Sud Pontino and Pontine Islands

<< Lazio

The Sud Pontino is the southernmost part of Lazio, and the eastern portion of the Province of Latina. This area is tucked between the mountains to the north and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the south, and features some historic towns and seaside resorts such as Gaeta and Formia. Off the coast to the south are the Pontine Islands.

Gaeta

Gaeta is a town located on a promontory along the coast in the Province of Latina. The town was inhabited by the Aurunci and was later conquered by the Romans, who built numerous luxurious villas here. Between the 9th and 12th century, Gaeta was the capital of an independent duchy and a rich center of maritime trade. Later ruled by the Kingdom of Sicily and the Kingdom of Naples, it remained for centuries an important stronghold thanks to its strategic position, and was sieged various times. Today Gaeta is a popular tourist destination.

Gaeta Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Santi Erasmo e Marciano e Santa Maria Assunta (Cattedrale dei Santi Erasmo e Marciano e di Santa Maria Assunta)

The Gaeta Cathedral (Duomo di Gaeta) is the main church of Gaeta, erected over a previous church starting in the 12th century. The cathedral was reworked several times, while the Gothic Revival facade was made in the early 20th century. The church features a decorated Romanesque bell tower adorned with two ancient Roman sarcophagi. The Neoclassical interior houses some artworks and a richly adorned Baroque crypt. The church also includes a museum of religious artworks.

Gaeta Castle

Also known as: Angevine-Aragonese Castle (Castello Angioino-Aragonese)

The Gaeta Castle is a large fortified complex originally erected in Gaeta in the Early Middle Ages and later expanded. The castle features imposing walls and towers, and was used as a prison. Now it hosts events and exhibitions.

Sanctuary of Santissima Annunziata

The Sanctuary of Santissima Annunziata (Santuario della Santissima Annunziata) is a church in Gaeta originally erected in Gothic style during the 14th century, and later reworked with Baroque elements. The church houses various artworks, and features a richly decorated chapel adorned with 16th-century paintings.

Temple of San Francesco

The Temple of San Francesco (Tempio di San Francesco) is a church founded in the 13th century on the side of a hill in Gaeta. Originally built in Gothic style, it was completely reworked with Gothic Revival elements between the 19th and 20th century. The church hosts various artworks and decorations.

Mausoleum of Lucius Munatius Plancus

The Mausoleum of Lucius Munatius Plancus (Mausoleo di Lucio Munazio Planco) is an ancient mausoleum of a Roman senator erected in 22 BCE. The well preserved circular structure is located on top of a hill overlooking Gaeta.

Sanctuary of Santissima Trinità

The Sanctuary of Santissima Trinità (Santuario della Santissima Trinità) is a chruch located at the western end of the promontory of Gaeta, overlooking the sea. The sanctuary was founded in the Late Middle Ages, and it is famous for its position on the rugged cliffs near a seaside cave known as Grotta del Turco.

Formia

Formia is a seaside town in the Province of Latina. Originally inhabited by the Aurunci, it flourished under the Romans but declined in the Middle Ages. Today Formia is a tourist destination hosting various ancient ruins.

Roman Ruins of Formia

There are various ancient Roman ruins around Formia. Among these are the remains of a large cistern, an acqueduct, and various villas. Meanwhile, a building has been erected over the ancient Roman theater. Just outside the town is a mausoleum traditionally regarded as the Tomb of Cicero (Tomba di Cicerone).

National Archaeological Museum of Formia

The National Archaeological Museum of Formia (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Formia) is an archaeological museum housing a rich collection of ancient Roman artworks. These include several sculptures and frescoes unearthed around Formia.

Minturno

Minturno is a town located near the Tyrrhenian coast in the Province of Latina, at the border with Campania. Anciently inhabited by the Ausones, the town flourished under the Romans but it was destroyed during the Middle Ages. Resettled nearby, it was ruled for centuries by the Kingdom of Naples before the unification of Italy. Minturno now features ancient ruins and the seaside resort of Scauri.

Archaeological Area of Minturnae

The ruins of the ancient town of Minturnae are located along the Garigliano river, which marks the border between Lazio and Campania. The archaeological area includes the ruins of a theater, baths, temples, and various other buildings. Next to this area is the Real Ferdinando Bridge (Ponte Real Ferdinando), the first iron catenary suspension bridge built in Italy and inaugurated in 1832.

Scauri

Scauri is a seaside resort which forms part of the municipality of Minturno. The town is one of most popular summer destinations in the region, and features a long sandy beach that extends to Marina di Minturno, another seaside resort along the same coast.

Sperlonga

Sperlonga is a small coastal town in the Province of Latina. Inhabited since ancient times, it was a fishing village for centuries, and recently developed as a tourist destination.

Villa of Tiberius

The Villa of Tiberius (Villa di Tiberio) is a large Roman villa located along the coast near Sperlonga. The palace was erected over some previous structures in the 1st century CE, as the residence of emperor Tiberius. The villa was partly located inside a natural cave where several large sculptures have been found. These statues are now hosted in the nearby National Archaeological Museum of Sperlonga (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Sperlonga).

Fondi

Fondi is a town in the Province of Latina, located in a small plain among the mountains of Southern Lazio. Founded in ancient times, it was a Roman town, and rose to prominence in the Late Middle Ages under the rule of the House of Caetani. Here, in 1378 the Caetani family hosted the cardinals that opposed the return of the papacy from Avignon to Rome, electing an antipope and creating the Western Schism. The town was later ruled by the Kingdom of Naples before the unification of Italy.

Fondi Castle

Also known as: Caetani Castle (Castello Caetani), Baronial Castle (Castello Baronale)

The Fondi Castle is a castle erected during the Late Middle Ages on a section of the ancient Roman walls in the center of Fondi. The castle features some imposing towers and walls, and now houses a museum of local history.

Pontine Islands

The Pontine Islands (Isole Ponziane) are an archipelago located off the coast of Lazio in the Tyrrhenian Sea, and are part of the Province of Latina. The islands have been inhabited since prehistoric times, and were ruled for centuries by the Kingdom of Naples before the Italian unification. Now they are a popular tourist destination.

Ponza

Ponza is the largest of the Pontine Islands. Settled in prehistoric times, it hosted a flourishing town during the Roman age, but it was often attacked by pirates in the Middle Ages. The island is a popular tourist destination, known for featuring many peculiar rock formations and beautiful beaches. The small islands of Gavi and Zannone are located off the northeastern coast of Ponza.

Palmarola

Palmarola is a small island located west of Ponza. The island features a rugged coast with several cliffs and caves among some beautiful beaches, and it is surrounded by various skerries and rocks.

Ventotene

Ventotene is the second largest of the Pontine Islands, located in the east of the archipelago. During the Roman age some villas were erected here, and the island was used to exile various women of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. In more modern times, the island is known for the Ventotene Manifesto, a political statement written during World War II by imprisoned activists that called for a united Europe. Now the island features the ruins of Villa Giulia, a large Roman villa, and it is a famous tourist destination thanks to its clear waters.

Santo Stefano Island

Santo Stefano Island (Isola di Santo Stefano) is a small island located east of Ventotene. At the center of the island is an abandoned prison erected in the late 18th century and used until 1965. The structure is an example of panopticon, a design that allows guards to observe all prisoners without them knowing if they are being watched. In 1860, the prisoners revolted and established their own republic, until the island was recovered by the authorities a few months later.