Sperlonga ~ A Local Attraction

While Sant’Oliva is sheltered by the beautiful mountains of ‘Aurunci’, just over the other side lays a vast picturesque coast land that greets the Tyrrhenian Sea. Inspired from our recent travels to the seaside, I wanted to highlight some of Sant’Oliva’s beautiful surrounding attractions, starting off with a cliff side coastal town that will leave you in awe…

Sperlonga is a coastal town in the province of Latina, located approximately halfway between Rome and Naples. With its historical old town perched above the cliff face, beautifully clean ‘blue flagged’ beaches and iconic Torre Truglia watch tower, Sperlonga is the perfect Italian beach side holiday waiting to be discovered…

GETTING THERE

The main connection is that by road from Terracina and Gaeta. The nearest railways station is that of Fondi-Sperlonga, on one of the two Rome-Naples main lines (the one going via Formia). Or better yet, if you’ve hired a car, Sperlonga is just under an hour’s drive away from Sant’Oliva making it a must to add to your itinerary.

WHERE TO STAY

Now although I haven’t had the pleasure of staying in these places, they have been ranked highly on my wish list for their style, location and recommendations from others…

Casa Cecillia is a charming little apartment for 2, located in a nook of Sperlonga’s notorious ‘Old Town’. Modestly styled, casa Cecillia is in a prime location to explore all Sperlonga has to offer while making you feel like a local.

Want the comfort of breakfast included and tiny complimentary toiletries?… Then Hotel Aurora is for you then. Seen from my photos, Hotel Aurora is located beachfront on the north side of the headland and is the perfect place to watch the sun set. Décor hasn’t changed since the 70’s but I love it that way!

Are you a larger group willing to split the bill? I discovered this beautiful apartment on air BnB that would have to have one of the best views in Sperlonga by far. I’m a sucker for authentic, vintage Italian styling and this place caters to my every need. Antique furnishing, kitchen with a spectacular view and check out that mosaic shower… gush!

DO & SEE

To the north of the headland resides the modern part of Sperlonga, catering mainly for tourists keen on well-developed beaches where you can find restaurants and shops located. However, if you prefer a more natural scene, the real treasures lies south of the town. Beyond the harbour stretches an exquisite length of beach, with gorgeously clean sand and water. If you walk along the beach from the Sperlonga headland, you will reach a nature reserve by the rocky headland. Here you can see the ruins of the Roman villa, and the Grotto of Tiberius. A little further back along the beach you will find a lane leading inland to the entrance of the Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Nazionale), where you can learn about the history of the grotto and its previous residents.

'The old town' of Sperlonga is a must to explore when visiting. Clustered whitewashed houses on the headland conceal meandering streets, with warren-like stairways that transport you to unexpected terraces above the sea. The old town is absolutely charming, and a breeze to get around by foot with a gelato in hand.

EAT

Once you’ve worked up an appetite wondering through the old town, make your way to the tip of the headland where you will find a modest tent like pavilion restaurant by the name of Torre Truglia, which happens to have an incredible view of the sea. This charming little place is owned by an Italian fisherman who without a doubt try to tell you his life story so be prepared. He’s been known to not make do with menus and just dazzle you with his daily catch, however, if you are on a budget, make sure you ask for prices as this guy is the master of upselling. Nevertheless, the food is delicious and the view speaks for itself, which is why I find myself a regular customer.

If you are not in the mood to travel far from the beach for lunch, do as the Italians do and grab yourself a panini (sandwich) from one of the local bars. My favourite has to be thinly sliced mortadella with buffalo mozzarella on a crusty rosetta roll. However, a must try is a typical panini known to the region, which includes crispy porchetta (roasted pork), brocoletti (pickeled broccoli) and Provolone (a sharp sweet cheese, similar to swiss) Yuuuuuuum!

Set in a time warp from the 70’s, Hotel Aurora, with its charming cane furniture and turquoise shabby umbrellas, is the perfect place to sip a Spritz Aperol or two, while watching the famous Sperlonga sunset at the Nautilus Bar.

For a romantic dinner for two… make sure to make a booking at Gli Archi intimately located off a side street in the old town. Highly ranked on Trip Advisor, this restaurants prides itself on its fresh seafood and reginal cuisine while service is of high standard.

Looking for something low key? Grab a pizza at A Gambe di Gatto hidden under a charismatic stone archway followed by an ice cream at Dolce Gelato.

GOOD TO KNOW

Sperlonga can get extremely populated with tourist during the summer months as most beautiful places in Italy. Best time to go would be late May or early September. Try to stay away from overcrowded restaurants on the main strip as they are usually flooded with tourists, massively overpriced and the food is not always fresh!!

TRAVELER’S BONUS

On our way back home one time, I was dead set on finding a secluded beach along the beautiful coastline of Gaeta as I had seen some pictures on Pinterest that had sparked my interest. After driving on the highway (no joke) back and forth 4 times and having a massive screaming match with my husband in the car, we manage to find a gem within the rocks… “Now isn’t this worth it Honey?” lol

The beach is called Le Scissure and is located just before the beautiful town of Gaeta, about a 15-20min drive south from Sperlonga. With its crystal clear water, view of a watch tower and cascading stairs into the sea, this place is definitely worth a car argument for ;) We were lucky enough to be the only ones there which made it feel even more exclusive. With access to the beaches private bar you’ll pay around 20-25 euros for parking, 2 umbrellas and beach beds for the whole day. Make sure you wear sunscreen though or you could end up with an embarrassing medallion mark of St Oliva branded on your chest. woops!

#Travel #LocalAttraction #Sperlonga #seasidetown #Latina