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One trip to Rome's airport and I'm convinced it has the most beautiful restrooms I've seen in my 30 years of travel

One trip to Rome's airport and I'm convinced it has the most beautiful restrooms I've seen in my 30 years of travel

One trip to Rome's airport and I'm convinced it has the most beautiful restrooms I've seen in my 30 years of travel

Slideshows1 min read

Rome Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino is the city's biggest airport, gateway to tens of millions of passengers annually. I left from Terminal 3 at FCO for an early evening flight back to the New York area.

Rome Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino is the city

At the end of the luxury mall — Rolex, Diesel, Montblanc — I found a clearly marked location for the men's and women's restrooms. OK, some gender stereotypes as far as the identifiers go. But they got the job done.

At the end of the luxury mall — Rolex, Diesel, Montblanc — I found a clearly marked location for the men

The facilities for the wheelchair-bound were to the right ...

The facilities for the wheelchair-bound were to the right ...

... and the facilities for families were to the left.

... and the facilities for families were to the left.

My choice.

Walking farther to my right, I quickly realized that I wasn't in my father's airport restroom.

Walking farther to my right, I quickly realized that I wasn

A sort of mellow, green mossy plant thrived beneath a curtain of glass.

A sort of mellow, green mossy plant thrived beneath a curtain of glass.

The restroom was completely vacant, save for yours truly. The striated walls of brown and tan marble contrasted nicely with the white urinals. I didn't think I was in an airport — I thought I was in a high-end sushi restaurant.

The restroom was completely vacant, save for yours truly. The striated walls of brown and tan marble contrasted nicely with the white urinals. I didn

I'll be honest: even though airport restrooms are frequently cleaned, the scene can sometimes be repulsive. Trash cans are typically overflowing. There's you-know-what splattered everywhere. You race to do your business and escape. But not here, in this grotto of Italian tranquility and tidiness.

I did what I had to do and them discovered the best part of the whole place. You know how men's room wash basins are usually a flooded mess?

I did what I had to do and them discovered the best part of the whole place. You know how men

Well, not in Rome. Ingenious design has consolidated water, soap, and the hand drier in a recessed, cantilevered section above the basin. Three stages, no slosh. And no paper towels needed. I washed my hands three times, so thrilled was I by the arrangement.

Well, not in Rome. Ingenious design has consolidated water, soap, and the hand drier in a recessed, cantilevered section above the basin. Three stages, no slosh. And no paper towels needed. I washed my hands three times, so thrilled was I by the arrangement.

Oh, and it gets better. The same setup, just lower and with easier access, was in place for the children.

Oh, and it gets better. The same setup, just lower and with easier access, was in place for the children.

The delightful graphics continue. Even a kid could figure it out!

The delightful graphics continue. Even a kid could figure it out!

So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen: the finest airport restroom I've experienced in my over three decades of travel! Bravo, FCO!

So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen: the finest airport restroom I

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