Most European cities I've been to are anchored by a grand railway station (several, in the case of London and Paris), so it was quite a disappointment to come upon Termini and be greeted by a modernist Facade that is nondescript and slightly Fascist. If you did not already know that this was Rome's main station (or a station, at all), then the building (alas) gives no clue. Except for the largest asphalt-covered bus interchange in Rome, which is based right in front of Termini on the grandiose-sounding Piazza dei Cinquecento (loosely translated, Five Hundred Square).
Termini, however, is still Rome's major public transport hub and between the public buses, regional trains (Trenitalia), trams and the Termini Metro station (which is the only point where Rome's 2 metro lines cross), you can get almost anywhere from here and will probably get here from almost anywhere.
With some wiki-ing, I found out that the station was named after the Baths of Diocletian, which are located several streets away from the main station entrance. Termini comes from 'thermae', the Latin words for baths.
Source: Wikipedia
Termini does have some redeeming features, though. Inside, the force is still strong and between the high ceilings and free-access train platform, a dense array of shops, the flickering Polari boards (like those in airports!) and the neverending hubbub of commuters and tourists, it's still a place to wile away the remainder of your 75-minute bus ticket while you wait to go home.
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