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| aqueduct on the scenic inland route |
Which Italy would you rather experience: the crowded highway through Rome’s outlying suburbs and factories or a leisurely drive
through green hills, past aqueducts and Etruscan tombs, with stops
in medieval hill towns to see how people live here in central Italy?
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| a local traffic jam |
This is the dilemma faced by some of the 2
million cruise passengers docking annually at Civitavecchia who request information on travel forums :
“What is the best way to get from Civitavecchia port to Rome?” or, vice versa, from Rome to the embarkation
dock.
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As a resident travel writer and consultant, I have treated the question before and now that summer is again fast approaching, I want to remind cruisers of an alternative route between Rome and Civitavecchia, one that helps beat the summer heat.
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| Tarquinia's towers -just 10 minutes from the dock of Civitavecchia |
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| S. Maria in Castello, Tarquinia |
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| entrance to Duomo Museum, Viterbo |
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| dolphin fountain, Vetralla |
During the dozens of cruises and port excursions enjoyed as cruise lecturer in the past 6 12 years I've noticed that the highlight for most people is being treated to a slice of real local living.
You can only take so many organized tours, museums and archeological sites.
To really understand a locale and a civilization, you must discover the markets, the homes, the local lore and food.
Here in central Italy many cruises begin and end at my home port, Civitavecchia, one hour north of Rome.
The ships usually arrive in port very early in the day and departures are set for afternoon, so it makes sense to use the arrival/departure day for leisurely exploring, gaining those important experiences of real Italian life. This can be done by taking the inland route instead of the highway to Rome.
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| Antonella, local Italian guide in Viterbo |
It only takes a bit
of planning to arrange for a private
driver or a rental car to take
the scenic inland route passing through
the hill town of Tarquinia, a UNESCO world heritage site.
From there, continue along Via Aurelia bis over the rolling green hills to Vetralla, a compact historical center which
has been under the protection of the English crown since the days of Henry
VIII.
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| Ruud and visitors at Bomarzo's Sacro Bosco |
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| Mercatello, before the bridge to Civita, the dying city |
Retirement-aged cruisers save money by renting a van with driver to explore the inland scenic route from Civitavecchia to Rome. By avoiding the highway, big cities and big city prices they also get a chance to see daily life.
Bags safely stowed in the van, the passengers can stroll through our town on market day, visiting the shops, chatting with local people and
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| at the market: local artichokes |
ordering a slice of pizza at the forno.
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| Meet the locals: Adriana cares for the flowers of her piazza, Vetralla |
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| Ruud shows visitors Tuscania |
Multi-lingual guide Ruud likes to show visitors his hometown and how we live here.
Italy is not just about monuments, art and archeology....as those who take the scenic inland route discover.
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enjoying gelato and espresso
What could be better than sharing food, conversation and visiting the homes, gardens and castles of the people who live here?
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| leisurely lunch in a private garden ..... |
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| .......or on the terrace |
Drop me a line or leave a comment if you wish to join the long list of universities, tour operators, travel agents and cruise lines who have benefitted from our local, on site expertise.
More information about the area can be found in my books "Etruria Travel, History and Itineraries in Central Italy" and
"Etruria Storie e Segreti". Order directly from the website and pay with paypal.
