BlogoItaliano already wrote once about the public transport system in Rome, but in the last article we talked very briefly about the Roman metro. Although the metro in Rome is modest by Moscow standards, it is worth it to devote a separate article to it. Moreover, in recent years, the metro in Rome is expanding rapidly.
Metro Rome - the fastest and most convenient way to get around the city. Despite the fact that the metro in Rome is not as large as in other European capitals, it is enjoyed by both the Romans themselves and numerous guests of the heart of Italy.
Metro in Rome: current status and history
The length of the Roman metro is only 60 kilometers, which is several times less than Paris, London and even Milan. Such "underdevelopment"Rome metro due to the fact that during the construction of tunnels obstacles periodically arise in the form of numerous archaeological finds - the construction is always suspended, interrupted by excavations.
The length of the Roman metro is 60 kilometers
And if the tunnels can be located just below the cultural layer, then with the exits from the stations and ventilation shafts this number will not work. For this reason, the metro in Rome rather covers the city center than passes through it - the number of monuments is so great that it does not allow you to build new stations without compromising the sights.
Metro stations are modestly decorated
Design metro in rome It began in the 30s of the last century - the government was actively preparing for the world exhibition, which was supposed to be held in Italy in 1942, but did not take place due to the outbreak of World War II.
According to the preliminary plan, the first metro line was to connect Termini Central Station with the southern part of the city, where it was planned to build a grand exhibition complex. By the beginning of the war, part of the tunnels was completed - during the bombing, they were used as bomb shelters.
Roman metro station "Coliseum"
In 1948, construction work on the subway was resumed, and seven years later, on February 9, 1955, the first subway line painted on metro map in blue color.
The second line, designed in 1959, was built for more than fifteen years: the work begun in 1964 was interrupted due to problems with the movement of ground transport. The resumed construction five years later was suspended several times in connection with the excavation, and only in February 1980, the red line of the Roman metro was put into operation.
The orange metro line runs from northwest to southeast
The third line, the newest, was launched in the summer of 2012. There are already more than a dozen stations on the green line, but construction is ongoing, and new ones will open in the coming years. As planned by the Roman authorities, stations of line C should become not only platforms for sending trains, but also museums; in addition, it is planned to arrange an underground museum at a station located next to the Coliseum, as well as build an exit to the Forum.
Metro stations are modestly and inconspicuous, which cannot be said about some trains - you can often find wagons painted with graffiti - this is how Roman youth expresses themselves.
Rome metro tickets: what, where, how much
Rome metro tickets are sold everywhere - at ticket offices and vending machines at stations, as well as at newspaper and tobacco kiosks located on the city streets. Separate metro tickets do not exist, and travel tickets apply to all city public transport.
The fare is 1.5 euros (2019) for one trip, the ticket is valid for 100 minutes from the time you go through the turnstile - during this time you can make several transfers without leaving the subway; if you climbed to the surface - you will have to pay for the entrance to the subway again. There are also tickets for one, two, three days and a week.
Rome metro scheme is simple: only three lines
Another way to solve the problem with paying for the metro is to buy a tourist card. Omnia cardgranting the right to unlimited travel by any means of transport, including the metro, for three days, free admission to the Coliseum, the Forum, the Sistine Chapel, as well as other main attractions of Rome and the Vatican. If you intend to spend several days in Rome and actively watch the sights, then this is an effective way to save.
Topical Rome metro fare as part of tickets for a day, three days and a week can be clarified in our article on public transport in the Eternal City.
Helpful advice: When going to Rome, we recommend installing a mobile audio city guide for the iPhone. This is a ready tour in Russian from St. Peter's Basilica to the Coliseum. All 62 points of the audio excursion are plotted on a convenient map, and GPS navigation makes it easy to navigate along the route, even if this is your first time in Rome. You can view the details and install the application on this page..
Working hours
The Roman Metro is open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays - an hour longer - until 01:30 a.m. The interval between trains is from 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the time of day.
In the morning and evening hours, the metro operates in peak loads, and the interval between trains is reduced. Get ready for crowded wagons and keep an eye on things - pickpockets can operate on trains. Late in the evening and on weekends trains run less frequently, and the interval between them can reach 10 minutes.
Features and map
The scheme of the Roman metro is simple and straightforward: the two main branches B and A, painted in blue and orange, intersect in the area of Termini Station, the green line C is adjacent to line B. Rome metro map You can get it at the ticket office when buying a ticket or download the electronic version here.
The first metro line “B” crosses the eternal city from the north-east to the south-west, its length is 18 kilometers, the number of stations is 22.
The second is orange, stretching from the northwest to the southeast of Rome, its length is about 18 kilometers, the number of stations is 27.
As of 2017, 20 stations are operating on the “C” line, but construction of new ones is still ongoing.
Useful links
- Public transport in Rome
- Rome Center Map + Public Transport
- 3 Star Hotels in the Center of Rome
- How to get to Rome from Fiumicino Airport
- From Civitavecchia to Rome: how to get there
Photos by: isriya, Andreas, ShaneAH.
