Italy鈥檚 Largest Train Station
Rome’s Termini train station 颈蝉听Europe’s second largest station, only Paris’ Gare du Nord, sees more travelers. The name derives from the聽nearby聽ruins of the Baths of Diocletian, hence the name 鈥楾ermini鈥� from ‘Terme’ for baths.
After the opening of the two papal railways: Rome-Frascati (1856) and Rome-Civitavecchia (1859), and having another couple of railway lines on the drawing board, a problem arose: should Rome have a train station for each line, such as Paris,聽or should it have a single terminus for all rail聽lines to come? Under pressure from Monsignor de Merode, who had financial interests in the area between where the station now stands and Via Nazionale (also planned by him), the second option was chosen and the area of the 鈥楾erme di Diocleziano鈥� selected as the location for the new railway station.
The first station was started in 1862 and opened in 1863, named: 鈥楽tazione Centrale delle Ferrovie Romane鈥� (Roman Railways Central Station). At same the time, the Rome-Ceprano (later to Naples) line was officially opened. The preliminary works for the new Termini station were聽started in 1868 and officially blessed by pope Pius IX. The project was then designed and built to the plan of聽architect Salvatore Bianchi. Various interruptions occurred after Rome became part of the new Kingdom of Italy but finally, in 1874 the station was completed.
Following the standard railway station plans of the time, Termini station had two parallel buildings: one for departures, one for arrivals, connected by a single central metal roof, similar to the Gare de l鈥橢st built in Paris. Six head tracks 鈥� two of which did not have walkways for passengers –聽were placed under the metal roof. The cargo area, engine depot, and maintenance, were located on the north side. All these plants were later moved to allow more tracks and new walkways for passengers. The old station鈥檚 fa莽ade, was 200 meters longer than it is now, thus it covered almost the entire length of Piazza dei Cinquecento. In 1883 new electrical lights were installed under the roofs and inside the station itself. In 1935, electric power coming from northern Italy (Turin), allowed electric powered trains coming from Florence, to reach Termini.
In 1930 it was decided to modernize Rome鈥檚 railway hub. Obviously the main project would have been the construction of a new Termini station, made bigger and more appropriate to handle the new passenger loads which had grown much larger over the previous century. So, in 1939 a final project, by architect Angiolo Mazzoni, was approved. This project dealt with a new railway plan. The works began by demolishing what architect Bianchi had built and raising two new lateral bodies. Construction of the new Termini was discontinued after the Fascist Regime collapsed in 1943 and the war being fought on Italian soil.
After the war, the project was abandoned since by now much of it was obsolete. However, fixtures, shelter roofs, and the two lateral bodies were already in place. The Ministry of Transport thus decided to announce a competition for the new fa莽ade, which was won by architects Calini-Montuori and by a group led by architect Vitellozzi. So the station was completed聽 and opened in 1950 according to a new vision,聽incorporating an impressive double-curved聽cantilever roof. A piece of art considered one of the most important of the Italian Rationalism movement.
The actual station as we can see it today, is characterized, on the outside, by the long and sinuous cement cantilever roof, better known as the 鈥楧inosaur鈥� and the long, thin windows emphasizing the horizontal offices. The station鈥檚 frieze, is the first main work by the Hungarian sculpture, Amerigo Tot.
The access to the trains is on a 鈥榬ubber road鈥� walkway, which runs from one end to the other of the main terminal, from which all the station鈥檚 facilities can be immediately reached. The main gallery is filled with stores, fast-food kiosks聽and bars, all forming the so-called: 鈥楩orum鈥�. On the outside used to stand the聽tall, 鈥極sram鈥� lamp post (now removed), an outstanding meeting point for all Romans and visitors. Restored for the year 2000 Jubilee, Termini station, became an important reference point for Romans and tourists alike, thanks primarily to the 鈥楩orum Termini鈥�, a huge commercial聽center located below street level. In October 2016 the station opened its “Mercato Centrale”, a gourmet paradise, similar to the one in Florence.
Termini has also an excellent shuttle train system which reaches the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Fiumicino) in 30 minutes. Also, in 2006, Termini Station was dedicated聽by the mayor of Rome to Pope John-Paul II.
