Fiumicino is a central-Italian town and comune in the province of Rome, in which the busy Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport is located which serves the national capital Rome. Fiumicino is a large fishing town on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast and has long been known for its great seafood restaurants. It also is a weekend getaway for the people of Rome, especially in the summer. There is a good beach but the sand is black due to the high iron content in it. The name means little river. The town of "Fiumicino" should not be confused with its namesake, Fiumicino, a small river near Rimini.
Fiumicino was originally a fishing village and is till an important fishing center. It is situated on the west coast of Italy, in the province of Rome. Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport is close by and is more normally referred to as Fiumicino Airport these days, with the international code FCO. The town is home to approximately 60,000 inhabitants.
This region enjoys a Mediterranean climate similar to that of Rome, with occasional sea breezes to keep it cooler in summer. Spring and autumn are the best time to visit as the weather is most pleasant at this time. In the peak of summers, the temperature tends to regularly go over 35°C. Winters are mild.
The town of Fiumicino, which includes the beautiful "Isola Sacra", or "Sacred Island", has ancient origins and, indeed, dates to Roman times. It was a favorite summer vacation spot for many of the upper class Roman elite. The town subsequently went into slow decline, but started picking up again in the beginning of the 19th century. A real boom in the town's activity began in the 1950s and 1960s, when Rome's Intercontinental Airport, Leonardo Da Vinci, was constructed here.
Fiumicino is famous for its beautiful pier, a favorite spot for long walks.
Tourists also immensely enjoy the exquisite cuisine, mainly based on seafood. The numerous restaurants along the pier are always packed with people anxious to try the daily special.
Tourists who enjoy immersing themselves in the local culture of a place should make sure to hang around the pier in the afternoons. It's at this time that fishermen return to shore with their catch and it's at this time that the impromptu fish market springs to life.
Lately, it has also become a popular retreat for people from Rome. It is also a popular place for visitors to stay while visiting Rome. If you are flying out from Fiumicino airport it could be a pleasant place to stay your last night, avoiding the hassle of Rome's traffic on the way to catch your flight.
