Category: Italy Blog

This is a blog about the historic and panoramic Lazio region of Italy.

Torre di Mola, Formia, Latina

Formia, Latina

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The charming city of Formia is located at the foot of the Aurunci Mountains in the province of Latina, along the Ulysses Riviera (la riviera di Ulisse), also known as the Gulf of Gaeta, where according to legend, Ulysses, or Odysseus in Greek mythology, came to meet the enchantress Circe on his way back from the Trojan War.

It has historical significance being situated on the famous Via Appia, which was built by the Roman Empire and much travelled by the ancient Romans. It is a resilient town, being destroyed in 842 by the Saracens, then again during World War II, and rebuilt to its current splendor.

The coastline is dotted with many beautiful beaches and resorts. The main street which is packed with people out for a stroll on a warm spring or summer night is filled with little shops and places to grab a pizza or gelato.

Mountains overlooking Formia

Aurunci Mountains overlooking Formia

Some of its popular attractions include the Tomb and Villa of Cicero (also known as Villa Rubino), the Tower of Mola (top photo), the Archeological Museum, and ruins of prehistoric megalithic walls.

Tomb of Cicero

Tomb of Cicero (Photo credit: pietroizzo via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA)

If you like visiting churches, not to be missed are Santa Maria di Castagneto, the oldest church in Formia, the church of San Giovanni Battista e Lorenzo, and of Sant’ Erasmo, one of the patron saints of Formia (along with San Giovanni).

Church of Santa Maria di Castagneto, Formia

Church of Santa Maria di Castagneto (Photo credit: Raffaele Vallefuoco Flickr.com)

Formia, province of Latina

Formia, seen from Gaeta

For travel arrangements go to Travel and Tourism.

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Selvacava

Selvacava, Frosinone, where time stands still

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Selvacava is a small village in central Italy, in the municipality of Ausonia, which is in the province of Frosinone, in the Lazio region. It lies about halfway between Rome and Naples, and is where my father was born. It has a population of about 335.

The village of Selvacava in the province of Frosinone, Italy

Selvacava, with Monte Fammera in the background

I love this charming village. It is the type of place where you can go to find tranquility and get lost in your thoughts.

One of the many alleyways in Selvacava

One of the many alleyways in Selvacava

Not much has changed since the first time I went there when I was a child. There have been a few houses constructed, and there are now actually street lights and the streets are no longer dirt roads, but it still has that rustic charm with its fruit orchards, vineyards, and olive groves. Wine, cheese, and olive oil are still made by its residents. There is only one small grocery store within the village where you can get the bare necessities such as milk and bread, but there are larger stores in the surrounding towns and villages where you can get more.

Ancient fountain in Selvacava, Frosinone

Ancient fountain in Selvacava

Selvacava is surrounded by marble quarries which not only drive the economy of the surrounding areas but also make up somewhat of an open air museum where one can find many fossils of ancient sea creatures embedded in the stone from when this area was under water.

This is the type of place where you need to have a car because even though there is bus service, it does not run frequently, and the nearest train station is in Formia.

The ever watchful Monte Fammera, where local residents hid during WWII

The ever watchful Monte Fammera, where local residents hid during WWII

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