Sheltered by the surrounding green hills and Mount Altino, Formia is one of the oldest towns in southern Pontine. It has a vast artistic, cultural, historical and archaeological heritage, with numerous Roman remains, including villas and tombs, including that of Cicero.
Panorama of Formia
In the heart of the Gulf of Gaeta, Formia (from the Greek hormiai, meaning ‘landing’) is an important transit hub with its station and commercial harbour, a village between the beaches of Vindicio and those of Acquatraversa, Santo Janni and Giànola.
The village is an architectural gem with the medieval quarter of Castellone, the Roman port of Giànola, the Roman fountain on the edge of the Appian Way, the remains of the aqueduct and Roman theatre and the marine and commercial quarter of Mola, with its large medieval tower. Not to be missed are the Roman port of Caposele, the Church of Sant’Erasmo, episcopal seat from the 4th to the 9th century, and those of Santa Maria della Noce and San Rocco.
National Archaeological Museum of Formia
The National Archaeological Museum was built in 1997, as an extension of an earlier Antiquarium destroyed in the war. It is located in a wing of the 18th-century town hall, known as the ‘Stalloni dei Borboni’. The collection consists of sculptures of a high artistic level, mostly dating from the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD. They are mainly male and female statues of an honorary nature, among which Caius Caesar, grandson of Augustus, stands out.
Formia alley
The impressive Roman Cisternone dating back to the 1st century B.C. is an imposing longitudinal structure consisting of rows of pillars dividing the room into four cross-vaulted naves, an important work of Roman hydraulic engineering, second only to the one in Istanbul in terms of size.
view of the Gulf of Gaeta from Mount Redentore
Formia is in the heart of the Aurunci Mountains Regional Natural Park. A large part of the park’s territory is made up of the mountains of the same name, which reach their greatest heights with the Petrella, the S. Angelo, the Ruazzo and the Redentore, on which a gigantic statue has towered since 1901, giving reason to the name.
Formia is home to the Coni Olympic Preparation Centre. In Formia there is one of the 10 Green Flags, the award for the most welcoming child friendly beaches.
Living Nativity Scene in Maranola di Formia – www.presepeviventemaranola.it
In Maranola di Formia there is the Living Crib, one of the oldest historical-religious re-enactments of the Nativity in Italy. For 50 years it has been involving the entire Aurunca community and animating the characteristic alleys of Maranola. Its peculiarity lies in the re-proposition of the Gospel story in strictly local settings, clothes and traditions, through the interpretation of over 300 characters who move through the alleys, cellars and ravines of Maranola.
Formian cuisine offers delicious dishes such as broad bean and lentil salad, paccheri with porcini mushrooms and shrimp, and baked pezzogna with potatoes, a typical local fish.