Pompeii
Ostia antica
Tivoli
Roman Castles
Travelling by bus to Latium, Umbria and Tuscany
In Latium, the region of Rome, or in the other regions surrounding the Eternal City there are many extremely attractive sights, some of which are bewildering.
It is the most visited tourist resort in Italy. An
extraordinarily interesting place. To go there follow these instructions meticolously.
First: don't plan going there by train. The train leaves at 9 AM app.
from Termini, it will bring you to Pompeii village (230 KM from Rome, app. 143 miles), and
then you will have to reach the escavations. The result: you will not be there before
12.30 PM (if everything goes well), and the excavations close around 5.30 PM (depending on
the season). Practically, you will not have enought time to visit the excavations which
stretch over a large area and which are all very interesting, also considering that you
will have to get back to Rome.
Second: Choose one of the three ways. None
is perfect, as each has pros and cons. Before deciding, take time to ponder well on them,
and selecting finally the one suiting you more.
(1) Less expensive way: bus from Tiburtina station
(2) Moderately
expensive: GreenLine, Appian Line, Carrani, and in general the buses of the American
Express.
(3) Quality service:
personal transport by car service.
Let's analyze them:
(1) Bus from Tiburtina station.
The bus leaves at 7 AM from the regional / international bus station on the side of
Tiburtina Station. Unfortunately this occurs only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You
*must* purchase the tickets the *day before* at the office of the transport company called
"MAROZZI", which is outside the station building. The cost is about 25,000 for
each way (app. 11.3 US$ or 13 Euros or 7.5 UKP), twice as much the round trip. This way
you will reserve your place. To reach Tiburtina station the morning you leave the best
thing is to take the subway (line B, Stazione Tiburtina stop, or reach any line A stop, go
to Termini station, and once there change from line A to B, with direction Rebibbia, the
Tiburtina station is the 4th stop).
The bus will arrive at the excavations app. at 10 AM. You will have to buy the ticket to
enter the excavations (app. 12,000 Ital. Lira, 5.5 US$ or 6.2 Euros or 3.6 UKP), and also
a very good guide book (10,000 Ital. Lira, printed in many languages) as you need guidance
through all the archeological marvels. Only tourist groups with guide are allowed to enter
some archelogical premises, but if you stay near the group members you can fake that you
are part of the group and so you can enter too.
The bus of the same company leaves right in front of the excavations when they close, and
you will get back to Rome to the Tiburtina station, and you can head back to your Roman
accommodation from there, using the same city transport you used to get there in the
morning.
(2) Greenline, Appian Line, Carrani, and in general the buses of the American Express. They present themselves as the ideal solution, as they say that they will also bring you to Napoli, Sorrento (in the Amalfi coast), offering you lunch on top. The price is appr. 170,000 ITL (app. 77 US$ or 88 Euros or 51 UKP) per person. They are though far from ideal, and we do not recommend them particularly. They have in fact disadvantages: the drive to Pompeii lasts at least 3 hours and and a half, if not more. The visit to Pompeii lasts only 2 hours. The "visit" to Naples and Sorrento is just a pass-through. You necessarily have to visit a cameo and a wooden article factory (where if you want you can buy the products). You will return in Rome as late as 9 pm, or later, after a fatiguing 13 hours trip, or so.
(3) Quality service: personal
transport by car service. From the point of view of quality, it is naturally
the ideal solution. The car with driver will come and pick you up at your apartment or
accommodation, at the time you decide (suggested time is around 8:30 am). The cars are
extremely comfortable (Deluxe Mercedes, Chrysler Van etc.), with air conditioning and
music. The drive is fast (2 hours-2 hours and a half). You will have enough time to visit
the excavations, and drive comfortably back to your apartments. It obviously costs more
than the other ways, but not exagerately, and if you are between 4 persons it costs
practically like solution (2). If you are 5-8 persons, it is even more convenient.
You will find in this page a complete presentation of the car
service to Pompeii, also with an online form to book.
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It was the ancient port of Rome, located in the delta of
the river ("Ostia" in Latin means entrance, i.e. of the river into the sea).
Little by little though the sand of the river lowered the level of the water. The port was
moved to present Civitavecchia. Presently the port and Ostia Antica are 3 kilometers
inland (!).
Ostia Antica is presently a big city of ruins surrounded by quiet green woods. The
entrance ticket costs 8,000 Ital. Lira.
To go there take the Metro B until Magliana or San Paolo, then change and
take the commuter train or subway to Ostia Antica (with the same ticket). The ruins are
open from 9am until sunset. Closed on Mondays.
TIVOLI
This hill town was called in ancient times
"Tibur" (and hence the name Tiburtina of the road bringing to it). The most
important sight is Villa d'Este (entry 8.000 Italian Lira) with its
beautiful Italian garden and with the hundreds fountains. Some are so big that you can
walk inside, surrounded by arches made by the water stream. Some can make an organ play.
It was built around 1750 by Ippolito d'Este. Is is one of the most beautiful gardens in
the world. The Villa d'Este is open from 9am until sunset every day except Monday.
On the way to Tivoli, precisely at Bagni di Tivoli you can visit Hadrian's
Villa, where the emperor, a keen politician, administrator and architect
created a town for his summer resort. He employed the most famous architects of his times,
like Apollodorus of Damascus. It is a large area packed with an impressive layout of
monuments, pools etc.. Closed on Monday.
To get to the Villa d'Este and to Hadrian's Villa, you have different ways of getting
there. We will present both the less expensive and the best way.
Less expensive. Take the subway Line B until Ponte Mammolo or
Rebibbia, then the blue regional Cotral bus (7,000 Italian Lira
return, app. 3.2 US$ or 3.6 Euros or 2.1 UKP) to Tivoli. To go to
Hadrian' Villa, you should get off at Bagni di Tivoli (before reaching Tivoli), and then
walk or take a local bus.
First class service: again we recommend Rome Car Service®, and ideal service
from the point of view of quality. The courteous and professional driver will come and
pick you up at the time you will indicate, with a most comfortable car (Mercedes DeLuxe
Car, Chryler Van), with air conditioning, and will bring you straight to the place. Click here to go to the page presenting the service, and where you
fill find also the form to book online.
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Roman Castles, or Castelli Romani
The Castelli Romani" or Roman castles are airy places
on the southern hills around Rome, with a very enjoyable atmosphere. Look also in the "South " part of the sections of Rome for a concise
presentation. (click please)
To reach the Roman Castles you usually have to take the subway Metro A to Anagnina, then
the blue Cotral buses. For some Roman Castles, like Frascati and Albano there is also an
efficient train service from Stazione Termini.
If you want to go by bus to other destinations, (Umbria, Tuscany, Abruzzi etc.),
you should go to the bus station adjacent to Stazione Tiburtina (do
not confuse with the square in front of the station with all the normal orange town buses).
Most of the bus lines have an office either on the side of building of the station, or in
the shops at the feet of the building in front of the station. Buses do not cost less than
trains but quite on the contrary they cost slightlty more (because they are usually faster
and arrive directly to the place by means of mororways).
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