Fiumicino
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Fiumicino, Italy
| Fiumicino
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 Darsena Traiano, Fiumicino - Click for larger view |
The canal and harbour of Fiumicino lie 15 miles SW of the outskirts of Rome, about two miles S of the Italian capital’s Leonardo da Vinci airport. Yachts either berth alongside in the canal if there is room, although there are no facilities here and security is very poor, or on laid moorings in the basin of Darsena Traiano to starboard half a mile up the canal. Fiumicino is a good spot to base a yacht for seeing the sights of Rome or for a quick trip home from the airport.
Local Weather
Winds along the Tyrrhenian Coast of Italy are generally light in the summer months. The most notable feature is a SW seabreeze that kicks in late morning and blows at little more than Force 2 - 4 until the evening. Thundery conditions are not infrequent during early Spring and Autumn, and associated winds can sometimes reach gale force and kick up a substantial sea. In winter, gales can blow from both NW and S and entry to and exit from many of the harbours along the coast can become hazardous.
Sources for weather information:
- There is a continuous (computerised voice) weather forecast on VHF 68 - first in Italian and then followed with an English translation
- The same forecast is given in Italian and English on VHF coastal stations following a notification on channel 16
- Navtex weather forecasts are broadcast from stations at La Garde (Toulon), Roma and Cagliari (Sardinia
Charts
- British Admiralty
- 1911
- Italian
- 913
- 7
- 124
- 75
Radio Nets
Also see World Cruiser's Nets.
From a distance, the aircraft taking off and landing at Leonardo da Vinci airport are a good landmark. Closer in, the entrance to the canal is distinguishable from N by a white storage tank 300 metres north of the entrance and from S by the light structure on the end of a long training wall. A strong current flows out of the canal, especially after heavy rainfall, and overfalls develop with even moderate onshore winds which can make entry uncomfortable.
Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration)
Fiumicino is a port of entry to Italy.
Please submit details about facilities for checking-in, location of immigration & customs, etc.
Berthing options
Fiumicino Canal
In the Fiumicino Canal a yacht can tie up alongside the banks of the canal wherever there is space, avoiding the N side between the entrance and the footbridge, which is used by fishing boats. If possible, find a space above the lifting foot and road bridges (which open 0730 and 1630 only). The quay is quite high here and it can be a struggle to get ashore from yachts with low freeboard. Tie fore and aft to bollards, allowing for possible rise and fall of the water level. There are no facilities here (but then there is no charge either). Be sure to secure anything removable and lock your boat securely before leaving it.
Darsena Traiano
The Darsena Traiano basin has a total of 200 berths on floating pontoons and quays for yachts up to 25 metres in length (ostensibly two are reserved for yachts in transit). Depths in the basin range from 1.5 to 2.8 metres. The most likely place to find a berth is on the E side of the basin, where there are two pontoons and a stretch of quay managed by the Cooperativa Lavoratori del Porto di Traiano. The S side is reserved for members of the local yacht club and the W side is occupied by several boatyards.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
None.
Anchorages
None.
Offshore Islands and Groups
None.
Yacht Repairs and Services
Marine Stores
Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.
Repairs/Yards
Several yards around the basin and in the canal. All types of work can be undertaken.
Fuel, Water, & Electricity
Fuel station on the S quay (0800 - 1900). Water and electricity available at the Cooperativa Lavoratori del Porto di Traiano berths.
Things to do Ashore
Tourism
Most visitors to Fiumicino come here in order to visit the tourist attractions of Rome (for which even a stay of a month would be inadequate to do full justice). Depending on the time available, a ‘must see’ itinerary would have to take in the Vatican Museum (including the spectacular Sistine Chapel), St Peter’s Basilica, the Coliseum and the Forum Romanum, the last architectural vestiges of Rome’s imperial greatness. With more time, equally unmissable are the world-famous Musei Capitolini and Museo Nazionale Romano, the Castello St Angelo near the Vatican and the 2nd century AD Pantheon (which still boasts the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome as well as the tomb of Raphael). Those who are keen on beautiful churches should take in the Chiesa di Jesu, HQ church of the Jesuits, the wonderful Byzantine mosaics in the church of SS Cosma e Damiano, the sumptuous Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano and Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, 4th and 5th century respectively, and the small Basilica di San Pietro in Vinicoli (St Peter in Chains), which contains the chains believed to have confined St Peter as well as the unfinished tomb of Pope Julius II by Michelangelo. Further afield, the famous Catacombs, where generations of Christian martyrs were interred, the Villa d’Este and the Villa Adriana at Tivoli, built for the emperor Hadrian in 134 AD, are worth half a day each. Finally, an attraction closer to home is the remarkably well-preserved remains of Ostia, the ancient port of Rome, preserved until the early 20th century under several metres of silt following Tiber floods in antiquity.
 Forum Romanum |
 Capitoline Hill and museum |
 Pieta by Michelangelo, St Peter’s |
 Vatican Museum |
 Pantheon (2nd century AD) |
 Dying Gaul, Musei Capitolini |
 Sarcophagus, Museo Nazionale Romano |
 Mosaic, Ostia Antica |
Grocery & Supply Stores
- Good supermarket SE of Darsena Traiano.
- Good provisions in the town of Fiumicino across the canal via the footbridge.
- Canalside fish market across the canal in Fiumicino.
Eateries
- Ristorante Da Zi Pina just across the footbridge is excellent. Try the spaghetti alla vongole.
- The Guru Lounge 100 metres SW of the Darsena Traiano is a very good Tex Mex restaurant/bar.
Internet/WiFi
None.
Laundry
Motorbike & Car Rentals
Car and motorbike rental outlet in shopping parade SE of Darsena Traiano.
Garbage Disposal
Bins at Cooperativa Lavoratori del Porto di Traiano.
Transportation
- Buses to Ostia Lido then train into Rome
- Buses to Leonardo da Vinci airport
Routes/Passages To/From
List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.
Cruiser's Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
- Fiumicino at the Wikipedia
References & Publications
See Italy.
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- July 2003 --Athene of Lymington 16:08, 8 December 2010 (UTC)
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Names: Lighthouse, Athene of Lymington |
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