Litorale pontino is made of beautiful paradises like the national park of Circeo and picturesque towns: Sabaudia, Sperlonga, Gaeta, Anzio, Terracina, Formia and the near isle of Ponza.

Nature is heterogeneous but everywhere wonderful: coasts are charming, with their sandy beaches and the rocks; the sea is uncontaminated and some parts of it received the Blue Flag.

Wonderful sea, fresh air and beautiful rich nature, the smell of pinewoods, of flowers (for example blooms), the quiet atmosphere, the mild climate, the intense colours of sky and country create a unique atmosphere very loved by Italian and foreign tourists.

According to a legend, Circe, the enchantress lived in this region: she prepared terrible drugs and was protected by wild beasts. During the drainage of the area, on the legs and on the arms of the workers many bladders raised and people thought that they were provoked by Circe that did not want any changes to her region (actually an insect provoked them). On the hills, there is a plant called Euphorbia Dendroides: it produces a lattice used as a soporific substance; maybe it was used by Circe for her poisons.

All the area was inhabited by Volscian people and then it was conquered by Romans.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the area was governed by Byzantines and Saracens and lived a period of decline. Popes tried to drain the marsh: the biggest area was drained during the reign of Pope Pius VI (1775-1799), the job was carried out by plumber Gaetano Rappini. During the first decades of 1900 only shepherds and woodmen inhabited this area. Fascist government completed drainage. Many unemployed workers from all over Italy arrived here and they worked hard to drain the marshes: they excavated canals and built houses. Many of them moved to live here.

• Parco Archeologico di Anzio: the archaeological park contains the villa, a plain and a library decorated with interesting frescoes.
• Cattedrale di S. Erasmo di Gaeta: the cathedral was built on a previous church dedicated to S. Maria del Parco in VII century, consecrated by Pope Pasquale II in 1106. Inside there are many works of art, such as the Neoclassical baptismal font (the base is attributed to Canova), the wood choir of 1500, the Easter candle of XIII century decorated with episodes taken from the life of Jesus and S. Erasmo. In the base there are Roman fragments. At the entrance there is a basso-relievo portraying a whale of the sea eating Jonah.
• Chiesa della Santissima Trinità di Ponza: the church dedicated to the Trinity is dedicated also to the patrons of the isle, Silverio and Domitilla. Antonio Winspeare designed it: he designed a church with a dome and a monastery. The tuff stones used to build the church were taken from the caves of the territory. A painter from Gaeta, Pasquale Mancini, frescoed the walls and the dome in 1940s. The ones of Sistine Chapel inspired these paintings.
• Museo del Mare e della Costa di Sabaudia: this museum is dedicated to the sea and the coast. It is made of three rooms that allow visitors to deepen their knowledge about the sea world and nature.
• Grotta di Tiberio di Sperlonga: this cave maybe contained a villa already built during late-Republican age. It was widened and richly decorated during Tiberio’s age and became an imperial residence. Tiberio used this residence until 26 a.C. when a landslide frightened him and he choose to move to Capri.
• Castello di Terracina: the castle is called dei Frangipane or Rocca Traversa. A base made of rectangular blocks supports the tower. It was maybe built in XI century and Frangipani family occupied it in 1143, they had been proclaimed feudatories of Terracina by Pope Celestino II. It has always been considered the symbol of autonomy. The shape of the castle is one of the main characteristics of the landscape in Terracina.
• Castello Angioino-Aragonese di Gaeta: the castle is the symbol of the town and it is very charming. The period in which it was built is not clear. Maybe it was built in VI century a.C. during Goth wars or in VII century a.C., during Longobard attacks. It surely existed during Svevian period when Frederick II stayed there several times. The castle is called Angevin – Aragon because it is made of two linked buildings built in different ages: the lower one was built during Angevin period. Charles V built the upper one during Aragon period. In the dome of the highest tower, there is a beautiful chapel, Cappella Reale, built by king Ferdinand Bourbon in 1849.

• Festival Ponza Jazz: a jazz music festival.
• La tiella e l’oliva di Gaeta: this cultural event is dedicated to promote the ‘tiella’, that is two pasta discs, made of flour, oil, salt, yeast, with spinaches, or other vegetables or fish. This dish was created by King Ferdinand IV.
• Settimana Velica Internazionale ad Anzio: this sailing event has taken place in Anzio for 20 years. It is very important and it is part of an international series of competitions to which even Japan and USA participate. The sailing classes usually are: Mistral, Finn, Laser, Europa, Tornado, 49er, Star and Soling.
• Festival Pontino di Musica a Sabaudia: a festival dedicated to traditional local music that attracts many people every year.
• Libri da scoprire a Sperlonga: an event dedicated to local publishing trade.
• Festività di S. Cesareo a Terracina: the patron, S.Cesareo, is celebrated on the first Sunday of November with a nice fair. According to a legend, Cesareo was a deacon of African origins. He arrived in Terracina during the government of Emperor Claudio. He casually met a young man, Luciano: he had to be sacrificed to the gods for the feast celebrated on 1^st January. The Pagan priest that had to perform the sacrifice arrested him and brought him in tribunal. Then he was brought to the temple dedicated to Apollo but in the meanwhile, it had collapsed. Cesareo was imprisoned and after a month he was brought in a tribunal. Suddenly the judge converted to Christianity and received the sacraments before dying. Lussurio, the most important citizen of the town, took the place of the dead judge and condemned Cesareo to death: he was thrown alive into the sea, in a sack.
• Festività di S. Antonio ad Anzio: the patron is Saint Anthony and he is celebrated with a great feast. The climax of the celebration is when the statue is put on a boat that goes around the port. At the end, there are wonderful fireworks.
• Festività della Madonna di Porto Salvo a Gaeta: on the second Sunday of August there is a traditional procession with the Madonna di Porto Salvo, the patron of anglers and sailors. The procession takes place on the sea. Many boats follow the boat bringing the Madonna. A crown of flowers is thrown in the sea and it is dedicated to all the people who died in the sea. This ceremony is very touching.
• Festività di S. Silverio a Ponza: a night procession celebrates the Patron. On the evening of 9^th June people go to the beach and wait for symbol of the saint: it arrives on a boat and is taken to the church. The celebration is thus started and ends on 20^th June.

Agriculture is very developed: fruit and vegetables are the most important products. Among the most typical products there are black olives of Gaeta; they are very small. The flavour is unique thanks to the presence of the sea and of its smell that arrives to the hills. Another typical product is the white celery of Sperlonga.

Tourism is a very important resource thanks to the cultural treasures and the beautiful nature of this region.

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Written by Stefania Maffeo
Translation by Linda Liguori