Santa Marinella

Santa Marinella is today the result of the incessant work carried out by distant generations that date back to prehistoric times, work that has transformed the local scene and natural environment in the perpetual race to acquire and exploit resources: from the small settlements in the Neolithic age we have in fact, after various milleniums, come to the city plans of the Odescalchi which, at the beginning of the 1900s, gave birth to modern-day Santa Marinella. This town, located just a few kilometers from Civitavecchia, following the Aurelia in the direction of Rome, is today mainly oriented on tourism, not only because of the numerous archeological findings from all ages, but also thanks to the well equipped summer bathing resorts and entertainment establishments that line the coast.These locations are surely worth a visit because, even if not very lively during the winter season, they become a kaleidoscope of entertainment in the Summer. It could not be any other way, given the facilities and features that characterize Santa Marinella today, modeled after its most important asset - the sea.At this point, it appears appropriate to provide some brief information on those that are the most important archeological sites, amongst the large number that dot the Santa Marinella area.

The Roman Villa of the Grottacce


At kilometer 58,200 of the Via Aurelia, between the road and the beach, there are the remains of the Roman Villa of the Grottacce, one of the classic Villae Maritimae of the coast. The extensive settlement includes a large fish and shell fish nursery (Pescheria) and a long dock which today is almost totally submerged. What remains of the villa are large structures that served as service rooms and for production activities, while the residential area above has been almost totally destroyed by sea erosion, atmospheric conditions and looting which took place over the centuries. The walls reveal a complicated building history that goes from the I century BC to the IV century BC.

The Roman Bridges of Santa Marinella


In the territory of Santa Marinella one finds the well preserved remains of numerous Roman bridges found on the route of the ancient via Aurelia, a famous link between Rome, the Etruscan coastline and Liguria, built in the III century BC along a previous Etruscan route. Particularly interesting and monumental are the bridge of Lake Impero (km 60,400 of the Via Aurelia) and the Bridge of Via Roma (km 60,700). The beautiful Bridge of the "Vignacce" (km 62,300) is today difficult to access. At km 59,700 of the Via Aurelia there is a very interesting inscribed stone commemorating the restoration of the Bridge of Apollo, ordered by the Emperors Settimio Severo and Caracolla: the remains of the bridge, partially uncovered during medieval and modern restoration, are preserved at the "Fosso di Castelsecco, between the Via Aurelia and the sea.