Things to Do and See in Latina

Visiting Latina, the capital of the province of the same name, is certainly interesting because it offers a better understanding of the peninsula’s recent history. It was founded in 1932 under the name Littoria, as a symbol of the engineering ambition of the Fascist era: the city stands where the Pontine Marshes once lay, a malarial and uninhabited area. In the city center lies Piazza del Popolo and the main government buildings, including the Police Headquarters, the Prefecture, and City Hall. Meanwhile, Piazza S. Marco is home to the cathedral of the same name, completed in 1933. Another interesting site is Palazzo M, a monumental M-shaped building, symbolizing the initial of Mussolini’s surname. In the rest of the province, the neighboring towns—which predate the land reclamation—are also worth a visit to appreciate the distinctive features that set them apart. Among these, Sezze, Borgo Podgora, Montenero, Borgo Isonzo, Borgo Le Ferriere, Borgo Piave, and Borgo Montello stand out. On the coast, the town of Sperlonga is worth noting—a medieval village where you can admire the Grotta di Tiberio, a sea cave where artifacts dating back to the 1st century were discovered and are now housed in the town’s nearby National Archaeological Museum. Finally, we recommend visiting Gaeta to explore this splendid town, which features the castle and the cathedral near the harbor—dedicated to St. Erasmus—as well as the Church of San Giovanni, crowned by a magnificent spherical dome in the Arab style.