How to get around Palestrina

Palestrina is easy to reach from Rome and vertical once you are there.

The town lies about 35 kilometres east of the capital and is connected to it by the Via Prenestina — the road that takes its name from the town's own ancient name of Praeneste.

Within the comune, the gradient is the dominant fact. The territory runs from 660 metres in the Scacciato quarter down to 350 metres in the valley frazioni, and the historic town occupies the slope between.

The sanctuary is not a single level site but a series of terraces climbing the hillside, with the town built on further terraces above and around it. Seeing it properly means climbing it.

Above everything, the hilltop carried the earliest citadel, ringed by its cyclopean wall.

The surrounding Prenestini and the neighbouring comuni — Castel San Pietro Romano directly above among them — need a car.

Two Italian rules apply here as everywhere in the country. A ticket bought from a kiosk or machine must be validated on board before the journey starts, or an inspector will issue an on-the-spot fine. And driving into a historic centre usually needs a ZTL pass, with the boundary marked in black on a yellow sign.

From Rome. About 35 kilometres east, by the Via Prenestina. The road and the town share a name, which is a useful thing to remember when navigating.

In the town. Steep. The comune spans 660 to 350 metres, and the historic centre sits on the sanctuary's terracing.

The sanctuary. A series of terraces up the hillside rather than a level enclosure; the visit is a climb, and the structure is best read from below before it is walked.

Above the town. The hilltop citadel site and its cyclopean wall, with Castel San Pietro Romano immediately above.

The lower frazioni. At around 350 metres, down towards the valley; these are a separate world from the upper town.

Mobility note. This is one of the steeper destinations in the rollout: the attraction is literally a stack of terraces, with no level route through it.

Validate your ticket. If you buy a ticket from a kiosk or machine, you must validate it on public transport before you start your journey. Officials patrol and issue an on-the-spot fine if your ticket is not validated.

ZTL. You need a pass to drive into the historic centre of many Italian towns in a private or hire car. The boundaries are marked with the letters ZTL in black on a yellow sign, and a camera reads your plate.

Strikes. Transport strikes in Italy are often called at short notice, which matters most if your visit depends on a single connection.

Taxis. Use only officially licensed taxis, which carry a taxi sign on the roof and a company name and number on the side.