The town of Nettuno boasts a multifaceted blend of art, nature, religion, sport and food and wine traditions. The ancient Antium, a medieval village with cylindrical towers from the 1300s, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, is today the pulsating centre of nightlife.
The Fountain of God Neptune
The village is complimented by villas from the early twentieth century, the Fountain of Neptune, and Forte Sangallo. Wandering around charming alleys and squares, we come across historic buildings, such as the Baronial Palace, symbol of feudal power, and the Palazzo Pamphilj, from 1600s. The tourist port in Marina di Nettuno is one of the most important along the coast.
Villa Borghese, a reserve overlooking the sea, stands out for its lush nature and fascinating history. In the early 1900s in fact, the renowned poet Gabriele D’Annunzio was hosted here.
The imposing Forte Sangallo, built between 1501 and 1503 by Antonio San Gallo il Vecchio, houses, inside its Fort, the Allied Landing Museum and the Antiquarium. Today, the Fort is the town cultural hub, where exhibitions, conferences and events are held and archaeological findings are displayed.
Santa Maria Goretti in Nettuno
Nettuno is also a religious destination, due to the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora delle Grazie e Santa Maria Goretti. During the first week of June, a Renaissance re-enactment is put on stage in town, to celebrate the statue of the Madonna delle Grazie, mysteriously landed on the coast in 1550. The sanctuary was built in 1914 by the will of the Passionist Fathers, on the former site of a small church dedicated to the Annunziata.
Torre Astura
We reach the end of the Riviera di Roma, the almost 90 km of sandy beaches from Marina di Palidoro to Torre Astura, a fascinating maritime fortress built in Nettuno on ancient Roman ruins before the year 1000. This extraordinary stronghold, embellished by the pine forest where the Astura River flows, is connected to the mainland by an arched bridge in masonry. The seabed, rich in Roman archaeological finds, testifies the importance of the port on the Astura River, which connected the sea to the ancient town of Satricum.
Torre Astura
Torre Astura, a pentagonal tower surrounded by walls and battlements, is completely immersed in the water. The wild beach of Torre Astura lies within the UTTAT (Ufficio Tecnico Territoriale Armamenti Terrestri del Ministero della Difesa, Poligono militare di Nettuno), and can be reached from Foceverde via a path winding through a charming pine forest. The free beach of Torre Astura is only accessible from the first days of July until September. Some scenes from the series “Le Avventure di Pinocchio” were shot here, with the glamorous actress Gina Lollobrigida in the role of the Blue Fairy.
American War Memorial Cemetery in Nettuno
Memorial Day is celebrated in Nettuno on the last Monday of May. On this occasion, in 1989, George H. W. Bush visited the American War Memorial Cemetery. In 1994, on the 50th anniversary of the landing, Bill Clinton also paid homage to the place. Due to the town connection with the United States, baseball is widely practiced, as well as scuba diving, golf, and sailing.
Among the numerous seafood, fried frogs, with their typical delicate flavour, must be tasted. The famous Cacchione di Nettuno DOP, a white wine made from Bellone grapes, is the protagonist of the Nettuno Wine Festival in September, a tasting tour of local wines in the historic centre. On August 16, the Patron Saint San Rocco is celebrated with a series of events.