The best seaside destinations in Lazio dot the entire Tyrrhenian coastline from north to south along the more than 300 km of coastline rich in seaside resorts, seaside villages and enchanting beaches.
Taking Rome as your starting point, you can choose from a variety of easily accessible seaside destinations to enjoy a sunny day by the sea, a well-deserved summer holiday, a relaxing walk on the beach in winter, or a delicious seafood meal in a scenic village.
The most beautiful seaside destinations in Lazio
Santa Marinella
Santa Severa
Ladispoli
Fregene
Maccarese
Anzio
Nettuno
Gaeta
Sabaudia
San Felice Circeo
Sperlonga
Terracina
Pontine Islands
The southern part of Latium presents a stretch of coastline with many prestigious seaside resorts such as the Circeo area, Terracina, the marvellous Sperlonga with its renowned low and sandy beaches, the gem of Gaeta, the high dunes of Sabaudia lapped by a crystal-clear sea with the Circeo mountain covered in Mediterranean maquis in the distance to make the panorama spectacular.
Going up the Latium coast north of Rome, the scenery changes but not the beauty of places of great seaside and historical appeal, with locations that hold together seascapes and ancient history such as Santa Severa with its scenic castle overlooking the sea, Marina di Montalto near the medieval village of Montalto di Castro in the Latium Maremma or Tarquinia known for its Archaeological Museum of local Etruscan artefacts and also for its beautiful seaside area.
READ ALSO: LAZIO'S MOST BEAUTIFUL SEASIDE TREKS
In addition, from the coasts of Latium it is possible to leave the mainland and set sail for the magnificent Pontine Islands archipelago, a constellation of six small islands that are to be included among the main regional seaside destinations thanks to a fantastic combination of wild and unspoilt nature, the possibility of practising water sports and diving in crystal-clear waters.
With so much choice at our disposal, let's take a closer look at some of the best seaside destinations in Lazio with a list of ideas and suggestions of places not to be missed.
Santa Marinella
To begin our journey among the most interesting seaside resorts on the Latium coast, let us start from the northern coast where we meet the municipality of Santa Marinella, a favourite destination for the region's summer holidays since ancient Roman times.
Its beaches are served by many well-equipped establishments that make the bathing experience rich in amenities and services for the whole family. The bay is lapped by a clear sea protected by breakwaters that keep the waters warm and calm ideal for swimming with small children while the town remains welcoming with its relaxed atmosphere, its small harbour and numerous seafood restaurants overlooking the sea.
Santa Severa
Not far from Santa Marinella is the pretty Santa Severa characterised by its unmistakable castle overlooking the sea and a long stretch of wide sandy beach, making it one of the best seaside destinations in Lazio. Its free and wild beach stretches at the foot of the fortress and offers romantic views, especially at sunset, when the bay and the castle walls provide an impressive backdrop.
Ladispoli and Fregene
As you approach Rome, you will find along the way the towns of Ladispoli with its long coastline convenient for finding your own space on the seashore and the fashionable Fregene full of parties, open-air festivals and lively nightlife. Together with its nearby twin beach of Maccarese, they have numerous establishments suitable for everyone from families to lovers of beach clubs where you can enjoy rich aperitifs.
Anzio
The ancient fishing village of Anzio is renowned for its incredible seascapes at sunset when the sun, like a huge orange, colours the whole bay red before fading into the sea. Anzio is one of the ideal destinations in Lazio to enjoy a holiday among beaches, small cliffs, caves, Roman ruins right on the sand, and good food.
Its harbour lends itself to long and pleasant walks among the fishing boats and to the purchase of delicious freshly caught fish, plus from here you can embark for the fantastic Pontine Islands, while a little further away from the coast you can visit the WWF nature reserve of 'Tor Caldara' and ancient Roman villas.
Nettuno
Nettuno is one of the reference seaside resorts in Lazio thanks to the blue sea that laps against 11 km of coastline on which the beautiful Astura beach stands out, with a castle on an islet connected to the mainland by a strip of sand. Numerous bathing establishments and accommodation facilities make it convenient for sports activities or for visiting its historic centre overlooking the sea with 14th-century towers, cobbled alleys and squares.
Gaeta
Seven beaches, a hundred churches (according to legend), two castles, a sanctuary, and some excellent products such as its exquisite olives are the characteristics of Gaeta, a jewel of a town hidden on the coast of southern Lazio on a tongue of land jutting out into the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Natural landscapes illuminated by scenic sunsets, family-friendly beaches, a historical centre criss-crossed by cobbled alleys, and a local cuisine of great tradition, Gaeta offers its visitors a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Sabaudia and San Felice Circeo
On the coast between Sabaudia and San Felice Circeo are some of the most sought-after and popular seaside destinations in Lazio, kilometres of equipped or free sandy beaches all bathed by a green sea ideal for regenerating summer bathing or long off-season walks among golden sand dunes and wild landscapes.
Suspended on a strip of land in the heart of the National Park dividing the lakes from the sea, Sabaudia is best known for its wide, scenic beach stretching between Mount Circeo and the Torre di Paola, one of the most beautiful and popular on the Latium coastline, or the wilder beach of La Bufalara, more difficult to reach and therefore more intimate. Its town centre with its linear and open spaces represents one of the most striking examples of Italian rationalist architecture of the 1930s, such as the tall Town Hall Tower that has become a symbol of the town.
San Felice Circeo, on the other hand, is located at the end of the spectacular Via del Faro road that climbs a cliff overlooking the sea and offers a unique panorama of the green scrubland that covers Mount Circeo.
The historic centre of this charming seaside village of medieval origin is surrounded by ancient protective walls and criss-crossed by narrow streets and alleyways with panoramic views over the Gulf of Gaeta and as far as the Pontine Islands. In its central square stands the Torre dei Templari (Templar Tower), with its characteristic clock and the main door of the baronial palace overlooking the ancient courtyard of the Caetani family palace.
Along the cliff of the promontory are the four papal towers erected as a defence against pirates: Torre, Moresca, Cervia, Fico and Torre Paola, the only one that still retains its original round structure.
San Felice Circeo boasts both a sandy and a rocky coastline with coves and beaches of great beauty such as Torre Fico lapped by emerald waters despite its proximity to the tourist harbour, the rocky one of La Rinascente ideal for sunbathing on the rocks, or the never-too-crowded one that emerges under the Grotta delle Capre in a suggestive marine environment excellent for diving.
Sperlonga
Taken by storm by bathers in summer for its crystal-clear waters, Sperlonga offers magnificent views and popular traditions hidden in the narrow streets of its enchanting village overlooking the sea. This charming, tiny seaside village divides two crescent-shaped beaches that stretch for kilometres along the coast and are surrounded by soaring mountains and Mediterranean vegetation. The waters are warm, clear and shallow enough to be an ideal destination even for children. From the lively little harbour, you can admire the ancient watchtower and head for the splendid grotto that the Emperor Tiberius transformed into a residence with pools and statues.
Terracina
Terracina is full of spectacular views of the sea, such as those from the Temple of Jupiter atop Monte Sant'Angelo from which to gaze out over the city overlooking the gulf. Its charming historic centre is made up of narrow streets and colourful houses while the long sandy beach is bordered by a row of palm trees separating it from the row of fish restaurants.
Pontine Islands
Moving away from the coast towards the open sea, we finally reach the Pontine Islands archipelago afloat on the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea with six magnificent volcanic islands off the southern coast of Lazio. Ponza, Ventotene, Santo Stefano, Gavi, Zanone and Palmarola, are enchanting islands that offer beautiful terrestrial landscapes of wild and unspoilt nature, a sea with few equals, deserted beaches, breathtaking sunsets, but also a lively social life in the summer months.
Secluded sun-kissed beaches, colourful Mediterranean-style houses, promontories covered with wild flowers, small vineyards, views as far as the eye can see and historical sites make this archipelago special. Each of its islands has a unique and different atmosphere where time seems to pass more slowly.
The two main islands of the archipelago in terms of size and inhabitants are Ponza and Ventotene, with regular connections and accommodation facilities that make them popular tourist destinations during the summer months, while the others are small, almost uninhabited, used as nature reserves as in the case of Zannone, and can be visited by boat trips.
While the land surface offers scenic, natural and historical attractions with ancient settlements carved into the rock or old detention facilities now in disuse, below the surface of the sea are seabeds rich in marine fauna and vegetation, hidden treasures and sunken wrecks that make these waters ideal for diving, snorkelling and water sports.
Map and map
Photo: ©leoks
Author: Giorgio Calabresi
Italy
Latium
