Getting to Lanciano by bus from Rome / by car

This is based on the assumption that one has arrived in Roma at one of two airports. If you have used other means of transportation then read on until you get to the appropriate starting point. All buses depart from Tiburtina.

Regardless of where you arrive of it would be wise to have 50 EURO on hand as credit cards are not always accepted. You should also visit a tabacchi (look for the big black T) or a newsstand to purchase a "scheda telefono" (SKAYDA), what we know as a pre-paid telephone card. Get a 5 EURO card, a bit less than $10 CDN. It should cover all of your needs. In order to use it you have to break off one of the corners.

Rome Airports
A Aeroporto Leonardo Da Vinci di Fiumicino. It is also called Fiumicino for short. We will use the abbreviation FCO. This will be the point of entry for most of you. Start your reading at Section A - Arriving At FCO.

B However there is also a possibility that your may arrive at Roma's older airport, Aeroporto G.B. Pastine di Roma Ciampino, or simply Ciampino for short. You should commence reading at the section with the heading Section B - Arriving At Ciampino.

Section A - Arriving At FCO
1 After you work your way through baggage pick-up and arrive in the main arrivals hall you then want to go up one more level of FCO where you will find access via an overhead walkway to the railway lines that links FCO to the city itself. If you find yourself on a level with lots of shops you are in the right place. You can get there by elevator or escalator, which are in Terminal B, adjacent to Terminal C. When you get to the upper level look for the FS sign and follow the arrows.

2 Once you get to the train station the next task is to purchase a ticket. You can line up at the ticket booth but if it is busy a faster route is to go to the adjacent "tabacchi" (tobacco store - look for the big black T) and get a ticket there. Your choice of ticket depends on whether you are staying in Rome, Option A, before going on to Lanciano, or Option B, going directly to Lanciano from FCO. Have a look at the two options below before you purchase your ticket.

Option A - Staying In Rome:
1 You will want to purchase a ticket for Termini, the main train station for Rome. One can easily get a taxi from FCO to one's hotel but the train is a much cheaper option. The train to Termini from FCO costs about 10 EURO.
2 Use the TV monitors to find the next train to Termini.
3 You will have to find the appropriate "binario" (track number) but it is usually the tracks on the right as you look down the tracks with your back to the station. Frequently the engine of the train will have a big sign on it saying Leonardo Express. You do not have to worry about going in the wrong direction as the train service originates at the airport.
4 Don't forget to validate your train ticket in one of the boxes along the track before you board the train.
5 The train service terminates at Termini so you do not have to worry about getting off at the wrong stop. The trip takes about thirty minutes.
6 You will arrive on track 28 or 29 when you come into Termini. Once off the train follow the crowds towards the main part of Termini. However your labours are not over as you have a nearly 500 metre hike to the central part of the station.
7 Once there you can get a taxi or go down one level and get on the subway. Unless you are familiar with the Rome subway system may we strongly urge you to take a taxi or walk to your hotel. If you are taking a taxi look for the white vehicles with a checkerboard motif on the side. You have to be wide-awake before dealing with the challenge of a trip on the subways of Rome!
8 When you are ready to leave Rome go to Section C - Getting To Tiburtina.

Option B - Going Directly To Lanciano From FCO:
1 You want a ticket for Tiburtina, NOT Termini. At the time of writing the cost is about 5 EURO.
2 Use the TV monitors to find the next train NOT GOING TO TERMINI. These run every 20 minutes or so. You will have to find the appropriate "binario" (track number). Usually these trains are on the tracks to the left as you look down the track with your back to the station. You do not have to worry about going in the wrong direction as the train service originates at the airport.
3 Don't forget to validate your train ticket in one of the boxes (usually yellow in colour) along the track before you board the train. 4 Hop on the train and get off at Tiburtina. There are racks in each car to stow your luggage and the cars in these trains have various levels.
5 This trip normally takes about 40 minutes but can take longer - one never knows.
6 Keep your eye on the stations you pass through. When you go through the TUSCOLANA station Tiburtina will be the NEXT stop so collect your luggage and get ready to get off at Tiburtina.
7 Now skip down this guide until you find Section D - Coping With Tiburtina.

Section B - Arriving At Ciampino:
1 If you arrive at Ciampino you really only have one option, a bus to Termini, the main train station in Rome. Go to the Terravision desk in the arrivals hall of the airport. If you need a voucher, purchase it from the Terravision desk in the airport arrivals hall
2 Look for the signs directing you to the bus outside. Climb aboard and select your seat. The coach will leave once all passengers have arrived.
3 The bus will drop you at Termini.
4 If you trying to get to Lanciano directly go down to Section C - Getting To Tiburtina.
5 If you are staying in Rome then it is off to your hotel. Unless you are familiar with the Rome subway system may we strongly urge you to take a taxi or walk to your hotel. You have to be wide-awake before dealing with the challenge of a trip on the subways of Rome!
6 If you are taking a taxi look for the white vehicles with a checkerboard motif on the side.
7 When it is time to leave Rome read the next section.

Section C - Getting To Tiburtina
1 If you have stayed in Rome your next destination is a suburban railway station called Tiburtina. You can take a taxi or use the subway.
2 If you are taking a taxi look for the white vehicles with a checkerboard motif on the side. You can skip the rest of this section. Ask them to take you to the Hotel New Gemini on Via Guido Mazzini.
3 If you elect to use the subway look for the big red M, which indicates access to the subway. Before going underground you should purchase your subway tickets at a tabacchi (tobacco store - look for the big black T), or any newsstand near the subway entrance. Otherwise you are at the mercy of the coin-operated machines, which are frequently out of service. You want a ticket for ATAC - ask for "un biglietto (bee yet toe) per MAYTRO"; they currently cost 1 EURO.
4 You want LINEA B (Line B) ultimately but may have to use LINEA A (Line A) and change at Termini depending on your point of departure. One more detail to watch out for. Unlike LINEA A, where the subway car doors open and close automatically, the cars used on LINEA B require that one pushes a button to open the subway doors, both to get on and to get off. The buttons are not hard to find.
5 Once you are ready to travel on LINEA B ensure that you get on the correct platform with Tiburtina as one of your stops. You want to go in the direction of Rebibbia.
6 Don't forget to validate your ticket in one of the boxes before you board the subway. At the time of writing life has been further complicated by two kinds of tickets and two kinds of machines to validate the tickets. Be vigilant when traveling on the subway, as pickpockets are a problem. Ensure that you get to Tiburtina 30 minutes before your bus departs.

Section D - Coping With Tiburtina
1 (a) If you come by taxi then have them drop you at the Hotel Gemini on Via Guido Mazzini. Turn your back to the hotel and look across the big parking lot in front of you. Off to the right across this lot you will see the bus station. Skip down to #7.
(b) If you use the Metro look for the exits ("USCITA") and follow the signs pointing to FS (railway station) until you find the main or street level of the railway station, and go inside.
(c) If you came on the train directly from FCO to Tiburtina then head into the main level of the train station.
2 Look for the McDonalds restaurant in the station. Find the exit adjacent to the restaurant so that the McDonalds sign is on your RIGHT shoulder. There is also a take-out pizza place and a gelato/coffee bar in the same area.
3 If you have the correct exit you should see a highway overpass right overhead as you exit the station. Veer ever so slightly to the right until you find a road-crossing path for pedestrians- it is a series of parallel wide white stripes. Look before you cross the road - vehicles are supposed to stop but this is Italy where traffic laws are just suggestions Follow the crossing and you should be pointed at a restaurant across the street with TAVOLA CALDA on it in big green letters. The restaurant is on the corner of a small street that is straight ahead of you with buildings on the right and a large bus parking area on the left. This street is Via Guido Mazzini.
4 Now that you are on the corner make a left turn and walk along the sidewalk parallel to the over pass. You will be passing a parking area for buses. Keep going until you see a covered walkway ahead of you on the right.
5 When you arrive at the covered walkway follow it along until you reach the new bus terminal.
6 Once you are at the terminal you will have to purchase a ticket. Do NOT go to the main ticket counter. There are three ticket offices on the LEFT side of the station as you look into where the buses park. They have recently put signs above these and you are looking for BIGLIETTERIA C by Posto (Post) #5. The ticket window on the right currently looks after buses for Lanciano. Ask for "un biglietto (bee yet toe) per Lanciano". Buses for Lanciano depart Tiburtina at 10:00, 14:30 (2:30 p.m.), 17:30 (5:30 p.m.), 19:00 (7:00 p.m.) and 21:00 (9:00 p.m.) Monday - Saturday. On Sundays there are only two buses - 14:30 and 21:00, and this schedule also applies on holidays. If you want to travel on the 14:30 bus on a Sunday it might be a good idea to purchase your ticket the day before or on Sunday morning as this bus tends to be full on Sunday. It will cost you about 18 EURO for a ticket. They sometimes use double-decker buses on this route so it doesn't hurt to ask for "sopra" (upper level). On your ticket will be the seat you have been assigned. If the bus is not full feel free to move to another seat.
7 Once you have your ticket the next challenge is now to find the right bus. Each company has its own parking areas in the new terminal. The bus company you want is called DI FONZO. Currently they depart from Posto 13 and 14, across on the side opposite to where you purchased your ticket, right beside the pizzeria. Their buses can be blue, silver-grey or off-white, with Di Fonzo prominently displayed. The newer ones also feature a large drawing of a compass on the side.
8 Look for the bus with ROMA-LANCIANO-VASTO on it. Ask to make sure that you are on the correct bus. The driver will help you stow your luggage. If you need a washroom there is one just down to left from where the bus is parked.
9 Find your seat, sit back and enjoy the trip - the scenery is quite spectacular once you clear Roma. Early on in the trip they will come around to punch your ticket. There may also be a short "pit stop" along the way. The trip usually takes about 2.5 hours.
10 The bus normally stops at Piazza Borgo in Lanciano but this changes now and then. On many of the trips they may shift you from one bus to another for the final trip from the Autostrada to Lanciano, so be prepared for this.
11 If no one has appeared to escort you to the school then call 0872.714969. The school office is open from 0800 - 1700 daily Monday - Friday.

Section E - Leaving Lanciano
1 Buses from Lanciano to Rome depart from Piazza Borgo Monday-Saturday at 06:25 (6:25 a.m.), 08:00 (8:00 a.m.), 09:40 (9:40 a.m.), 13:10 (1:10 p.m.), and 17:50 (5:50 p.m.). On Sundays and major holidays there are buses at 08:00 and 17:25.
2 On all the trips to Rome, except the one at 13:10, you will be normally be taken out to a service centre on the Autostrada, where you will transfer to the bus to Rome. For the other trips the bus you take from Lanciano is usually the one destined for Chieti. If you see people with lots of luggage they are probably heading for Rome. Follow the crowd but don't be afraid to ask.
3 Tickets are best purchased the day before at the Di Fonzo office on the Corso. It closes at 19:00 (7 p.m.) each day Monday - Saturday.
4 The bus will normally drop you off in front of the main ticket office at the bus terminal, not where you boarded it when you went to Lanciano. Once you are dropped off at the bus terminal you have three options- find the one that applies:
a A taxi to the airport or back into Rome: The easiest place to find a cab is to turn your back to the main ticket office and look across the large lot with buses until you see the sign for the Hotel Gemini - the sign is atop the hotel. Your target is the street that runs along in front of the hotel. You should see a passageway close to where you got off the bus that will permit you to work your way across this lot. As you walk across, veer to the left as you aim for the street that runs along in front of the Hotel Gemini. You should see lots of taxis. Again, ensure that it is a legitimate Rome taxi.
b Using the subway to get to your hotel or back to Termini. Head back down the covered walkway to the Tiburtina train station. Purchase your Metro subway ticket at the newsstand - in case you have forgotten you want "un biglietto (bee yet toe) per MAYTRO"; they currently cost 1 EURO. Follow the big red M signs to the subway. When going into Rome you get on the subway directly - you do not have to cross the tracks. Don't forget to validate your ticket and watch out for pickpockets on the subway. This subway will take you to Termini where you can change to the other subway line or exit to the street outside of Termini to get a taxi or walk to your hotel. If you are heading off to Ciampino you will have to purchase a ticket for the bus at one of the newsstands in Termini. Your best bet would be one on the main level. You want a "biglietto per Ciampino" (bee yet toe per champ-eeno). You board the bus at the Termini exit on Via Marsala. If you are on the main level of Termini find the long corridor in front of the various entrances to the tracks - it has exits at both ends. Turn your back to the tracks. Turn right and head for the exit - this is Via Marsala. Once outside turn left and head down until you see some buses angle parked. This is where you will board the bus to Ciampino.
c Going Directly to FCO from Tiburtina: Head back down the covered walkway to the Tiburtina train station. Purchase your ticket for the train to FCO at the newsstand. Use the various departure displays to find out the time and track number (binario). They usually identify these trains with "aeroporto". Board the train, stow your luggage, and off you go. The train doesn't go any further than FCO. Once at FCO use the displays to find out your departure gate.

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