century on an earlier early Christian construction.
The Torre Boaccina as well as the Torre Nicolina were originally watchtowers along the coast. Since the 15th century, however, the coastline has moved considerably and now they are further inland.
A third watchtower is located in the Palidoro suburb.
Outside the built-up area of the city there is a well-preserved necropolis. It was built between the 2nd and 4th centuries.
Around the airport (ancient boat museum and whimsical statues)
If you find yourself at the airport with a long wait ahead of you and nothing to do, you could either visit the Museo delle Navi, or go for a short walk outside to see some weird giant statues. The Museo delle Navi is inside the airport itself, and shows the remains of five ancient Roman boats. For the second option, you need to exit the airport, following the signs for the cargo area on the Via Portuense. Here you will find an unexpected collection of metal installations, ranging from a giant robot to what looks like an enormous centipede. And a pistol. And a racecar. And a huge dog standing guard over the dog walking area.
A brief history of Fiumicino
Fiumicino was built on the spot where in the 1st century the Roman settlement Portus Romae was located. It was commissioned by Emperor Claudius to replace the older port of Ostia, after it had become increasingly silted up. When this new port also silted up, Trajan had a new basin excavated further inland.
A hamlet developed near the port and became the Episcopio di Porto.
In the 4th century, Constantine had defensive walls constructed around the hamlet, known as Portus, which had sprung up next to Trajan’s port.
After the invasions of the Barbarians and the Turks between the 5th and the 9th century, the city became more and more abandoned.
In the 10th century, the city was mentioned in a ecclesiastical script under the name of Flumen Micinum.
In the 16th century, famous architects such as Pirro Ligorio, Baldassarre Peruzzi e Andrea Palladio started studying the ruins.
Organized excavations only started in the 19th century, after the population had increased again thanks to the many hut-dwelling fishermen.
Valadier was commissioned to create a new centre. The first foundations of the modern city were laid in the early 19th century. Work on this city was completed in 1840.
At that time the village consisted of no more than a church, a customs office, a post office, one hotel, a number of osterie and some ordinary buildings, a complex that can still be seen in its original state.
In 1880, thanks to the construction of a railway, a period of economic prosperity began.
During World War II, Fiumicino was severely damaged.
Until 1992 the city was part of Rome, but from that year on it is a municipality of its own.
Suburbs of Fiumicinio
Fregene
Fregene is the most famous suburb of Fiumicino and a very popular beach spot with the Romans. This was especially the case in the 60’s and 70’s when actors, writers and other members of the La Bella Vita crowd flocked here during the summer months.It was originally an Etruscan settlement, but later became a Roman colony. In the course of the centuries the settlement fell into disrepair, which was caused by the many malaria epidemics. Nowadays it is a popular holiday spot.
Apart from the beach clubs, the most interesting aspect of Fregene is its pine forest. This was planted (by order of Pope Clement IX) in the second half of the 17th century in order to protect the city’s coast line. The forest is about 1 kilometer wide and runs for about 4 kilometers along the coastline.
Maccarese
On 7 September 2019, the first saxophone museum in Italy was opened in the municipality of Maccarese. In the Museo del Sassofono about 600 saxophones can be seen. The smallest soprano saxophone measures 32 cm, the largest double bass saxophone about 2 metres.
Torrimpietra
The frazione of Torrimpietra is named after a 13th century castle. Originally built for the Normanni family, after having changed hands a couple of times, in 1639 the castle became property of the Falconieri. Both the rooms of this castle and the Sant’Antonio Church contain frescoes by Pier Leone Ghezzi. The best known fresco is the “Sant’Antonio Eremito” adorning the church.
The medieval Torre di Pagliaccetto is located in the countryside outside Torrimpietra. This tower is supposedly named after one of the farmers working for the Falconieri family. This farmer had magical powers and was in charge of 99 clowns (pagliacci). One day he lost a bet against a swineherd, who also had magical powers, after which he placed a curse on the surrounding woods, walked, followed by his 99 clowns, into the sea and was never seen again. The tower was part of a coastal surveillance system devised by the popes. In case of approaching danger, they could warn the next tower at Palidoro, who would then alert the castle.
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