We would like to introduce you to the railway and the wonderful places that can be reached by rail.

The Rome-Capranica-Viterbo Railway was opened during 1886. Initially, the line started out from the old Trastevere Station in Piazza Ippolito Nievo in Rome, and passed under the hill of the Gianicolo near St. Peter’s, and terminated at the provincial town of Viterbo. The railway connects the north-western territories of the Latium region to the capital. In 1911 the station for departure was moved to its present location at the end of Viale Trastevere, but most trains now start from Roma Ostiense. The track is an 86 km, single track, standard gauge operation and the train is hauled by a diesel. The service is operated by the National Railway Company FS.

A branch line from Capranica to Ronciglione was opened in 1888, and extended to Orte and Civitavecchia in 1928. A through-freight service was opened between Civitavecchia harbour, Orte, Terni, Spoleto and Ancona, and a local passenger service was opened from Civitavecchia to Orte. In 1962 the Civitavecchia-Capranica branch was closed. Around 1986 reconstruction work was begun on this branch, but interrupted in 1994 and this considerable investment was abandoned. In 1995 the 37 km branch between Capranica and Orte was also closed down. The future of this branch is uncertain.

As from the 1960s there has been increasing passenger traffic on the main line due to the expansion of Rome’s suburbs, whereas freight service has been much reduced. In the mid 1970s a suburban commuter service between Tiburtina, Trastevere, Monte Mario and La Storta was begun and new stops have been added.

By 1994 work was started to place two tracks between St. Peter’s and Cesano. The entire line has been electrified. Electric traction started in december 1999 between Viterbo and Cesano, in may 2000 urban service resumed up to St. Peter's, while the St.Peter's-Trastevere section is still under construction. A frequent suburban service is now operating between St. Peter’s and Cesano/Bracciano as part of the Roman metropolitan railway network, (line fm3). Later this service should be extended to Albano/Frascati south of Rome to create a link ‘Passante dei Laghi’ (Lake Link) Lake Bracciano to Lake Albano.

Anguillara, a small and picturesque Medieval village on the shore of Lake Bracciano. There is a city bus from the railway station to the town centre.

Don’t miss the National Aircraft Museum at Vigna di Valle - Museo Storico dell’Aeronautica, which is 30 minutes walk from Vigna di Valle railway station or can be reached by Cotral Blue Bus on the Anguillara-Bracciano line (see schedules).

Bracciano with it’s magnificent Renaissance Castle, is one of the largest in central Italy and is situated high above Lake Bracciano and surrounded by a small Medieval ‘Borgo’ (five minutes walk from the railway station).

The Bracciano Lake itself lies in the crater of an ancient volcano, and is surrounded with beaches. A boat service runs during the summer months between Bracciano, Anguillara and Trevignano. (The Lake can be reached by foot, a 20 minute walk from Bracciano railway station).

Manziana, with the Renaissance Palazzo Tittoni, has a main square with a Baroque fountain and a panoramic view of Lake Bracciano. The village lies at the edge of a huge forest, where it is fun to eat a picnic lunch.

The Natural Monument of the Manziana Caldara, sulpher springs bubble up through the sand coloured mud. The springs can be reached on a 40 minute walk from Manziana railway station and through the beautiful forest of the ‘Macchia Grande’.

In Oriolo Palazzo Altieri has a famous portrait gallery of all the Popes from St Peter up to the present. The Palazzo Altieri has recently been restored. The railway station is a ten minute walk outside the village.

Unfortunately, it is hard to go to Capranica by train – even if it is worth the trip – as the town centre is more than three kilometres away from the station. The much closer Madonna del Piano stop is now out of service after the closure of the Ronciglione branch line.

San Martino al Cimino, a small Borgo at the foot of the Monti Cimini (hills), west of the Vico Lake, has a beautiful 13^th century Gothic abbey. From the church entrance you can enjoy a panoramic view and see as far as the Tirrenic Sea.

Viterbo is an important town having both an ancient tradition and history. It is the administrative centre of the province of Viterbo. The city has a large Medieval section and many old buildings, churches, palaces and museums which are well worth a visit.

General advice:

Many places offer bed and breakfast facilities and the whole region makes for a good place to take a holiday. If you want to go to Rome from one of the above places enter the city by subsidiary bus service and one of the railways passing through Ladispoli, Prima Porta or Settebagni (see map). Take the Cotral blue bus if you want to have the experience of an Eternal City of Rome Traffic Jam J