Circeo National Park: nature and archaeology

In the spirit of an evocative discovery journey through the history of ancient civilizations in South Pontino, Latium (Italy), our journey in the Mediterranean wilderness of the Circeo National Park will bring us also to the park natural beauty along its interesting and original archaeological and prehistoric treasures. The traveler will find himself in ancient paths and itineraries with medieval watch towers, splendid ancient Roman villas and structures among the woodland and

the heritage of a historic English country house. Their charming stories will guide the traveler through the art and history, legends and local traditions, providing a new interesting and unexpected rhythm to our walks through time. Follow us in this eternal journey in the South Pontino in Latium, and discover itineraries where nature and ancient archeology go hand in hand in the Land of Aeneas and Ulysses.

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Here discover some of its archeological treasures:

- Torre Paola, the watchtower against the pirates

– Emperor Domitian's Villa in the Circeo

– The Borgo of Villa Fogliano

- Villa Fogliano’s old exotic garden

- Other interesting places in the Circeo National Park

– A beautiful town on the sea

– An ancient village on the mountains

Circeo Park Naturalistic and archeological Itineraries and walks

VISITORS CENTRE: MUSEUM AND NATURALISTIC FOOTPATH
From the Park of Circeo Museum, ideal instrument to understand the whole of values and testimonies present in the territory, passing a didactic footpath in the forest, up to the "historical" reconstruction of the Lestra della Carbonaia.

CIRCEO FOREST:
After you have met wild boars and fallow-deers in the faunistical area of Cerasella, you will penetrate into the inside of the largest forest of Italy, last testimony of an environment, between the most rich of flora and fauna, which once covered big part of the national plain countries.

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"C. ORTESE" CENTRE - LESTRA COCUZZA:
Documentation centre about the scolastic instruction and the health service in the Paludi Pontine.

CIRCE TOP:
Leaving in the vicinity of Torre Paola, you go up on a footpath which arrives till the 541 meter of the top of Circeo Promontorio, to observe the magnificent view. The most binding excursion but extremely evocative. Duration: h. 4.30.

GROTTA GUATTARI:
The famous cave where, in 1939, they found the first skull of Homo di Neanderthal and an intact paleosol in Italy, rich in fossils, tenthousands of years ancient.

GROTTA DELLE CAPRE:
An imposing cave where the signs of the "night of times" are tangible; the evolution of the earth and the prehisory of Circeo.

EXHIBITION MUSEUM HOMO SAPIENS ET HABITAT:
A guided visit to the collection, cured by Prof. M. Zei, which documents in an articulated way the prehistory of man and his environment, through the presentation of numerous findings and illustrative panels.

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PROMONTORIO DEL CIRCEO CIRCUMNAVIGATION:
By boat, on discovery of the numerous sea caves which open themselves along the cliff covered by a flourishing mediterranean vegetation.

CIVIC MUSEUM OF SEA AND COAST:
The museum contains archeologic findings, explicative panels and objects related to the sea or salvaged from the sea.

COSTAL LAKES AND MEDITERRANEAN DUNE:
Visit to the costal lakes of the park, one of the most interesting international moisty environments. Great possibilities for observation of the numerous avifauna in the season of "passo". Visit to one of the most important environments of the Park: the dune.

ON PAOLA LAKE: NAVIGATION BY BOAT AND CANOE
To visit this lake "from the inside" where nature and historical testimonies are melting togheter, creating a whole of elevated cultural value, by canoe or with a confortable trip on a motor boat.

DOMIZIANO VILLA:
In a natural reserve, a splendid archeological complex extended for over 40 hectare, an imperial villa (I century after. C.), with enormous tanks and rich thermal baths. Only organized groups can visit this place, previous appointment. Also reachable from the lake by motor boat.

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ZANNONE ISLE:
A wonderful day on the isle of the Circeo Park; the only one, between the ones of the Arcipelago Pontino, which preserves an environment still integral, where, between ancient vestiges, you meet the mouflon in freedom and you enter in an unexpected forest of holm oaks and cork oaks, which ends sheer at the sea. Duration: the whole day.

VILLA FOGLIANO:
The "english cottage", Villa Caetani, botanical garden, another enchanted corner on the shores of the lake of Fogliano. Guided route for blind persons in the botanical garden.

CYCLE EXCURSIONS:
Excursions on different routes, in the forest, not difficult, with a duration variating from about 2 to 3 hours.

HORSE RIDING IN THE PARK:
A delicious walk in the zone of Molella arriving till the Paola lake. For inexperted persons short lessons are possible, given by qualified instructors, inside a horse centre.

The duration of the single visits, if not specified otherwise, goes from 1 to 4 hours. It is possible, booking, to program several visits together for one or more days.

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