Sperlonga: Lazio Region’s Best Kept Italian Secret
Updated March 2024, Sperlonga: Lazio Region’s Best Kept Italian Secret was originally published in May 2020
Looking to bask in the Italian la dolce vita?
Sperlonga is likely the perfect place for you.
Truth be told, until I was temporarily living in the nearby town of Terracina a couple of years ago, I’d never heard of Sperlonga until I started to do a little research about the area when I found out I’d be there for an extended period.
Sat on a rocky promontory jutting out into the Tyrrhenian Sea, Sperlonga’s whitewashed medieval core could easily be mistaken as a secret spot on a Greek Island. Being a coastal town near Rome, popular with weekending Romans and Neapolitans in the summertime, Sperlonga seldomly sees foreign visitors- making it the perfect place to head to get off the beaten path in Italy without a huge commitment.
Sperlonga is located roughly halfway between Rome and Naples and can easily be reached from either city either by car, van rental from Rome Airport, bus, or by train (via Fondi).
Looking for more hidden gems in Italy? Check out my off the beaten path Italy guide
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A Quick History Of Sperlonga
In ancient times, Sperlonga was mainly known for its grotto on the coast, (where the name Sperlonga derived from the Latin word Spelunca, meaning cave) as the Via Appia passed very close to Sperlonga. Eventually, Emporer Tiberius would build his Republican Villa in the grotto Sperlonga was famed for.
Tiberius’s Villa was built somewhere between 17 and 26 AD, but the lost summer home wasn’t discovered again until 1957. In 26 AD one night, while Tiberius ate dinner, the roof of the grotto collapsed and Sejanus rushed in to save him. Tiberius abandoned the villa and moved it to Capri.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 6th century, most of Sperlonga’s residents moved inland toward St. Magnus to avoid capture by the Saracens, as well as to get away from the nearby Pontine Marshes- a contributor to the spread of disease. In 1534 the center of Sperlonga was destroyed by the Ottomans.
Not until the 18th century did many people really begin to return to Sperlonga and repopulate. The town largely stayed off the radar of most anyone until 1957, when the Terracina-Gaeta Coastal Road (Via Flacca) opened, putting Sperlonga on the map.
Headed further south on your Italian itinerary? Don’t miss the beautiful village of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa
Things To Do In Sperlonga
Explore Sopra Sperlonga
Pretty often you’ll hear local Sperlongans say “ci vediamo sopra“, which means ‘see you in upper Sperlonga‘, this is referring to Sperlonga Centro Storico (Old Town). This is the mound of whitewashed multi-story buildings strung between narrow alleyways overlooking the sea.
Wandering the narrow white alleys interspersed with bougainvillea flowers was one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon when I was living nearby in Terracina- Sperlonga was my favorite getaway.
Don’t miss the Chiesa di Santa Maria, an ancient 12th century church, the Capella di San Rocco Chapel, and the modern Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption. The old city is where many of the hopping cafes, bars, are located.
Headed south? Check out my Naples Travel Guide and the Amalfi Coast Guide
Laze On Spiaggia di Sperlonga
Spiaggia di Sperlonga is the beach that extends northwest of Sopra Sperlonga, which sits in front of most of the hotels that sit along Sperlonga’s coast.
Check out my insider’s guide to visiting nearby Terracina
Visit The Sperlonga Archeological Museum & Tiberius’s Villa
The Sperlonga Archeological Museum pays homage to the Grotta di Tiberio, with several of the remaining statues from the Republican Palace on display.
Wander Sperlonga’s Promenade
Walk the coastal promenade that connects Sperlonga Giu to Sperlonga Sopra and then drops you off at Torre Truglia and onto Spiaggia dell’Angelo.
There are multiple different routes you could obviously take, winding around between perfect cafes, adorable boutique shops, and narrow stone alleys.
Take a hike: Trek up nearby Mount Circeo
Enjoy An Afternoon On Spiaggia dell’Angelo
Spiaggia dell’Angelo is the beach that sits on the southeastern side of Sopra Sperlonga. This beach is long and ends at the Grotto of Tiberius.
While Spiaggia di Sperlonga has a reputation of being more family-friendly, Spiaggia dell’Angelo is wide enough that you can still find a spot to yourself.
The beach is interspersed with liberia (free beach) between lidos (beach with umbrella and chair to rent).
Not sure where to go in Italy? Check out my off the beaten path Italy guide
Visit Giu Sperlonga
Giu Sperlonga refers to lower Sperlonga. This is the newer stretch of the city that sits behind Spiaggia di Sperlonga.
The main promenade that passes along the beach is still a bustle with locals and visitors alike sightseeing and stopping into pizzerias, patisseries, cafes, and gelaterias. Giu Speronga is a bit more spacious and family-friendly than its upper counterpart.
Want to visit some of the iconic destinations in Northern Italy? Check out my two week classic Italy itinerary to help you start planning
Check Out The Torre Truglia & The Boat Harbor
Torre Truglia is the iconic lookout in Sperlonga that dates back to the 17th century, jutting out into the sea. The Torre Truglia now serves mostly as a museum. Just next to it is the Sperlonga Boat Harbor, which you’ll pass on your way down to Spiaggia dell’Angelo.
Wanna go on a road trip? Check out my Southern Italy road trip itinerary
Where To Stay In Sperlonga
On occasion, I’d sneak off and spend a night in Sperlonga because I loved the town so much. My favorite place to stay in Sperlonga was definitely the Florenza Residence with its adorable little apartment-style rooms with balconies overlooking the Spiaggia di Sperlonga.
Midrange
Casamediterrana
| Booking.com |
Splurge
Florenza Residence
| Booking.com | Agoda.com |
Wanna get to Italy’s off the beaten path islands? Read my Lampedusa Travel Guide
What To Eat In Sperlonga
No matter where you eat during your stay in Sperlonga you have to try spaghetti alle vongole, a dish Sperlonga is known for doing well with fresh clams- you can find the dish on many restaurant’s menus here.
Gelato is always a must (it’s Italy, duh!), so head over to Gelato Dulce in Sperlonga Sopra or head to Créme Caramel for an array of fresh Italian dessert. Il Gorilla Cocktail Bar is the best place to head in Sperlonga for drinks.
Have Any Questions About Visiting Sperlonga Or About Any Of The Things To Do In Sperlonga Mentioned Above?
Ask your Sperlonga travel questions in the comments section below.
More Posts from Italy:
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Lampedusa Travel Guide: Italy’s Southernmost Island
Sperlonga: Lazio Region’s Best Kept Italian Secret
Southern Italy Road Trip: From Heel To The Toe
One Day In Rome: It Wasn’t Built In A Day, But You Can See It In One
Two Week Classic Italy Itinerary
A Quick Guide To Syracuse & Ortygia Island, Sicily
A Quick Amalfi Coast Travel Guide
A Quick Guide To Italy’s Cave City Of Matera
Discover The Best Wine Routes Across The Globe
20 Off The Beaten Path Destinations In Italy
The Top 18 Things To Do In Naples, Italy: The Naples Travel Guide
Hiking Mount Circeo In Italy’s Lazio Region
A Quick Guide To Alberobello + 5 Things To Do In Alberobello
The Best Road Trips In The World
Terracina Travel Guide + Things To Do In Terracina
Two Tornados, A Road Trip, & Italian Citizenship
is there access to the Appian way in or close to Sperlonga?
We usually visit Sperlonga mid October and most everything is closed. Do you know when things close down. Was thinking of going First week of October. thank you
Hi Donna, yes most things seemed to be closed by mid-October in Sperlonga but some restaurants and hotels were still opened when I went mid-Oct, Nov and Dec. Late September Sperlonga was still going strong and most things were still open that first week of Oct.
Are you able to recommend any drivers to take us back from Sperlonga to Rome international airport? Family of 5. Thank you
Hi Nina,
Unfortunately I don’t have any off of the top of my head but Sperlonga can easily be reached by train and less easily by bus from Rome.
If I want to take the train down from Rome and to Fondi-Sperlonga, is it easy to take a bus down to Sperlonga? Is there a bus straight from Rome to Sperlonga, if so how do I find it?
Yes, there are buses on Bus Cotral from near the Fondi-Sperlonga train station that can get you into town. It is possible to go by bus from Rome to Sperlonga but it will require a few stops either Rome-Latina-Terracina-Sperlonga or Rome-Latina-Gaeta-Sperlonga.
Planning to take the train down from Rome. If you are staying here do you need a car? Or is it easy to get around? How do you get from Giu to Spora- is it walkable? Thanks!
The bulk of Sperlonga is pretty walkable, I always took the bus/train and never had a car there and always got around pretty easily. You can just walk between Giu to Sopra by either footpaths or following a road.