Civitavecchia (Rome)

Civitavecchia is the port for Rome, about 80 minutes by train from the capital. Most passengers head straight to the Eternal City, but the town itself has more going on than you'd expect from a transit hub. The harbour area has a 16th-century fortress designed by Michelangelo, and the old centre behind it has a grid of narrow streets with Italian bakeries, gelato shops, and a small fish market. Pebble beaches line the coast south of the port. The Amerigo Vespucci Terminal handles the logistics efficiently. Trains to Rome Termini leave from the station a short walk from the port gates, running roughly every hour. If you stay local, the Forte Michelangelo is worth a look, and the waterfront has a few decent trattorias where you can eat grilled octopus and pasta alle vongole without the Roman tourist markup. Taxis also wait by the terminal for the ride into Rome.