Sea

The Anzio coastal area has several beaches, mostly used by residents and others for easy access. Among the most famous beaches are:

Beach of the Caves of Nero

This beach is located within an archaeological area where once stood the ancient imperial villa of Emperor Nero, who was born in Anzio. The caves represent the ancient area of the villa's warehouses and the landscape consists of a beach of light sand and a vertical rock wall in which the remains of the ancient Roman construction stand out.

Part of the villa was then submerged by the water and scattered remains can be seen plunging into the waters of the sea. Many of these remains have become a refuge for the flora and fauna giving rise to particular seascapes.

Tor Caldara Beach

This beach is located in front of the Tor Caldara Reserve established around a military watchtower. The reserve is home to many species of animals and a particular source of sulphurous thermal water of volcanic origin.
The beach has light sand and the spring is located in the sea just a few meters from the shore.

The port of Anzio is the place around which the life of Anzio exists, it having been born in this place due to the particular geographic conditions of the coast.

First a port was built by pre-Roman populations such as the Volsci, who ruled Anzio for centuries, then came the construction of the Neroniano port.

The emperor had entrusted the works to the architects Severo and Cerere and the remains of their efforts are still visible. Anzio for centuries has been one of the most prosperous centres near Rome.

The decline of the city coincides with that of Rome and the arrival of the Barbarians and until 1691 seemed unstoppable. But a fortuitous episode would change the destiny of this city.

In 1691 the future Pope Innocent XII was going to Rome to participate in the conclave that would have him elected when a storm brought his boat to the shores of Anzio where he found refuge among the remains of Nero's villa.

In 1697, as a token of thanksgiving, the pope came to Anzio and started the work of the new Porto Innocenziano which, however, had regular problems of silting-up and had to be dredged.

The port is right in the centre of the city and perhaps represents its beating heart.

It is famous for the fleet of fishing boats that bring fresh fish every day to all the numerous restaurants on the pier and throughout the hinterland of the Lazio region.

The fish market on the pier is one of the experiences to have in this wonderful town and the famous 'fried fish' prepared just after the arrival of the boats is one of the most famous dishes to savour.

Ventotene is a paradise for snorkelling enthusiasts.

Diving schools and specialized guides help tourists reach the best points.

Ventotene is one of the favorite destinations for those who love to immerse themselves in clean waters to discover the depths to discover the life and the colors that are hidden under the sea.

In the sea surrounding Ventotene, at a depth between 100 and 140 meters have been found wrecks of five sunken ships.

All the documentation of the discovery and of the finds is recorded in the Archaeological Museum of Ventotene while the position of the ships is kept secret.

The wreck of the Santa Lucia, a hospital ship and a passenger steamer, is located about two miles northwest of Punta Eolo in Ventotene.

The bow of the ship is turned over on the seabed at a depth of 39 meters, the stern is at a lower depth of 46 meters.

Between the stern and the bow there is a lot of wreckage while the boiler found after about 60 years is about half a mile away from the wreck.

The ship that connected the islands of Ponza, Ventotene, Santo Stefano and Gaeta was sank off Ventotene during the Second World War by an English anti-aircraft gun.

Hit by a torpedo, the ship sank in just 28 seconds!

Rising out of the water is a massive rock fortification 140 meters above the water level, under which is a submerged world populated by sea anemones, a stinging animal with their thousand colours that nestles among the rocks of the seabed, the marine plant par excellence, posidonia sea grass, and peacock tail algae.

ph Parent Gry

Immerse yourself in crystal clear waters to admire the show created by the Paramuricea clavata: a red fan formed by small polyps living on the same structure.

Sconiglie are the cliff of the legend: among these rocks you can dive and hear the call of the sirens singing to that bewitched Ulysses.