How to ride a streetcar in Rome
A Streetcar in Rome is called Tram and the current tram system of the city is a leftover from what once was the largest tram system in Italy. but, like many other cities, it ripped up track and replaced most of its tram lines with exhaust-spewing buses after World War II. The system is owned and operated by "Agenzia per i Trasporti Autoferrotranviari del Comune di Roma" (ATAC SpA). Still, a few of the old lines are still in service, and (as in many European cities) new lines have been added in recent years.
We suggest to use trams more than buses for two reasons:
Trams are quieter, less polluting, and usually more comfortable than buses.
Unlike bus routes, tram lines are fixed and obvious, making it easier for out-of-towners to get from point A to point B without missing a stop.
Rome has six tram lines. For the most part, the streetcars serve Rome neighborhoods that aren't visited much by tourists, but two lines are worth mentioning:
Line 8 connects Torre Argentina, in the historic center, with the popular nightlife district of Trastevere. The trams stop at Trastevere's railroad station, where commuter trains run to Fiumicino Airport and the cruise port of Civitavecchia.
Line 19 runs between the Piazza Risorgimento (on the northern edge of the Vatican) and neighborhoods on the eastern side of the Tiber. No. 19 trams skirt the Villa Borghese gardens on their long journey to the Porta Maggiore, where passengers can connect to Line 14 or 5 to reach Termini Station.
Check the map here to see all the lines and all the stops, you can even print it before to come in Rome.
If you have time on your hands and want to see a little of the “real Rome” you can combine the number 3 and 19 trams to a pleasant window on suburban Rome. The number 19 tram, starts in a square outside the walls of the Vatican, on the main walking route between St Peter's Square and the Vatican Museum.The 19 tram eventually takes you to the Villa Borghese Park where the number 3 tram joins the route for around 15/20 minutes from outside the Modern Art Museum. Changing to the number 3 tram You circuit the eastern side of Rome and swing around to the south of the city centre with good views of the original Rome walls, before passing the Colosseum and crossing over the river to Trastevere.
The following lines currently run:
2 Piazzale Flaminio ↔ Piazza Mancini. This short line runs through the Flaminio neighbourhood, connecting at Piazzale Flaminio (near the Porta del Popolo) with Line A and the Rome-Viterbo railway line. Some runs of the 2 on weekdays (marked as 2/) run from Piazza Mancini to Piazza Risorgimento, running with the 19 across the Tevere to the Vatican.
3 Piazza Thorvaldsen (in the Villa Borghese) ↔ Trastevere railway station. Partially reopened on 27 August 2012. This is the longest line after line 19, going round the city centre in a wide arc from north via east to south-west. At the western endpoint Trastevere railway station, this line connects with the Regional railways(lines 1, 3 and 5), while connections with Metro A are at Manzoni and San Giovanni. There are four connections with metro Line B: one at Policlinico, and three on the stretch Piramide - Circo Massimo (Rome Metro) - Colosseo, where line 3 follows Metro B on the surface. The remainder of the line from the Roma Trastevere railway station to Piazzale Ostiense is still served by s substituted bus service, the 3B, pending the completion of infrastructural works.[3]
5 Roma Termini railway station ↔ Piazza dei Gerani.This line runs east from Termini railway station. It connects with line A at Termini metro station, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele IIand Manzoni.
8 Piazza Venezia ↔ Via del Casaletto. Line 8 is the newest line of the system, always running with modern stock. It also reaches furthest into the historic city centre, connecting it with Trastevere railway station. Work on an extension began on June 19, 2012 [4] and the new terminus, located in piazza Venezia, opened on June 6, 2013.[5].
14 Stazione Termini ↔ Viale Palmiro Togliatti.This line mostly follows the route of line 5.
19 Piazza Risorgimento ↔ Piazza dei Gerani.This line connects the Vatican with the rest of the tram network, following the route of first line 3, and then line 5. It connects with the metro at Ottaviano – San Pietro – Musei Vaticani, Lepanto (Rome Metro) (both Line A) and Policlinico (line B). Line 19 is the longest line, connecting with all other tram lines, except for line 8.
How to ride the trams:
Rome's trams use the same "Metrebus" tickets as the Metro, buses, and trams do. The Roma Pass, a transportation and museum card for tourists, is also valid on trams.
To board a tram, simply wait for disembarking passengers to get off and enter through any set of doors. If necessary, press a button to make the doors open.
When you're inside the car, validate your unused paper ticket in the machine (usually is yellow) near the doors. Hold the front of the ticket toward you, insert the end with the arrow in the slot, and wait for the machine to stamp your ticket. A single-ride ticket is valid for 100 minutes from the time it's stamped, and you can transfer to other trams or buses during your journey.
If you're using a Roma Pass or other RFID (radio frequency identication) ticket, hold it against the electronic card reader's round yellow sensor until the green light flashes.
Where to buy Metrebus tickets:
Ticket counters in Metro stations,
Ticket vending machines in Metro stations and at larger tram stops,
Any newsstand, kiosk, or bar that is licensed to sell cigarettes. (When in doubt, look for a "Tabacchi" sign.)
Warning:
If you're caught riding a tram, bus, or Metro train without a validated ticket, you can be fined €54,5. Here it is explained how much to pay and how to pay.
Be aware about pickpockets on the Streetcar as in all the other public transportation in Rome.
Recap: Rome has 6 streetcar lines, the most useful for tourists are the line 19 and line 8. Onboard be always aware about pickpockets.
mettere link per roma pass
