On the Riviera, holidays fit for an emperor!

Did you know that emperors also came to spend their holidays in Terracina and its surroundings? It is not just a saying. The entire Riviera of Ulysses, from Circeo to Sabaudia to Sperlonga, has been a holiday destination for Roman leaders and emperors. The sea, with its brilliant and timeless blue, and the very hot and rejuvenating sun were irresistible even back then.

To testify to how important this territory and Terracina were for Rome, there are the sumptuous Imperial Villas in Sperlonga and Sabaudia, which still have wonderful archaeological finds that can be visited today, capable of leaving everyone speechless!

The Villa of Tiberius in Sperlonga dates back to the 1st century BC, and today it is an imposing archaeological complex around which the National Archaeological Museum of Sperlonga was born. Discovered during the construction of the coastal road in 1957, it was here that the emperor spent his holidays surrounded by lush nature and the sea, which evidently reminded him of the deeds narrated by Homer. At least judging by the marble cycles found, of which he loved to admire the beauty with a sea view. One among them, the sculptural group of the blinding of Polyphemus.

In Sabaudia, on the other hand, lie the remains of the Villa of Domitian, built on the peninsula overlooking Lake Paola and now integrated into the Circeo National Park. Composed of numerous rooms, it was also, evidently, the emperor's relaxation place, and we have no difficulty in understanding the reasons.

In Terracina, as already mentioned elsewhere, the Roman theater stands as a testament to how important leisure time was for the citizens of that era. A building, recently rediscovered in the ancient Roman forum, capable of hosting about 4000 spectators.