Things to do in Santa Severa Italy – what to see attractions and activities

The Castle of Santa Severa dates back to the 11th century, and is located by the sea. In the past, in front of this structure, the ancient Etruscan port of Pyrgi was located. During the thirties, the Castle became a summer home for numerous fascist hierarchs. In the mid-sixties, the Pious Institute of Santo Spirito, at the time owner of the Castle of Santa Severa, ordered its restructuring. The works were led by Riccardo Medici and were completed in 1970.

The Macchiatonda Nature Reserve was established in 1983 and extends for about 250 km. Its name comes from a small bay and elm forest of very ancient origin called “macchiatonda”. The nature reserve is the place of many species of birds including wild geese, bittern and also the buzzard typical of the Tolfa Mountains.

The WWF Torre Flavia Oasis is a Natural Regional Monument and is declared by the Province of Rome as a Special Protected Area. The natural area has swamps created by the depressions of the soil that are seasonally filled with water. The change in the salinity of the water allowed plants such as salicornia, lemony and sea barley to grow freely.

The Flavia Tower is one of the monuments of Roman times with a military function and therefore to defend the coast of Ladispoli. It takes its name from Cardinal Flavio Orsini who rebuilt it during the 16th century. The structure has a low base and has a staircase inside that connects the two floors illuminated by windows covered in travertine.

The Torre del Marangone was built during the 17th century at the behest of Pius V. The denomination derives from an ancient ditch located near it. The structure has a square plan and rests on a rocky part from where the sea is dominated. It was part of the sixty-one control towers built along the Tyrrhenian coast at the request of Pope Pius V.

The Cerveteri museum is located in Castello Ruspoli. Inside it exhibits a large collection of artifacts, tombs, finds and decorations of the Etruscan civilization.

The National Etruscan Archaeological Museum was established in 1967 and houses a large collection of funeral kits and materials related to the first millennium BC. greater value is an Etruscan-Corinthian oinochoe by the painter Garavaglio.

The Castle of Cerveteri, located in the homonymous town, dates back to the fourth century BC. Despite it dates back to the Etruscan period, has been resumed and modified over the years by the different owners. The original building of the Castle was used for military purposes. From 1968 to today, it houses the National Museum of Archaeological Cerite, and is open to the public.

Palazzo Ruspoli was built in the 16th century. It is among the oldest and best preserved that there are in Cerveteri. It belonged to the most important noble family in the area, the Ruspoli. Today it is used as an Etruscan Museum, since this civilization has inhabited the territory, leaving important testimonies.

The Torre del Granarone is located in the municipality of Cerveteri in the province of Rome. The building was built at the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, for the will of the Ruspoli family. The tower has a three-story structure and was used as a grain storage room. Currently, in the tower is the new headquarters of the City Council of Cerveteri.

The Etruscan Necropolis Banditaccia includes about four hundred burials dating from the second to the 8th century BC. The site was named after the nineteenth century, when the land was “banished”, i.e. rented out with public announcement. The tomb architectures are of different types and include the cockpit ones, the oldest, to those with dice located along the Ceriti and Tolfa Mountains.

The sanctuary of the Rocca, formerly called Sacta Maria de Arce, of medieval origin, is the emblem of Tolfa yesterday and today. After the medieval period, the church of the Rocca suffered some damage, and was restructured several times over the years. To reach the Church you must cross the Via Matris, where you can see the seven crosses that recall the seven pains of Mary.

The castle was for many centuries the last bastion of defense, protecting the population also from the Napoleonic army. In the vicinity of the Castle we also find the Church of the Medieval Rock, which was erected to ensure that the people had a church on top of the mountain that safeguard the country from above.

The Bosco Affiliated Oasis was born in 1980 thanks to an approval of the area from the Odescalchi Princes to the WWF. The area is protected and includes a hygrophilous forest, an area of Mediterranean scrub and a park with different plant species. The oasis extends along the Lazio coast and inside it we can admire exotic plants, and other rare animal species.

Civitavecchia Cathedral is a Baroque building, dating back to 1782. It was built in Baroque style on the remains of a small church at the behest of Pope Clement XIV and became Cathedral only in 1805. In the facade of the building we can admire the two sculptures by Pietro De Laurentiis and the fresco by ``San Francesco receiving the Stigmate`` by Antonio Nessi.

Fort Michelangelo was erected in 1535, by Giuliano Leno and Antonio da Sangallo, students of Bramante, who directed the works of the Fort until his death in 1514. The idea of a fortress was born at the time of Pope Giulio II della Rovere, who had decided to erect a fortress to defend the port of Civitavecchia and thus ensuring the tranquility of its citizens. The main tower, known as the Maschio, was entrusted to Michelangelo Buonarroti, from whose fort it also takes its name.

The Hermitage of the Trinity is located in the locality of Allumiere, in the province of Rome and is among the oldest sanctuaries of the Tolfa Mountains. It is certainly not the construction period, due to various renovations, but it is assumed in the period of the Middle Ages. Among the oldest documents to mention are the Bull of Pope Innocent IV. The Sanctuary survived until the mid-600 and was renovated in the 19th century. Currently, the restoration of the monument was completed, precisely in 2002 and is accessible to the public under the care of the religious.

The Livorno Gate was built in 1761, at the behest of Pope Clement XIII, with the aim of allowing quick access to all the workers of the port on the north side of the city of Civitavecchia. Recently, the door has been restored to its former glory throughout its architectural structure.

The Fortress is one of the most beautiful buildings in Civitavecchia. It was built around the 14th century at the behest of the Frangipane family. Over the years it has often changed function from castle to watchtower, to shooting range and finally also to the cemetery. Although today there are only ruins left, its beauty and magnificence are still clearly visible.

The War Memorial of Civitavecchia was wanted by King Vittorio Emmanuel III to honor the fallen in World War I. The work was performed by the artist Riva who composed a sculptural complex in bronze specifically to remember the fallen in the war.

The Castle of Monteroni or Castellaccio was built around the fourteenth century along the route of the Via Aurelia and in its area known for the ancient Etruscan mounds. Its function, during the first century of construction, was as a tavern and post office for pilgrims who traveled the route mentioned above. The denomination of Castellaccio derives from the fact that after World War II the fortress was in a poor state of preservation.

The Castle of Odescalchi Palo dates back to the sixteenth century and is located on a fortified site of the Middle Ages. The name is due to the presence of large “Palus” swamps in the surrounding area. After a short change of ownership during the nineteenth century, the Castle returned to the possession of the Odescalchi family. In this building, very important people like Pope Alexander VI and Francesco Orsini stayed.

The walled village Ceri is one of the oldest villages in the town of Cerveteri, located in the province of Rome. It is adjacent to the Via Aurelia and rises on a tuff spur. The village dates back to the Middle Ages, between the middle of 1200 and that of 1300. It was restored and rebuilt several times over the years. It is currently in excellent condition and is open to tourists.

The thermal waters of Vicarello were known and frequented since antiquity as evidenced by the Etruscan and Greek coins dating back to the 7th century BC found in 1852. From the spring, located about 500 m upstream of the Borgo, the water comes out at a temperature of about 45-50 °C. Its bicarbonate-sulfate-alkaline-earthy composition makes it suitable for sludge and aereosol for the treatment of rheumatism and arthrosis.