Fiumicino is thought of as a “city within the city”, given its proximity to Rome, and is best known as the site of the Leonardo da Vinci intercontinental airport.
The national hub hosts about 30,000 operators daily and in 2018 reached a passenger traffic of just under 40 million. This is a growing trend in comparison to the previous years.
Against the backdrop of the frenetic comings and goings, we find a territory with a wealth of beaches, pine forests, ancient and modern harbours, and archaeological memories.
The economic and social life of this area still preserves its fishing tradition.
The evocative image of moored fishing boats and the various nets distributed neatly on the canal that goes out to the sea along Via della Torre Clementina makes it suitable for relaxing walks. Here, the Church of Santa Maria Porto della Salute is dedicated to the protection of sailors.
Along the canal, it is possible to buy buy freshly caught fish directly from the fishermen.
While Fiumicino is the economic soul of the coast, the beaches of Fregene are a relaxation destination where many Romans can enjoy equipped sandy beaches.
But Fiumicino is primarily a place rich in history.
Not to be missed are the ports of Claudius and Trajan, the first begun in 42 AD with the intention of extending Rome’s river traffic towards the sea. It was expanded by Trajan in 106 AD with the excavation of a large hexagonal basin, internal to the port of Claudius.
Worth a visit is the Necropolis of the Isola Sacra or Porto, a burial site still well-preserved today, the ship museum, Museo delle Navi Romane, which preserves the keels of four merchant ships from the 3rd and 4th centuries.
The seafood cuisine is renowned here and can be excellent, but we must also mention, looking at the flavours from the earth, the tasty tender Fiumicino carrot, as well as the excellent meat from the cattle farms of the Maccarese plain.
For shopping enthusiasts, there is the Parco Leonardo shopping centre.