Terme della Ficoncella

About Terme della Ficoncella

The Terme della Ficoncella are inland from Civitavecchia, about seventy kilometres from Rome, and are among the cheapest and most convenient thermal destinations for people living in the capital. The thermal water of this area was already known to the Romans: not far away are the remains of the Terme Taurine, the ancient complex of Aquae Tauri.

The site has five pools carved into the rock, with temperatures ranging roughly from 30 to 56 °C. The water is sulphate-calcium and slightly alkaline. The middle pools are perfect for a relaxing soak, especially on cold days.

It isn't a free site: according to the prices published by Civitavecchia council, non-residents pay €6 for half a day and €10 for a full day, while residents pay €2 or €3; under-6s get in free. The springs are open every day from 8 am to 8 pm and, in summer, in the evening too until midnight. That's why the Ficoncella is classified as "small fee" and "regulated".

The pools are open all year round and, given how close they are to Rome, they can be rather crowded at weekends. If you can, choose a weekday. Don't expect luxury facilities: it's a simple, popular place, much frequented by locals, and authentic for exactly that reason.

After your soak you can head into town for a walk around Civitavecchia's port and Forte Michelangelo, or push on to Tarquinia, with its UNESCO-listed Etruscan necropolis, about half an hour's drive away.

A word of advice: the hottest pools, those above 50 °C, should be used with great care and for just a few minutes, alternating with the warmer ones and with breaks in the open air to let your body temperature drop. Drink plenty of water before and after bathing and avoid going on a full stomach or after drinking alcohol. Anyone with blood pressure or heart problems should ask their doctor first.