History of Civitavecchia

The ancient name of “Civitavecchia” was “Centumcellae”, the foundation of which, as a port with many warehouses, dating back to 107 AD. behest of Trajan (53-117 AD). Devastated by the Saracens in 828, the city was abandoned by the inhabitants, who fled into nearby woods, founding the city of "Leopolis", but in 889 they returned, changing its name to “Civitas Vetula” [“the Old Town”]. It became part of the Church State in 1431, when it assumed the role of the Rome port and the Papal fleet basis. Go back to that time, the fortifications of the port and arsenal.

The Latin name “Centumcellae” was reported, according to Pliny the Younger (61-112 AD) wrote, to a place where great works were underway for the construction of the port, near the villa of Emperor Trajan. There have been many hypotheses to explain the origin of the name “Centumcellae”; some scholars believe that it refers to the number of natural creeks that were present on the coast, and others to the hundred rooms of the Trajan Villa.

In 828, after the destructive invasion of the Saracens, the population left the center, first taking refuge in the mountains, then in a new site called “Cencelle”, until she finally returned in the city in 889, changing its name in “Civitas Vetula” (“Old Town”) to distinguish it from “Cencelle”. It is surrounded by walls built in 1590 by Urban VII (1521-1590), restored by Pope Paul IV (1476-1559) and Pius IV (1499-1565). The fortress was designed by Michelangelo (1475-1574), and it was executed by Sangallo (1484-1546), who made it one of the most important monuments of military architecture. The tower of the fortress, of octagonal shape, is a work by Michelangelo and it was started in 1512 under Julius II (1443-1513), and finished under Paul III (1468-1549).

The foundations of the port date back to Roman time, and the door is defended by three towers. The arsenal was built on a design by Bramante (1444-1514). The aqueduct, built by Trajan, and rebuilt by Innocent XII (1615-1700), is about 30 km long, with three galleries and a tank capable of 5000 ounces, it provides the water.

In 1798, with the French invasion of the Church State, even Civitavecchia was occupied, and, then, it entered the Kingdom of Italy in 1870.