Getting to Macerata

Macerata is located in the Marche region in central Italy, approximately 30km from the Adriatic coast

HOW TO REACH MACERATA

Delegates travelling from outside Italy have a choice of airports. The information provided here is largely practical, aimed to make your journey as straightforward as possible.

FLYING TO A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (international and intercontinental carriers)

Due to its position near the Adriatic coast, the best international airport to choose is Bologna (BLQ). From Bologna airport, you take the Marconi monorail to the main train station (Bologna Centrale), from where you can take any southbound Intercity (IC) train. Southbound trains have as their final destination: Ancona, Pescara, Bari, Lecce, Taranto, Brindisi. You will have to change train at Civitanova Marche: before you buy your ticket, please make sure that your train does in fact stop there.
The fastest (and most expensive) trains - Freccia Rossa - do not stop at Civitanova Marche. You can take these trains as far as Ancona then change to a 'Regionale' train direct to Macerata (some of these proceed to Fabriano as their final destination).

Rome Fiumicino (FCO) is the alternative international airport. Public transport from this airport to Macerata normally requires that you take a train or a shuttle bus to the centre of Rome (Roma Termini train station stop; the bus station is just around the corner). From Roma Termini you can get to Macerata either by train ('Regionale' services only, sometimes necessitating a change of train at Fabriano) or by bus (Flixbus).
There is also a limited Flixbus service connecting Rome Fiumicino airport to Macerata. The bus station in Macerata is located in Via Piero e Lorenzo Cioci, near the Giardini Diaz.
Be aware that the journey across Italy is longer than it looks on a map because you have to pass through the Appennine mountains.

FLYING TO A PROVINCIAL AIRPORT (some international carriers; low-cost carriers)

The closest provincial airport is Umbria International Airport (AOI) in Perugia, mainly served by Ryanair. You can check carriers and destinations here. From Perugia airport, take the Contram coach to Macerata Piediripa (a stop outside the city, at the bottom of the hill) then change and take another bus (Contram or the orange Macerata cita ATM bus) or a taxi to Macerata itself.

Equally close, and logistically easier than Perugia, is Ancona International Airport (AOI). Lufthansa flies here from Munich; most other flights are operated by Ryanair, AeroItalia, and Wizz!. This airport is undergoing expansion at present - you can check carriers and destinations here. From Ancona airport, take a shuttle or a taxi to Ancona Centrale railway station and take a direct 'Regionale' train to Macerata (or any train to Civitanova marche then a regionale to Macerata).

An alternative provicial airport on the East coast is the Aeroporto internazionale d'Abruzzo (PSR) in Pescara. This is a little further away than Ancona but logistically easy. ITA Airways flies here from Milan Linate; most other flights are operated by Ryanair and Wizz!. You can check carriers and destinations here. From Pescara airport, take the shuttle bus or a taxi to the central train station (Pescara Centrale) then a northbound Intercity (IC) or 'Regionale' train to Civitanova Marche (northbound trains have as their final destinations: Ancona, Bologna, Milan). Change at Civitanova Marche for a 'Regionale' service to Macerata / Fabriano.

Rome Ciampino (CIA) is one of the largest provincial airports and serves most European destinations. As is the case with Rome Fiumicino, public transport from this airport to Macerata normally requires that you take a train or a shuttle bus to Roma Termini (train station stop; the bus station is just around the corner). From Roma Termini you can get to Macerata either by train ('Regionale' services only, sometimes necessitating a change of train at Fabriano) or by bus (Flixbus).
There is also a limited Flixbus service connecting Rome Ciampino airport to Macerata. The bus station in Macerata is located in Via Piero e Lorenzo Cioci, near the Giardini Diaz.

Useful links

• Train information can be found on the Trenitalia website
• You can also consult train timetables and buy tickets using the trainline app
• Bus services from Rome can be found on the Flixbus website
• The Contram website is here. Contram also have an app (only available in Italian) which allows you to make in-app purchases. You will be expected to load your suitcase into the luggage bays and and retrieve it yourself

GREEN TRAVEL

• You can find comprehensive information on train travel and connections on The Man in Seat 61 website
• You can book cross-Europe train travel here

General indications

From most Western European points of origin, your train journey will take you first to Milan (Milano Centrale station), where you will have to change to get to Bologna (Bologna Centrale station), which is the major station interchange for southbound travel.

If travelling from Central or Eastern Europe, e.g. via Vienna, you will arrive first in Venice (Venezia Mestre) where you may have to change train before proceeding to Bologna (Bologna Centrale station).

From Bologna, take any southbound train heading down the Adriatic side of Italy (i.e. passing Forlì, Cesena, Rimini, Riccione, Ancona).
If you take the fast train (Freccia Rossa), you have to change in Ancona. From here you can either take a slow (Regionale) train directly to Macerata, or take an InterCity to Civitanova Marche, then change to the Regionale train for the last leg of your journey to Macerata.
If you take an InterCity from Bologna you will go as far as Civitanova Marche, where you then change to the Regionale service to Macerata.

There is also a Contram bus service connecting Civitanova Marche and Macerata which integrates the transport network, particularly at off-peak times. The bus stop is one minute's walk from Civitanova Marche train station. You can buy a ticket at the newsagent in the station - ask for a "Biglietto Contram tariffa 5" which is a pink cardboard ticket that you have to validate when getting on the bus. You will know that you are nearly in Macerata (approx 40 minutes) when you start going up a rather steep hill; you will pass by the Education department (on your left) then the cemetery; when the road levels out again you will be on Corso Cairoli and will see in front of you the city gate (Porta Picena) and the iconic Sferisterio on its right.
If you plan to take the bus, feel free to contact us for more detailed information about where to get off, depending on where you have booked accommodation.

HIRING A CAR

Rather than navigate the public transport network, you may opt to hire a car. The motorway network is generally well-maintained and all motorways incur a toll charge. You may wish to instal an app such as Ecomotori on your phone to help you locate filling stations, especially for cars running on methane or LPG. Please see the information on the 'Venue' page for details about where to park your car in Macerata.