Latium itineraries
The Gulf of Gaeta

Gulf of Gaeta - Photo © Luigi Versaggi

The Gulf of Gaeta

The coastal margin of the southern Latium region is also called Ulysses' Coast. Pivoted on Gaeta's Gulf, the Ulysses' Coast has a surface of 450 Sq. Km. and the Garigliano River acts as a borer with Campania region. It's 60 Km. Coastal stretch, almost all of it is fine sandy beaches, with the Aurunci Mountains that overlooks the sea at a height of 1500mt. This makes Ulysses' Coast unique in the world ...

The origin of the name of the city of Gaeta is lost in an intermingling of history and mythology. The legend retold by Virgilius traces back the present name to Caieta, Aenea's nurse, who died in this place during the wandering of the trojan hero; according to the Roman historian Strabo, instead, the name should derive from the Greek Caietas, "Cavity", in relation to the many grottoes along the rocky coast.

The coastal stretch from Gaeta to the mouth of Garigliano river, offers some fascinating spots, alternatively low beaches of white sand and sites where rocky cliffs fall sheer to the sea. The beauty of these places, the mildness of the climate all during the year have favoured the human attendance ever since prehistoric times, and the settlements in Formia, later Roman colony, in Pirae, with the Monte di Scauri rising behind, of ancient Minturnae, but in the first place the remains of the great Roman villas.

Sperlonga

This is one of the most characteristic towns in the province. It stands on the rocky spur of Mt. S. Magno and conserves its original typically Mediterranean core virtually intact, with white buildings, narrow streets and steps descending to the sea; its numerous characteristic bars and restaurants bustle with life in summer.

Sperlonga - Photo © [kris]

The town owes its picturesque structure to the need to create a strong defensive system against pirates arriving from the sea. Its original tranquility made Sperlonga a favorite holiday place among the Romans, in particular the emperor Tiberius and the remains of the walls of his villa are visible on the other side of the headland above the SS Fiacca.

There are numerous coastal grottoes, the most interesting of which is the so-called "Antro di Tiberio" cave.

The area is home to a National Archaeological Museum which, among other things, conserves important marble groups bound to the vicissitudes of Ulysses, most found in the area and in the cave. The holiday resort of Sperlonga, developed directly on the coast is particularly lovely, with the fine beaches of Canzatora, d'Angolo, Bazzano and Bambole.

Gaeta - Photo © rocdam

Gaeta

This lies on an appendix of the Monti Aurunci that here plunge into the sea, on a stretch of coast in which nature has indulged its whims to create diverse and fascinating environments including the S. Agostino plain with the beach and headland of the same name, the S. Vito creek, the Arenauta beach, the Torre Scissura headland, the Ariana beach with the Torre Viola headland and the Serapo beach, with a residential area lying between the high spurs of Fontania and Mt. Orlando (now a Urban Regional Park).

Gaeta is an extremely ancient town, a Marine Republic and last bastion of the Bourbon monarchy.

A highly important port and resort town in the Roman period, it reached the height of its splendor in the Middle Ages, as is shown by the numerous buildings in the old center: the S. Erasmo district with the Duomo and annexed Diocesan Museum, the bell-tower, numerous churches and the Anjevin-Aragonese castle. Delightful visits can be made to the so-called Montagna Spaccata on Mt. Orlando, a fissure in the rock which, according to legend, opened when Jesus died; to the Grotta del Turco and to the Sanctuary of the Trinita'.

Formia - Photo © Panic_Rome

Formia

This lies on the slopes of the Monti Aurunci between the elegant Vindicio beach and the green Gianola headland, at the center of the Gulf of Gaeta. The origins of Formia are linked to the legend of Troy and Ulysses' travels on his return journey. Of pre-Italic and Aurunco formation, as demonstrated by the ring of polygonal walls and numerous other remains scattered all over the territory, Formia was even in Roman times a popular holiday resort and conserves the ruins of numerous villas.

The sights include the "piscinae", the remains of the small Roman and later Bourboni harbour of Caposele, the ruins of the temple of Janus, Trajan's theatre and the remains of the amphitheatre. Formia has four ancient districts: on the hill Castellonorato, Maranola and Invio; Penitro on the plain. It boasts an enviable climate which together with the beaches of Vindicio, Acquatraversa, S. Janni and Gianola, make it a sought-after tourist destination.

Itri

Itri links the Monti Ausoni and Aurunci and is situated at a height of 170 meters on the slopes of the latter. It has a small stretch of coastal territory.

The oldest and most interesting settlement, with dwellings in pyramidal groups round the castle, lies on the Colle S. Angelo; the most modern center is situated on the plain, along the Appian Way, of which some sections can still be seen, as well as funerary monuments and strong retaining walls. Precious traces of the mediaeval period remain in the ruins of the majestic castle, clearly visible from the road. Other monuments worthy of note are the churches of S. Michele Arcangelo, with its fine bell-tower and the Annunziata.

Ten kilometers or so from Itri, on Mt. Fusto (670 m), overlooking the sweeping panorama of hills and sea, stands the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Civita, the object of numerous pilgrimages and containing many ex-votos.

The famous bandit Michele Pezza, known as Fra' Diavolo, was born at Itri. A large expanse of olive groves makes Itri a producer of excellent quality olives and oil,celebrated with a festival in August. The feast of the Madonna della Civita and the Infiorata procession held for Corpus Christi are particularly popular.

Food and Wine

Just as here fine beaches and lovely rocks alternate with hilly areas, the Pontine cuisine manages to combine a variety of sometimes humble ingredients and turn them into simple but rich-tasting dishes.

Spaghetti ai frutti di mare - Photo © paula agostino

There are special dishes such as Granunchi, baked frogs, (Sezze) or Ciammaruche (snails) cooked in a spicy sauce or dressed with a special green sauce (Castelforte) or the goat sauce for pasta of Campodimele. The Bazzoffia, a spring vegetable and pulse soup cooked at length in water and served on slices of country bread, with the addition of a beaten egg and a sprinkling of Pecorino cheese.

The Rappacacornuti soup of Roccagorga, fast and easy to prepare, is made with vegetables and served with slices of country bread.

A few kilometers from the hill, the coastal towns offer fish, shellfish and molluscs cooked and served to the best traditions, from fish soup prepared with a tasty scorpion-fish to fragrant fried squid and prawns, from delicious pasta sauces made with crabmeat to delicate and tasty sole and gilthead. These "strong" flavors are complimented by the local red and white wines, with an average-low alcohol content, produced in the area between Bassiano and Sezze; these include Cori white and red (DOC), Merlot, Circeo Red, White and Rosè, Trebbiano and Sangiovese of Aprilia.
Text courtesy and © of ENIT North America

© 1997-2010 Enrico Massetti
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