Terracina between Antiquity, Karst Landscape and Wine

Terracina combines a historic town centre with archaeological sites and a distinctive karst landscape. For planning your trip, this makes it a destination where culture and nature can be explored through specific places. The sanctuary on Monte Sant’Angelo, Campo Soriano and the remains of the ancient town centre each offer a different focus.

Ancient Sites and Historic Centre

The Tempio di Giove Anxur sanctuary on Monte Sant’Angelo was built during the Republican period, between the middle of the 2nd and the middle of the 1st century BC. On the lower terrace is a well-preserved cryptoporticus running along three sides, with a barrel vault and opus incertum. The alternating arches create the impression of a long corridor overlooking the sea.

In Terracina’s upper historic centre, the Museo civico “Pio Capponi” occupies the first level of the Torre Frumentaria. The building dates from the 13th century and stands opposite the monumental area of the Foro Emiliano. The museum was founded in 1894 to organise finds from the Terracina area, as well as the materials unearthed by the excavation then taking place at the sanctuary on Monte Sant’Angelo. The ancient townscape also includes the Teatro Romano, considered a theatre connected to the ancient forum opposite, and the Co-Cathedral of Terracina. It was built between the 5th and 6th centuries using the remains of a five-nave Roman temple in the town forum.

Campo Soriano and the Forms of Karst

Campo Soriano is designated a natural monument. The area lies in the municipalities of Terracina and Sonnino in the Province of Latina and is now part of the Monti Ausoni e Lago di Fondi Regional Nature Park. Its landscape is characterised by a karst plateau with limestone monoliths and high rocky peaks. It also features typical karst formations such as sinkholes, karren fields and swallow holes. Those who want to explore geological landscapes alongside historic buildings during a trip to Italy will find a clearly different focus here from the town centre.

Wine from the Terracina Area

Viticulture is also part of the region’s character. The controlled designation of origin (DOC) “Terracina” or “Moscato di Terracina” includes dry, amabile, passito and sparkling wines. The grape-growing area for this DOC covers the entire administrative territory of the municipalities of Monte San Biagio, Terracina and Sonnino in the Province of Latina. The designation therefore links Terracina to a clearly defined agricultural area that extends beyond the town boundaries.

Trails and an Annual Festival

A suggested route from Terracina’s historic centre reaches the archaeological site of the Tempio di Giove Anxur in approximately one and a half hours. Terracina also has numerous trails marked by the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) in the part of the Monti Ausoni e Lago di Fondi Regional Nature Park relating to Terracina; downloadable KML maps are available for the trails. This allows you to plan historic visits and landscape areas as separate interests for different days, without combining them into a single experience. A recurring event is the Festa della Madonna del Carmine, also known as the Festa del Mare, held on the Sunday after 16 July.

More Destinations

Bassiano, Borgo Montenero, San Felice Circeo, Ventotene, Borgo Faiti, Lenola, Borgo Podgora, Minturno

To the higher-level travel overview: Latina.