Sperlonga, Coastal commune in Province of Latina, Italy
Sperlonga is a commune spread across a rocky headland between Terracina and Gaeta overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. The houses rise at around 55 meters elevation and form tight lanes that wind down toward the water.
Emperor Tiberius built a seaside villa with an artificial grotto in the 1st century, filled with marble sculptures depicting scenes from the Odyssey. This complex was later rediscovered and the figures moved to the local museum.
The narrow lanes climb steeply between whitewashed houses that recall the fishing families who once lived here. Today, locals gather in small squares during evening hours, while visitors wander through the tight passages connecting different parts of the old quarter.
Visitors can reach the place by train to Fondi-Sperlonga station on the Rome-Naples line and then take a local bus to the center. The old quarter is best explored on foot, as the pathways are narrow and steep.
The archaeological museum displays original Roman sculptures from Tiberius's villa, including the group with Polyphemus and Scylla. These figures were recovered directly from the grotto that once served as a dining hall.
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