Roman building mastery in the heart of the moden port
The Darsena Romana is the innermost and oldest part of the Port of Civitavecchia, a small rectangular-shaped port, once protected by the walls of the Rocca and today connected to the rest of the port through a passage dug into the rock. To reach it, just take a pleasant walk starting from Forte Michelangelo, along the ancient wall of Urban VII with the Vanvitelli Fountain, the monumental Porta Livono and finally the remains of the Ancient Fortress.
Designed almost 2000 years ago by the great architect Apollodorus of Damascus, the Darsena was mainly used for the mooring and refueling of the Roman ships of the imperial fleet. In fact, the emperor Trajan had identified this place as a safe and strategic base.
Having survived intact throughout the Middle Ages under the dominion of the Vico family, the Darsena, defended by the mighty Castello della Rocca, passed under the temporal power of the Popes who restored it and exploited it as a strategic base for their naval fleet. A safe haven on the Lazio coast for the flourishing alum trade.
Unfortunately, the violent bombings of the Second World War completely destroyed the dock and its current appearance is due to more recent restoration and consolidation interventions.
Today the Darsena hosts the headquarters of the Guardia di Finanza di Mare, of the Circolo Nautico di Civitavecchia. The structure also hosts a shipyard available for all the small pleasure boats that are moored there.
