Rome Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci) Airport

Leonardo da Vinci - Fiumicino Airport is the largest airport in Rome and Italy, situated in the town of Fiumicino, 35km from Rome's historical center. It serves as the main hub for Alitalia and Vueling and is the 8th busiest airport in Europe, and 34th in the world. Fiumicino opened in 1961 with two runways, to replace the older Ciampino Airport (still in use today). Alitalia invested heavily in the airport. The airport was already in use in 1960 to relieve air traffic for the 1960s Summer Olympics. Today it covers an area of 29 km2. It is named after Leonardo da Vinci who designed flying machines and helicopters already in the 1400s. The airport has about 38.5 million passangers a year and 5 terminals.

Our Norwegian flight from Copenhagen arrived at Fiumicino around 1 PM, the first visit to Rome. From the airport we caught a train at the airport's railway station, that stops at Termini Station in central Rome. On the way back we took the cheaper, but 40 min late (!) Terravision airport bus from Piazza Cavour near our hotel. The airport was very messy with bad information and no announcement of the flights in the speakers, something I hadn't experienced before! A fire in Terminal 3 broke out only about a month before our visit and made the whole airport even more messy, and we had to pass by several terminals just to get to a gate that was close to where we arrived. On 29 July 2015, about one month after our visit, a forest fire in the vicinity caused the airport to close for 2 hours.

Approaching Italy's largest airport, Rome's Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinci Airport with our Norwegian flight from Copenhagen. Leonardo da Vincio-Fiumicino Airport, Rome's and  Italy's largest airport. Leonardo da Vincio-Fiumicino Airport, Rome's and  Italy's largest airport. Fiumicino Airport Fiumicino Airport Fiumicino Airport Control tower, Fiumicino Airport Control tower, Fiumicino Airport Fiumicino Airport Fiumicino Airport Fiumicino Airport is Alitalia's main hub. Fiumicino Airport Fiumicino Airport Leaving our Norwegian flight from Copenhagen, Fiumicino Airport. Terminal 3, Fiumicino Airport. This terminal, where we arrived, was on fire just a month before our visit. Railway station, Fiumicino Airport Railway station, Fiumicino Airport. This train took us to Termini Station in central Rome. Approaching Fiumicino Airport with the bus. Fiumicino Airport 19 Leonardo da Vicni sculpture, Fiumicino Airport