Halfway between Rome and Naples, lies a small coastal town of Sperlonga. Whitewashed houses, roof terraces with beautiful sea vistas, white sandy beaches and turquoise waters, – what else would you need for a luxury honeymoon in Italy?
Roman emperor Tiberius had a spectacular holiday villa here, and in later times, Sperlonga became a hideaway for celebrities seeking peace and quiet: Arthur Miller, Marlene Dietrich, Brigitte Bardot, and many others vacationed here. Today, it remains largely unknown to foreigners with mainly Romans and Italians escaping big cities in summer.
There are beaches along the town’s coastline to suit any taste. If you are looking for privacy head to the Ganimede Beach or the Grotta dei delfini Beach, where after paying a small fee you can stretch on your lounger by the water and enjoy the sunshine. You can also rent a boat and sail along the coast if you want to have the sea just for yourselves.
For such a tiny town, Sperlonga has a fascinating past that can be explored at the National Archaeological Museum on Via Flacca. Numerous reconstructed statues, precious mosaics, and pottery displayed in the museum were excavated at the Tiberius’s villa only a few decades ago. The path outside of the museum will bring you to the villa ruins and the atmospheric grotto of Tiberius where the emperor threw spectacular banquets for his guests. If you arrive early in the morning or in the evening, you might find the place empty and have the whole grotto for yourselves.
In the town’s lively port, you can watch fishermen coming in with their catch of the day, which they sell to local eateries. Sperlonga is renowned for its delicious seafood that is served in all restaurants. For a romantic dinner head to Gli Archi (Via Ottaviano, 17) that has a lovely courtyard sitting area and a slightly old-fashioned ambience. Their Risotto alla pescatora and Spaghetti vongole veraci are delicious! Da Fausto (Piazza Cesare Beccaria, 5, Fondi) is located on the hill above Sperlonga and offers dining with spectacular sea views and sunsets from their veranda, a perfect setting for a luxury honeymoon in Italy.
Photos by: Riccardo Cuppini, Andy Hay, Massimo Palmieri.
