Trevi Fountain illuminated at dusk in Rome, Italy, surrounded by historic buildings.
Where Your Roman Story Begins
On Italy’s Tyrrhenian coast, Civitavecchia has been an important port for Rome for centuries. Forte Michelangelo still stands above the historic harbor, a great 16th-century fortress built to protect this strategic stretch of coast. Rome lies inland, closely connected to Civitavecchia’s long history as a Mediterranean port.
In Rome, ancient history is not confined to one archaeological quarter. The Pantheon still stands beneath its vast dome, the Imperial Forums line Via dei Fori Imperiali, and the Colosseum recalls the spectacles that once drew tens of thousands of people. Centuries later, Baroque fountains and piazzas transformed the city again, while across the Tiber, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica became one of the defining sights of Vatican City. From Civitavecchia cruise port, these very different layers of Rome are all within reach.
Celestyal Cruises to Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia cruise port highlights
Colosseum in Rome, Italy, illuminated by warm evening light beneath a colorful sky.
Ancient Rome at the Heart of the City
Rome’s ancient past sits right at the heart of the modern city. The Pantheon is one of its most remarkable survivors, built in AD 126 and crowned by a vast dome that eventually influenced Michelangelo as he worked on St. Peter’s Basilica.
Along Via dei Fori Imperiali, the remains of the Forums of Trajan, Augustus, and Nerva still appear on either side of the avenue leading toward the Colosseum. The amphitheater once held crowds of up to 50,000 spectators for gladiatorial contests and other public spectacles and remains one of the clearest surviving symbols of imperial Rome.
St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City viewed across the Tiber River at sunset, framed by autumn foliage.
Baroque Rome and Vatican City
Piazza Navona is one of Rome’s great Baroque spaces, where fountains and ornate architecture fill a square laid out in the historic center. The Trevi Fountain has its own famous tradition; legend says that tossing a coin over your shoulder into the water means you will return to Rome one day.
Nearby, the Spanish Steps sit among shopping streets and cafés, while across the Tiber, St. Peter’s Square opens before the great Renaissance Basilica. Artists including Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini all contributed to the extraordinary church that stands at the heart of Vatican City.
View over Bolsena and Lake Bolsena in Lazio, Italy, with historic buildings and green countryside in the foreground.
Bolsena and its Volcanic Lake
North of Civitavecchia, Bolsena is surrounded by olive groves. Rocca Monaldeschi, the town’s medieval fortress, stands above the rooftops. Below, narrow lanes wind through the old borgo or historic quarter, toward Lake Bolsena. And then the view opens up. This vast volcanic lake is the real heart of the landscape, with Isola Bisentina, its largest island, sitting out on the water and green countryside stretching around its shores. It’s the kind of place that invites you to slow down and simply take in the setting for a while.