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.
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.
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'.
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.
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.
Gulf of Gaeta - Photo © 
Sperlonga - Photo © 
Gaeta - Photo © 
Formia - Photo © 
Itri
Spaghetti ai frutti di mare - Photo © 