Car Hire Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia is a town and commune located in the Italian region of Lazio, in the province of Rome. The name Civitavecchia means 'ancient town', and it is believed to have been settled as early as the 2nd century, if not before. Indeed, the modern city of Civitavecchia is thought to have been built on top of an existing settlement of Etruscans.

Nowadays, the city has a major port for ferries and cruise liners, so should you want to visit, this is the way to go! Travel to and from Sardinia, Sicily, Tunisia and Barcelona, but there are several attractions in Civitavecchia you really must see!

The 'Michaelangelo's Fort' was completed in 1535 under Pope Paul III, after being commissioned by Pope Julius II, to protect the city from invading forces. The fort is thought to have been built over the remains of a Roman Imperial Fleet barracks. The castle ('Rocca') was rebuilt in the late 1400s by Pope Sixtus V, and added to it by Pope Pius IV was the Palazzo Apostolico in the 1500s.

The church of Saint Francis of Assissi was built in 1610, on top of an old church. North of the city are the baths, called Ficonella today (after the numerous fig plants around them) but in ancient times known as Terme Taurine, popular with the Romans then as with the locals now. Make sure you pop in and spend some time, soaking and relaxing!

The region of Lazio has 5 provinces, of which the Province of Rome is one. The province has 121 municipalities, and Civitavecchia is the 9th largest city in Lazio. Rome is, of course, the largest city in the region. Some of the major industries in Lazio include olive, wine grape, fruit and vegetable growing, as well as fishery, crafts and animal husbandry.