Latina, the ancient Littoria, was built in the twentieth century in the heart of the Pontine Plain, the first of the four Città di Fondazione constituted in the province between 1932 and 1937.
Piazza del Popolo in Latina – www.comune.latina.it
The town was designed by Oriolo Frezzotti, according to an imposing functional monumental style. Our journey through the “twentieth century” begins in Piazza del Popolo, where we come across the 32 metre high Civic Tower, from which to enjoy a splendid view of the city. In front of the tower, we can admire the Monumento all’Acqua, the fountain with a travertine sphere. The best example of rationalist architecture is Palazzo M, a true hymn to the Dux. Coats of arms and sculptures enrich the façade of the Prefecture, once the Government Palace, which hosts “The Redemption of the Agro Pontino”, a wonderful fresco by Duilio Cambellotti.
The Casa del Combattente in Latina
In Piazza San Marco we discover two other rationalism examples from Frezzotti, the Casa del Combattente and the Opera Nazionale Balilla, and, in the same square, the Cathedral of San Marco. Latina is famous for the reclamation of the Agro Pontino Marshes. The Museo della Terra Pontina, inside the former Opera Nazionale Combattenti, displays about one thousand findings, illustrating the history of the population and its territory in the twentieth century, from the pre-reclamation period to the agricultural transformation of the Agro Pontino area.
Piana delle Orme in Latina – Facebook @museopianadelleorme
Piana delle Orme is a unique museum testifying everyday life in the Agro Pontino, the landing in Anzio and the battle of Cassino, with relics, collections, and scenic and multimedia reconstructions. This historical-ethnological museum, covering over thirty thousand m2, brings to life fifty years of Italian history from the 1900s. We are dealing with a theme park with 15 pavilions, explaining the peasant traditions and culture, the reclamation of the Pontine Marshes and the Second World War. We can choose between two routes, War and Agriculture. Along the latter, we can visit the pavilion of vintage toys.
Capo Portiere, Lido di Latina
The tourist area stretches along the maritime front from the mouth of the Astura River to the one of Rio Martino, and its eastern side is part of the Circeo National Park. Once again, this year, the F.E.E. Blue Flag and the Green Flag (the award for child-friendly beaches) will wave on Lido di Latina.
Lake Fogliano in Latina
Lake Fogliano, within the Circeo National Park and close to the sea, is the largest brackish lake in the Pontine Province. It overlooks the village of Fogliano, built at the end of the 1700s, originally inhabited by fishermen and then acquired by the Caetani Family.
Villa Fogliano in Latina
Other attractions are the Villa di Fogliano, where traces from prehistory have been found, and the Botanical Garden, created at the end of the nineteenth century by Onorato VII Caetani. The rich vegetation alternates Mediterranean and exotic species.
The PGI Kiwi from Latina
Finally, let us taste the Latina PGI Kiwi, with its emerald green pulp and sweet-sour flavour, whose Festival is celebrated in December. The International Feast of Street Food on the other hand, takes place in April. It is the most important local, regional, and national street food event.