HISTORY: According to tradition, Sperlonga was built on the former site of the ancient city founded by the Spartans, Amyclae. In Roman times, numerous villas were built in the area, the most famous being the one belonging to the Emperor Tiberius.
Starting with the 6th century, the city developed around a castle built on the promontory of San Magno, taking its name from the numerous natural cavities in the area (speluncae). Around the castle, the town progressively developed in concentric circles. In the 11th century, the town was surrounded by walls, now demolished, from which two gates remain - Porta Carrese and Porta Marina. Read More [...]
Despite the construction of a series of watchtowers for coastal defense, the town was destroyed in 1534 and again in 1622, by the same Ottoman pirates. Sperlonga was rebuilt between the 17th and 19th centuries, taking its current shape.
GEOGRAPHY: Today, Sperlonga is a picturesque small city of 3300 inhabitants, about halfway between Rome and Naples, in the province of Latina, in the Lazio region. The city stands on a rock, an extension of the Aurunci mountains which extends into the Tyrrhenian Sea.
TRANSPORT: You can get to Sperlonga by train, coming from Rome or Naples, stopping at Fondi-Sperlonga train station, about 10 kilometers away from the city. A train ticket from Rome costs 7€ and the trip takes about 1 hour and a few minutes. A ticket from Naples costs 7.4€ and the trip lasts about the same. From the train station, you can take a bus available once an hour for a 15 minutes trip (1.5€).
The closest airport is Capodichino Airport, in Naples, about 115 kilometers away, but you can also get to one of the two airports of Rome, Fiumicino International Airport Leonardo da Vinci or Ciampino International Airport G.B. Pastine.
LANDMARKS: Sperlonga is known for its beaches of fine and white sand and for various rock spurs that form wonderful coves, accessible only by boat. One of the most prominent landmarks in Sperlonga is the Torre Truglia, a watchtower built for defensive purposes.
MORE INFO: Official Website | Naples Airport | Rome Airports | Train Schedule | Bus Schedule | Hotels in Sperlonga