Car & Van Hire - Terracina

Terracina is a charming seaside town on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. It's popular with Romans who travel here for the weekend to escape the city and really comes alive in the summer months. However, it's worth visiting at any time of year, particularly if you are interested in history. First settled by the Volsci, it has been inhabited by humans for over 2,500 years.

Terracina Alta, the city's historic centre, has a wealth of old buildings to admire. Be warned: this is a hilly town, and if you want to explore Terracina Alta, you should ensure you've got comfortable shoes! As you weave through the narrow, cobbled streets, you'll see ruins from the days of the Roman Empire, including the forum, as well as later buildings like the town's cathedral. The biggest treat of all is right on top of the hill: the ruins of the Temple of Jupiter Anzur. It's best to visit in the late afternoon, as the sunset over the sea can be a spectacular sight.

Visitors from Rome usually come to Terracina for the beach, so why not join them? The long stretch of golden sand is right in the heart of the town. The water here is swimmable for much of the year, with gentle, flat waves that make it suitable for the family. If you're not in the mood to take a dip, you can go for a stroll along the Lungomargo, the long promenade that runs alongside the beach.

This town is a great starting point for day trips, so use a car rental in Terracina to see more of Italy. You can visit charming, old-fashioned nearby towns like the mountainside San Felice Circeo or the picture-perfect Sonnino, known for its superb olive oil. Those seeking nature can head to Sabaudia, which has some of the biggest and best beaches in the region, or Campo Soriano, a park with intriguing rock formations.

For a truly memorable road trip, take advantage of a car or van rental in Terracina to visit Pompeii. Italy's most famous ruins are still being excavated, but there's plenty to see. In fact, it's a good idea to read up before you go and plan your trip carefully, as it's easy to get lost in the streets of the ancient city and miss some of the sights! While in the area, you can also hike the trails that run up Vesuvius, the mighty volcano responsible for Pompeii's destruction.

If you have driven in Italy before, you will already be familiar with the concept of the ZTL, the limited traffic zone that is found in almost every city and large town. Terracina's ZTL covers the historic centre, including the Roman theatre, the cathedral and the Piazza Municipio. The area is divided into two separate zones. One is a permanent pedestrian zone, in which cars can never enter. The other is only in effect during the summer months, when Terracina sees a large number of tourists.

If you drive into the ZTL by accident, you will be fined. To avoid this, you'll need to learn to recognise the road sign: a white circle outlined in red. As you drive around other Italian towns and cities, you will come to be very familiar with this sign!

Terracina does not have much traffic most of the year, but it is a popular domestic tourist destination in summer. As such, you will have more difficulties finding a parking spot in the summer months, particularly over weekends or public holidays. The largest car parks are located in the port area. Limited on-street parking is also available, but take care, as the streets are often very narrow. You'll need to tuck your wing mirrors when you have parked your car, or you run the risk of a passing vehicle hitting it. On-street parking spaces outlined in blue are pay and display, while those with white lines are free. Free parking spots usually have a very short maximum time.

Italian law mandates that drivers keep their headlights on at all times when outside an urban area, even in broad daylight. You can turn them off when you enter a city, but many drivers find it easier to just leave them on.

If you are driving from Terracina to a large city like Rome or Naples, you have a couple of options. The highways are the fastest way to get there, but they come with tolls. If you'd prefer to save money – and you have enough time – you can look for an alternative route. Search for roads marked as "SS", strade statali. These will often take a very scenic route to get to your destination, but you'll be able to avoid the tolls! Roads marked as "SP", strade provinciale, are even smaller and are commonly used by tractors and similar vehicles.