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The harbour was greatly enlarged by the [[Emperor Trajan]] at the beginning of the 2nd century and known as Centum Cellae thereafter probably due to the many vaulted "cells" forming the harbour wall some of which can still be seen. The first occurrence of the name Centum Cellae is from a letter by [[Pliny the Younger]]<ref name="auto">Pliny Epist. 6.31</ref> in AD 107. It has been suggested that the name could instead refer to the ''centum'' ("hundred") halls of the extensive villa of Trajan which was nearby.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Civita Vecchia|volume=6|pages=416–417}}</ref> The harbour was probably built by Trajan's favourite architect, [[Apollodorus of Damascus]] (who also built the harbour of [[Ancona]]). The town was also known as Centum Cellae and was developed from the same time. Trajan's sumptuous villa ''pulcherrima'' (most beautiful, according to Pliny<ref name="auto"/>) must have been built at the same time but traces have yet to be found, although the Terme Taurine baths and the large cistern nearby are likely to have been included.<ref>Anna Maria Reggiani, la villa pulcherrima di traiano a CENTUMCELLAE, doi: 10.1387/veleia.19438 Veleia, 35, 129-149, 2018</ref> Pliny was summoned by Trajan to his villa there for an exceptional meeting there of the ''consilium principis'' (advisory council) which normally took place in Rome, and which indicates the status of the villa as an imperial residence. The villa was also used later by the young [[Marcus Aurelius]], probably in the years 140-145<ref>Fronto, Epist. ad M. Caesarem 3.21.1</ref> who built a ''[[vivarium]]'' there and also in 173 by [[Commodus]].<ref>Historia Augusta, life of Commodus, 1.9</ref>
Inscriptions from between the 2nd and 3rd centuries from a cemetery near the Roman harbour prove the presence of ''classiari'', sailors from the navy, and also of a noble class. They also tell of the number and type of ships which were detachments of the fleets of Ravenna and of Misenum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://civitavecchia.portmobility.it/en/hidden-treasures-darsena-romana-port-civitavecchia|title=Hidden Treasures in the Darsena Romana in the Port of Civitavecchia|date=February 3, 2016|website=Port Mobility Civitavecchia}}</ref>
In 251 [[Pope Cornelius]] was imprisoned in Centumcellae during the persecutions of [[Decius]] and his successor [[Trebonianus Gallus]] and died there in 253.
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The {{ILL|Torre di Lazzaretto|it}} is the only remaining Tower of four large Roman round towers that served as beacons around the ancient harbour. Remains of warehouses can be seen between the large basin and the inner harbour (darsena), still used during the Middle Ages.
A section of the [[Via Aurelia]] running along the harbour, 6 m wide and at a depth of 3 m, was excavated. Some of the Roman city wall is visible in the basement of the Fraternity of the Banner in the Piazza Leandra. Remains of an aqueduct and a large cistern, possibly part of Trajan's villa, are preserved.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ostia-antica.org/dict/topics/centumcellae/presentation/centumcellae-06.htm|title=Topographical dictionary - Centumcellae - Civitavecchia - Cistern and aqueduct|website=www.ostia-antica.org}}</ref>
North of the city at Ficoncella are the [[Terme Taurine]] baths frequented by [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] and still popular with the Civitavecchiesi. The modern name stems from the common fig plants among the various pools.
Also at Ficoncella nearby are the baths of Aquae Tauri from the earlier Etruscan and early Roman settlement.<ref>F. Stasolla et al., Nuove ricerche nel territorio di Civitavecchia. Un progetto per Aquae Tauri, in Scienze dell'Antichità 24.1 (2018), pp. 149-174.</ref> A larger building of 160x100 m enclosed the baths and is being excavated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.romanports.org/en/news/301-aquae-tauri-the-acheloous-project.html|title=Aquae Tauri, the Achelous project | Roman ports|website=www.romanports.org}}</ref>
===Other sights===
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