You have probably never heard of Lavinio, yet this holiday resort on the outskirts of Rome has been a VIP destination for centuries. Indeed, in the golden days of the Roman Empire, Lavinio (also known as Lido di Enea) was a favorite destination of wealthy Romans who built opulent villas here.
Today, Lavinio is still an exclusive place; Italy’s prime minister Mario Draghi has a villa here, and many well-known personalities of Italian politics and entertainment do too. Even prominent foreign figures stop by in summer, from the Royals of Belgium to Albert of Monaco, to name a few.
Why is Lavinio so famous and exclusive? Well, first of all, the area’s beaches are among the most beautiful of the region of Lazio, and they’re only 50 kilometers from the Italian capital. The most beautiful of them is Lido dei Gigli: a five-minute drive from town, it is surrounded by pine forests and sandy dunes.
The beaches of Lavinio overall are beautiful, with white, fine sand. Some are wild, quiet and free; others, especially in the central areas and at the port, offer elegant, privately-owned bathing establishments and many services, including clubs, bars and restaurants.
Near Lavinio is the Tor Caldara Regional Nature Reserve, a protected area since 1988 because it contains a peculiar example of Mediterranean scrub. It takes its name from the coastal tower that was built in the mid-16th century. Here is one of the most beautiful beaches of the Lazio coast. Within the reserve there are sulphurous hot springs already known to the Romans who had created thermal baths right here.
Lavinio is near the much more popular Anzio, which was awarded the Blue Flag for the quality of its waters. Anzio also has ancient origins, and some world-famous artifacts have been found here, such as the Borghese Gladiator, the Maiden of Anzio and the Apollo Belvedere.
