The Sud Pontino represents the ideal historical and cultural border to southern regions and cultures of the Italian peninsula. The Mediterranean areas have always been an incredible cradle and cross bridge of cultures.

The native Mediterranean people have always experienced contacts, invasions and exchanges with populations coming from both land and sea. The Sud Pontino is right in the middle of the Italian peninsula, which is itself in the middle of the Mediterranean sea.

A mythical and eternal land of passage, where history left its fascinating marks and where the ruts of many contemporary cultures lie. Phoenicians, Etruscans, Latins, Greeks, Romans, Africans, Celts, German populations, the Vikings, Arabs, Turks, Venetians, Rome's Catholic Church, the Spanish, the French all left their signs on this territory. In southern Italy you can feel this cultural patrimony in the richness of its monuments, in every old street and arch -- when approaching the people.

This territory is the southernmost area of Latium, Rome's region and represents the natural and historical border with Campania, the region of Naples. The coastal margin and its immediate inland territories are defined as Sud Pontino (south Pontino) and also known as Ulysses' Coast or Riviera. The whole territory is part of Latina's province. Pivoted on Gaeta's Gulf, the Ulysses' Coast has a surface of 450 kmq. The area includes the coastal line from Gianola and Minturno to the town of S.Felice Circeo and the territory between the Aurunci and the Ausonii mountain ranges and the Garigliano River acts as a physical border with Campania region.

With 60 km of coastal stretch - almost all of it is fine sand beaches -- and the Aurunci Mountains that overlook the sea at a height of 1500 m, this is a territory with a unique geography and climate.

> Next Page of "Gaeta, Italy: A Mediaeval Gem on the Sea Between Rome and Naples "

About the Author My name is Victor Foglia and I have a BA in Tourism Management from London South Bank University. I was born in Naples and I live in London (UK) since 1993. I have vast knowledge of this charming territory of Italy, in southern Lazio, which, for some reasons, is not well know by foreign travelers. I spent many summers there in my youth with family and friends. I know this territory because I have been literally everywhere, even in the tiniest village on the mountains nearby. The close proximity to Rome, Naples, Capri Island, Sorrento and Amalfi makes the South Pontino a vast territory still very genuine and overlooked. This article is to render justice to this land, which is described in detail on my website. I invite you to enjoy the journey of discovery with this article. To visit Victor's Website click here.

First Published: Jul 21, 2007