South coast of Lazio
The Lazio coast south of Rome is definitely more attractive than north of the capital. Cities are prettier, the water is cleaner, and behind the monotonous surfaces of the Pontic Blues on Monte Circeo, the shore forms coves and rock overhangs, which are a foretaste of the incredible charms of Campania further south. You can either come here on a day trip from Rome or take a little detour on the way into the city.
Anzio i Nettuno
The first noteworthy town on the coast, just located 40 km from Rome is ANZIO, a sprawling settlement with a flourishing fishing industry, the center of which is a bustling market square. A large part of the city was destroyed during the bloody Allied invasion 22 January 1944 r. Two military cemeteries are traces of it: British and American in nearby Nettuno. Despite a fairly thorough reconstruction, it is a nice holiday destination, it continues to live equally on fishing, what about tourism. Reason enough, to come here, there are inexpensive seafood restaurants clustered around the port and beaches on the other side of the quay, where, apart from August, it is not difficult to find a place. From Anzio you can go to the islands of Ponza and Ischia or to Naples, where hydrofoil boats run daily in summer. The departure timetable is available at the tourist office in the port (codz. 9.00-12.30 i 17.00-20.00).
NETTUNO located a few kilometers south (which is reached by the road along the coast) offers nothing more than Anzio, and the beaches are smaller and the water less clear. It is also a mostly contemporary town, but the walled old town has survived, with two trattorias in the square. Information can be obtained from the office on the right as you walk from the station to the waterfront.
Pontic Mud, Monte Corceo i San Felice
Behind Anzio and Nettuno lie the Pontic Mud, which only sixty years ago were wetlands, a malarial plain, inhabited only by buffaloes. Julius Caesar wanted to drain the region, but he did not have time to implement his plans. Only Mussolini in 1928 r. A number of new cities were then designed and whole tracts of fertile farmland were gained.
LATINA lies in the center of Pontine, founded in 1932 r. provincial capital and flourishing center of local agriculture. In terms of tourism, the city can only offer convenient transport connections. With a bit of time, however, it is worth taking a walk around the center, which is something like a monument to fascism: great, open squares, squat edifices and wide avenues radiate with classical regularity from the central Piazza del Popolo.
The neighborhood around SABAUDIA, another new city located by Fr. 20 km further on the coast, gives you some idea, what the mud looked like before being drained.
The city lies between the two lagoons of Lago di Sabaudia. A large area north of the city called the Salve de Circeo, four lakes, the huge massif of Monte Circeo to the south and the coastal island of Zannone make up the Parco Nazional del Circeo. The national park was founded in 1934 r., to save the local species of animals and the almost sinister natural beauty of the mud. Various species of waterfowl can be found here: herons, buzzards, storks, terns and rare peregrine falcons, that is Cavaliere d'Italia. The flora is represented by eucalyptus groves, oaks, elms, ash trees and wildflowers.
Monte Circeo itself is located south of Savoy, separated by a wide strip of crystal water, the sandy beach reaches the 16th-century Torre Paola at the mouth of the canal that connects Lago di Sabaudia with the sea. From the small fishing harbor, the road goes inland and avoids the northern slopes of the mountain, winding through a beautiful forest. After more or less 4 km another road turns right and surrounds the mountain, coming to SAN FELICE CIRCEO, a picturesque town consisting of the beautiful, stone houses with sun-bleached walls. It is quite a popular place in summer, with a marina full of jet motorboats and yachts and a sandy beach with a crowd of tourists sunbathing with oil.
The small Piazza Municipio has a tourist office and a local museum open in July and August. Immediately behind it, a winding road leads to the top of the mountain to the ruins of an ancient temple. As to be expected, the views are gorgeous. A large parking lot has been built at the top. There is also a bar open in summer, next to which is the entrance to the modest remains of the Roman city of Circeiń, some of the better-preserved cyclopean walls, resembling the structures in Ciociaria.
After returning to the city, you can relax on the beach or rent a boat and go to the famous Grotta della Magna Circe, but this is only possible in high season. Not too crowded places for swimming are on the road to the lighthouse "Faro di Torre Cervia". After a few kilometers, the road reaches a lonely rocky beach. Hotel II Faro is a bit further away, with a restaurant, where you can eat sea food on the terrace overlooking the water.