Sperlonga is a stunning seaside resort in the Latium region of Italy. Charming and full of character, it is a well-kept secret among locals and a long-held favoured holiday destinations among Romans. It is also one of the many sites of major Ancient Roman archaeological discoveries in Italy but boasts some especially fascinating finds. If you're interested in art, culture and ancient history, a vacation rental in Latium and a visit to the town is a must.
When a large scale project to build a new coastal road on the west coast of Italy was undertaken in the 1950s, it became necessary to excavate areas of the town of Sperlonga and upon doing so, the remains of an ancient Roman settlement, including the legendary villa of the Emperor Tiberius, were unearthed. Among these finds were fragments of Roman sculptures that were to become incredibly famous and important and were believed to have adorned the man-made fishponds at the mouth of the Grotto of Tiberius. Massive in scale, these 2nd century BC statues depict legendary scenes taken from Homer’s Adventures of Odysseus, Virgil’s Aeneid and Ulysses.
The National Museum of Archaeology of Sperlonga was opened in 1963 in order to house them and other objects found in the area. The site of the villa was purchased by the Italian government and careful reconstruction work was undertaken on the sculptures and a museum was then designed by Giorgio Zama. Its primary objective was to preserve and show to the public the surviving sculptures and teach visitors about the history of the area and the villa.
A stunning museum experience and a rich collection of incredible objects, this is one of the most fascinating archaeological institutions in Italy.
Opening hours:
Monday-Sunday
8.30am to 7.30pm
Closed on the 1st of January, 1st of May, and the 25th of December
Tickets:
€ 5.00 at full rate
€ 2.50 at reduced rate
National Archaeological Museum and Villa of Tiberius
Via Flacca, km 16.300
04029 Sperlonga (Lt), Italy
phone: +39 0771 548028
The National Museum of Archaeology of Sperlonga was opened in 1963 in order to house them and other objects found in the area. The site of the villa was purchased by the Italian government and careful reconstruction work was undertaken on the sculptures and a museum was then designed by Giorgio Zama. Its primary objective was to preserve and show to the public the surviving sculptures and teach visitors about the history of the area and the villa.
A stunning museum experience and a rich collection of incredible objects, this is one of the most fascinating archaeological institutions in Italy.
Opening hours:
Monday-Sunday
8.30am to 7.30pm
Closed on the 1st of January, 1st of May, and the 25th of December
Tickets:
€ 5.00 at full rate
€ 2.50 at reduced rate
National Archaeological Museum and Villa of Tiberius
Via Flacca, km 16.300
04029 Sperlonga (Lt), Italy
phone: +39 0771 548028
Photo credit: steveilott / CC BY 2.0
