The 7 Best Shore Excursions from Civitavecchia

Buongiorno and welcome to Stefano Rome Tours!   We’ve been providing reliable shore excursions from Civitavecchia to Rome and the Roman Countryside since 2004.

When cruising to Italy and docking at Civitavecchia Crusie Port, choosing a shore excursion is both exciting and confusing if you’re not familiar with Italy.  There are so many Civitavecchia shore excursions to choose from based on your interests and physical ability.

• What are the best shore excursions from Civitavecchia to Rome and the Countryside?

In this travel blog, we narrowed down the 7 best Shore Excursions from Civitavecchia based on our experience with our cruising clients.  Whether you are visiting Rome for the first time, wish to enjoy the tranquil countryside visiting charming Medieval villages, or prefer to explore incredible ancient sites that are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites,  you will find them in our private excursions from Civitavecchia.

We included for you below Tours with links to visit each tour on our website and learn more about the tour. Our Tour pages include price lists, tour itineraries, detailed information, photos and sometimes even videos, and online booking form to book your preferred Civitavecchia cruise tour.  You may also contact us via email for any questions you may have. Here are the 7 best shore excursions from Civitavecchia:

The 7 Best Shore Excursions from Civitavecchia 

POSTCARD ROME TOUR FROM CIVITAVECCHIA

Postcard Rome shore excursion from Civitavecchia is a fun-filled, leisurely tour tailored for cruisers who wish to experience as much of Rome as possible while avoiding super crowded tourist attractions with lengthy security lines and advance admission tickets that restrict flexibility and sightseeing opportunities.

Your postcard-perfect cruise tour of Rome will begin with a taste of La Dolce Vita by visiting some of Rome’s most iconic squares and fountains that have been featured in many classic films and contemporary movies.

After lunch, you will see the wonders of Ancient Rome.

Stop in Piazza della Rotonda dominated by the Pantheon, the ancient pagan temple later converted into a church, and one of the world’s grandest ancient Roman buildings in continuous use since antiquity.   Bask in the grandeur of the imposing Colosseum and Arch of Constantine while you stroll through Colosseum Square, surrounded by Rome’s most impressive monuments.  View the Roman Forum from the top of Capitoline Hill for a postcard-perfect photo of what used to be the hub of Ancient Rome.

Stop in St Peter’s Square and marvel at the magnificent St Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in Christendom.  Visit the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four Papal Basilicas in Rome.

If your cruise ends in Civitavecchia and you are going to Rome post-cruise,  you may book the Post Cruise Postcard Rome Tour from Civitavecchia on your disembarkation day.


On this Postcard Rome Tour from Civitavecchia, you will enjoy the following Rome itinerary:

• Piazza della Rotonda
• Pantheon
• Trevi Fountain
• Spanish Steps
• Piazza Navona
• St Peter's Square
• Capitoline Hill with a panoramic view of the Roman Forum
• Colosseum Square
• Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

This Postcard Rome cruise tour is perfect for:

• Families with children
• Cruisers who wish to see MORE of Rome at a more leisurely pace
• Cruisers who wish to skip super crowded attractions with long security lines and difficult-to-obtain time slot tickets that limit flexibility
• Senior Travelers who wish to tour Rome at a slower pace and customize the tour according to their ability

CASTLES AND LAKES TOUR FROM CIVITAVECCHIA

The Roman countryside is one of the most beautiful, relaxing, and tranquil regions of central Italy steeped in history and charm. Often underestimated by the average tourist, the Roman countryside is frequently sought after by discerning travelers and cruisers who seek to discover compelling less-touristed treasures found nowhere else in the world.

Our signature Castles and Lakes countryside tour from Civitavecchia takes you through the unspoiled Roman countryside to Lake Bracciano to visit the famous Renaissance Odescalchi Castle in the historical town of Bracciano which overlooks the pristine volcanic crater lake.  Following your castle visit, you will relish a delicious lunch at a family-owned restaurant in the tiny Medieval clifftop fortress of Ceri where time seems to have frozen to the middle ages.

After lunch, you will journey thousands of years in the past as you venture through the ancient Etruscan necropolis in Cerverteri. Channel your inner Indiana Jones exploring ancient tombs from as far back as 2,500 BC in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, unlike any other place on earth!

If your cruise ends in Civitavecchia, spend your disembarkation day exploring the countryside on our Post Cruise Castles and Lakes Tour from Civitavecchia with convenient drop-off at your hotel in Rome at the conclusion of your debark tour.

On this Castles and Lakes Countryside tour from Civitavecchia, you will enjoy the following itinerary:

• The historic town of Bracciano
• Odescalchi Castle / Bracciano Castle
• Medieval hamlet of Ceri
• Lunch
• Cerveteri Banditaccia Etruscan Necropolis

This Castles and Lakes Countryside cruise tour from Civitavecchia is perfect for:

• Families with adventurous children
• Cruisers who already visited Rome and wish to explore new destinations
• History buffs with interests in the Ancient Etruscans, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance Era
• Nature lovers
• Cruisers who wish to enjoy a relaxing shore excursion without the chaos of big crowded cities like Rome

ROME CITY AND COUNTRYSIDE TOUR

If you can’t make up your mind between Rome and the Countryside, why not visit both? 

Our Rome City and Countryside Shore Excursion from Civitavecchia offers cruisers a unique taste of Rome’s most amazing squares and ancient Roman monuments, followed by an afternoon exploring the countryside’s magnificent medieval glories that includes lunch in the charming Ceri and a visit through the fairytale castle of Bracciano. Enjoy the best of both worlds on a day tour from Rome or a shore excursion from Civitavecchia.

On our Rome City and Countryside Tour from Civitavecchia, you will enjoy the following itinerary:

• Colosseum Square
• Piazza Navona
• Spanish Steps
• Pantheon
• Trevi Fountain
• Medieval hamlet of Ceri
• Historic town of Bracciano
• Odescalchi Castle / Bracciano Castle
  ** The order of the sites in the tour may change
  
  

This Rome City and Countryside cruise excursion from Civitavecchia is perfect for:

• Families with children
• Cruisers who are undecided between Rome and the Countryside
• Cruisers who wish to experience more of Italy in one day
• Cruisers also interested in visiting Medieval Castles and quaint villages

MEDIEVAL WONDERS COUNTRYSIDE TOUR

Rome’s countryside is studded with charming medieval towns and villages that are the closest thing to traveling back in time to the captivating middle ages that have inspired fairytales and legends.

For centuries the Italian peninsula was divided into numerous kingdoms with fortified medieval walled cities perched on hilltops with enduring stone buildings and castles characteristic of many medieval Italian towns and villages.

On this Medieval Wonders Countryside Tour from Civitavecchia, you will have the opportunity to visit Tuscania - a remarkable medieval walled town with mesmerizing views, enjoy lunch in the medieval hamlet of Ceri and visit the spellbinding Castle of Bracciano.

If your cruise ends in Civitavecchia, enjoy a debarkation tour on our Post Cruise Medieval Wonders Countryside Tour from Civitavecchia with drop-off at your hotel in Rome at the conclusion of your debark tour.

This Medieval Wonders Countryside excursion from Civitavecchia takes you to the following destinations:

• Tuscania
• Medieval hamlet of Ceri
• The historic town of Bracciano
• Odescalchi Castle / Bracciano Castle

 

Tuscania is one of the oldest towns in Italy with a history dating back 3,000 years when it was an Etruscan establishment and one of the most important crossroads of inner Etruria. Later Tuscania became an Ancient Roman settlement.

Although vestiges of its Etruscan and Roman past are still evident, what we see now is a medieval town surrounded by fortified with protective walls strategically situated on a hill.

Medieval towers and fortified city walls, ruins of Rivellino castle, imposing Romanesque churches, and medieval stone buildings that make up the historic center lends Tuscania its authentic medieval splendor.

Stroll along atmospheric streets to the belvedere where you will discover the breathtaking views that inspire not only poets but each and everyone one of us. Tuscania’s must-visit Basilica of Saint Peter and Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore are truly monuments considered among the region's most beautiful and significant churches from the 11th and 12th centuries.

This Medieval Wonders private excursion from Civitavecchia is perfect for:

• Families with children
• Cruisers with an interest in culture and history
• Cruisers interested in Medieval Italy
• Cruisers who wish to enjoy a more relaxing shore excursion to beautiful places
• Nature lovers

ORVIETO WINE-TASTING SHORE EXCURSION FROM CIVITAVECCHIA

Cruisers who enjoy a wine-tasting tour during their cruise will delight in our Orvieto Wine Tasting Shore Excursion from Civitavecchia to the enthralling region of Umbria.

On this wine lovers' shore excursion will visit an esteemed certified organic wine estate in the heart of the Umbrian hills where you will sample elegant locally crafted wines crafted from the grapes that grow in the winery’s vast vineyards where natural and sustainable agricultural practices are implemented. The winemakers will guide you through wine tasting accompanied by a small plate of local delicacies.

Following your winery visit, you will venture to Orvieto with free time on your own to sightsee, lunch on local Umbrian dishes, window shop, or enjoy more wine tasting at various wine shops (enoteche) in town.

Cruisers whose cruise ends in Civitavecchia can enjoy this wine tour on our Post Cruise Oriveto Wine Tasting Tour from Civitavecchia, with convenient drop off at your hotel in Rome at the end of the debark tour.

Our Orvieto Wine Tasting Shore Excursion from Civitavecchia has the following itinerary:

• Winery visit in Umbra
• Visit Orvieto

This Orvieto Wine Tasting excursion from Civitavecchia is ideal for:

• Wine lovers
• Cruisers who wish to experience wineries in Italy
• Cruisers who wish to enjoy a relaxing shore excursion
• Nature Lovers

ETRUSCAN MYSTERY COUNTRYSIDE TOUR FROM CIVITAVECCHIA

Our Etruscan Mystery Cruise tour from Civitavecchia takes you on a journey through ancient Etruria, the land once ruled by the legendary Etruscans, the highly advanced yet mysterious pre-Roman civilization who settled in central Italy for many centuries before the ancient Roman expansion.

What most people don’t know is that the Etruscans are responsible for much of what ancient Romans knew. When Etruria was already an advanced civilization on par with ancient Greece, Rome was a primitive village whose three of seven legendary kings were actually Etruscan. 

Ancient Romans built on what they had already learned from the Etruscans:  hydraulic engineering, architecture, religion, and politics.  Things we take for granted as being Roman were actually Etruscan: gladiatorial fights, togas, sewage systems, roads, temples, the Latin alphabet,  and more. 

The treasures the Etruscans left behind in their remarkable tombs have filled museums and fueled the imagination and wonder.  On this tour, you will visit Tarquinia and explore the famous Etruscan frescoed tombs of the Monterozzi Necropolis that’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

These fascinating and vibrant 2,500-year-old frescoes that depict the lives of the beguiling Etruscans are the only ones of their kind in the world!  While in Tarquinia, you also have the opportunity to visit the Archaeological Museum where treasure troves of incredible artifacts uncovered in the tombs are on display that showcases just how advanced the Etruscans were.

Then, you will continue on to tranquil Tuscania, another important ancient Etruscan city where vestiges of this bygone civilization are evident throughout the town.

This Etruscan Mystery Shore Excursion from Civitavecchia will take you to these incredible locations:

• Etruscan Necropolis in Tarquinia
• The National Museum in Tarquinia
• Medieval Borgo Tuscania
  
  

This Etruscan Mystery Tour from Civitavecchia is perfect for:

• Nature and History lovers
• Cruises who wish to explore off-the-tourist-path destinations
• Cruisers interested in unique destinations unlike others in the world
• Cruisers who wish to enjoy a relaxing shore excursion to refined destinations

OSTIA ANTICA AND CERVETERI TOUR

History buffs will revel in our Ostia Antica and Cerveteri Tour from Civitavecchia which takes you through the fascinating history of Italy:  Ancient Etruria,  Ancient Rome, and Medieval Italy.

On our Ostia Antica and Cerveteri Tour from the cruise port, you will spend 2 hours exploring the beautifully preserved 2nd-century AD ruins of the once thriving Ancient Roman city of Ostia Antica.  Unlike Pompeii, Ostia Antica was truly a Roman city, the closest thing you will ever come to walking through ancient Roman streets.

As you will walk in the footsteps of real Romans, a distant echo of the hustle and bustle of daily life in this once prosperous city transports you to the ancient days of Rome as you wander through the remnants of Ostia’s apartment buildings, bars, bakeries, commercial storefronts, outdoor theater, pagan temples, communal baths and latrines, sculptures, and more.

After a stop for lunch in the conveniently located Medieval village of Ceri for a taste of what a fortified clifftop Medieval hamlet looked like,  you venture through the sacred tombs of the mysterious Etruscans as you explore the ancient Banditaccia Etruscan Necropolis in Cerveteri.

From primitive pottery ossuaries to elaborate hut-shaped tombs carved out of living tuffa rock and rich in structural details, you can see ancient cultural and architectural advancements from the early 9th Century BC Villanovan to the complex 3rd century BC.

You will discover what types of homes Etruscans lived in just by walking into their tombs!  Considered permanent homes for the dead, these tombs were carved to resemble the interior of the residential homes of the deceased, lavishly designed with gabled roofs, crossbeams, stone couches, chairs, and other architectural details.

On this Ostia Antica and Cerveteri Shore Excursion from Civitavecchia, you will visit the following captivating locations:

• Visit Ostia Antica
• Ceri for Lunch and Visit
• Explore Etruscan Necropolis in Cerveteri
  
  

This Ostia Antica and Cerveteri Shore Excursion from Civitavecchia is ideal for:

• Families with adventurous children
• Cruisers interested in history and culture
• Cruisers who wish to explore ancient civilizations
• Cruisers who are interested in Ancient Rome
• Cruisers who wish to enjoy a relaxing excursion to scenic locations
• Cruisers who wish to avoid the chaos and crowds of Rome
• Nature lovers

This wraps up our 7 best shore excursions from Civitavecchia travel blog.   

Thank you for reading our travel blog and for choosing Stefano Rome Tours for your private Shore Excursions from Civitavecchia to Rome and to the countryside.  We look forward to seeing you in Italy!