The Village of Sperlonga

Whether visited in the warmth of autumn sun or on the sweet spring days, in the hot summer afternoons or on dreary winter days, visiting Sperlonga is always the right choice. Nestled halfway between Rome and Naples, it envelops you like a warm embrace in one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. This charming location is a seaside village perched on a rocky spur jutting out towards the sea, almost as if it wants to dominate it. A gem nestled among white walls, steep staircases, and secret alleyways. A fascinating scene unfolds before the visitor's eyes.

As you stroll through the historic center of Sperlonga, there is a continuous unveiling of scenic views and characteristic glimpses, enriched by the contrast of the sea's colors, the vegetation, and the light.

Although it is a coveted destination for many tourists throughout the year, the village of Sperlonga seems to have remained frozen in time, far from external contaminations, preserving all its authenticity.

A walk through the streets of this lovely village will make you fall in love with its narrow alleys, delightful little houses, and flowers, with countless blooms adorning balconies and the entrance doorways, almost inviting passersby to enter for a coffee with the homeowner, exchanging a chat.

On the right of a narrow street, suddenly and hidden, you spot a small square with an ancient well adorned with a pergola; the story of the Turkish invasion painted on the walls, phrases unreadable due to the passage of time, time that fades and consumes.

Then a glance into that corner, yes, right there where you can see the sea from afar and without hesitation, you let yourself be guided until you reach a point from which to admire the beach right below you: an immense stretch of golden sand with a unique and wild charm.

Its legendary origins trace Sperlonga back to the Laconians, the Spartans who founded the city of Amyclae.

However, it was with the Romans that this small locality flourished, at the end of the Republican era, when it was immediately inhabited and adorned with lavish villas.

Emperor Tiberius owes credit for building an imposing villa that also incorporated a large cave, the natural cavities of which, in Latin "speluncae," determined the name of the future town Sperlonga.

After the fall of Rome, the ruins of the imperial residence, by the VI century, served as shelter for local populations to defend themselves from swamp diseases but mostly from continuous pirate attacks. To protect against incursions, some watchtowers were built, but nonetheless, the small center was razed to the ground in 1534.

Only between the 18th and 19th centuries did Sperlonga take on its current turtle shape and was enriched with churches and noble palaces. Since then, the ancient seaside village and the precious collection of marbles from Villa Tiberio were finally recognized, launching Sperlonga as one of the most appreciated tourist and cultural destinations in Lazio.

A characteristic element of Sperlonga is its defense system: coastal watchtowers and fortified walls were constructed starting from the Middle Ages to defend against Saracen attacks and pirates by sea.

Even today in Sperlonga, the two access gates are still visible: "Portella" or "Porta Carrese" and "Porta Marina".

Four towers were built:

the Central Tower that dominated the village, the remains of which are still visible today in Via Giosa;

the Nibbio Tower which was part of the baronial castle of the 1500s and is now incorporated into the houses;

the Truglia Tower (the most famous), with its picturesque profile perched on a stone cliff, divides the Riviera di Levante extending to the Grotta di Tiberio from the Riviera di Ponente. Built in 1532 on a pre-existing Roman tower, it has been destroyed several times. Today, within it is the Marine Education Center of the "Riviera d'Ulisse Nature Park, easily reachable on foot through the picturesque maze of alleys in the historic center of Sperlonga.

the Capovento Tower, situated on Monte Bazzano three kilometers from the town, which became a customs post in 1820; only the foundation remains today.

Absolutely not to be missed in Sperlonga is the Villa of Tiberius, along with the expansive cave where incredible marble works were found celebrating the deeds of Odysseus.

The villa derives from the enlargement of a previous late-Republican villa and belonged to Emperor Tiberius in the 2nd century AD.

The residence consisted of many rooms, including a thermal complex, a nursery for breeding seafood, a garden with a portico, a nymphaeum, and dining rooms located along the sea.

But the most fascinating structure is the "speluca," that is, the natural cave incorporated into the villa as a natural theater from which the city of Sperlonga derives its name.

The entrance to the cave is preceded by a series of pools used for aquaculture; at the center of the basin rises a small artificial island whose walls are embedded with amphora bottoms that served for fish reproduction.

Inside the cave were placed sculptural groups that evoke the myth of Odysseus: the assault of Scylla on Odysseus' ship, the blinding of the Cyclops Polyphemus, the theft of the Palladium from Troy, Menelaus, and Patroclus.

Today the villa is part of the visiting route of the National Archaeological Museum of Sperlonga where substantial fragments of marble pieces with Hellenistic sculptures are preserved, such as the head of Odysseus, considered one of the most significant images we have received from antiquity.

A pleasant walk is certainly warranted at the picturesque harbor of Sperlonga located at the foot of the town below the Truglia Tower.

Completely renovated but well integrated into the natural context that hosts it, the port of Sperlonga is a peaceful, calm, and quiet place where boats can be rented for trips and boat excursions.

On the crystal-clear sea of Sperlonga lies a beautiful stretch of coastline with golden sand and some rocks. The shore overlooks a bay with clear, transparent water, with shallow sandy bottoms rich in marine flora and fauna, ideal for swimming and a good destination for divers and those who love enjoying natural landscapes. The corner beach is considered the most beautiful in Sperlonga and is located beneath the famous Villa of Tiberius.

Wandering through the alleys of Sperlonga, don't miss the "Corte del Monastero" better known as the "Piazzetta del Pozzetto", a true gem hidden among the alleys of the center that suddenly appears as a surprise. In the center of the square is a small well, and on one of the surrounding walls are murals depicting the pirate incursions in Sperlonga.

Also characteristic is the starry and sky-painted vault of the Piazzetta della Concordia, where the ex Church of Sanctae Mariae de Spelonchae is located, the oldest church in the town with a Latin plan and a two-nave interior, erected in the 12th century and today hosting shows and cultural events.

Between via Roma and via Itri is the old Church of Sperlonga dedicated to Saint Leo, the patron of Sperlonga, while in Piazza Europa are located the modern Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo, the Town Hall, and the Monument to the Fallen.

The cuisine of Sperlonga mainly consists of the fruits of its waters. It is a simple and essential cuisine, based on fish soups, seafood products, and shellfish in particular. Don't miss the "bambolotti" with cuttlefish ragu and generally all dishes from maritime cuisine.

Among typical wines, Falernum and Cecubo stand out.

A place we would recommend is the restaurant "Gli Archi," a small eatery that blends among the white houses in the heart of the historic village of Sperlonga.

It is a cozy establishment with a few outdoor tables in the center of a picturesque alley.