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 archaelogical excavations on its territory, including those of the Port of Trajan. The locality 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). Postal 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.
Sights
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 district of Palidoro.
Outside the built-up area of the city there is a well-preserved necropolis. It was built between the 2nd and 4th centuries.
History
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.
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.
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 beginning of the 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 the Second World War Fiumicino was severely damaged.
Until 1992 the city was part of Rome, but from that year on it is a municipality of its own.
Fregene
Fregene is the most famous part of Fiumicino and a very popular beach spot with the Romans. 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.
Fregene is one of the more popular beaches amongst the more wealthy part of the population of the Italian capital. 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.
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 id bout 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 most 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. 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.