Where is Terracina located?
Lazio, with all its resorts, doesn't suffer from a lack of tourists. They come here all year round. The modern city is divided into two parts - Upper Terracina and Lower Terracina.
Terracina is located on the coast of the Gulf of Gaeta, 90 km southeast of Rome. It is the center of the resort region called the Coast of Odysseus along the Tyrrhenian Sea. The region got its name because it is mentioned in Homer's famous "Odyssey."
The upper part of the city, located above the road, is considered the historical center, where you can find Roman and medieval buildings, towers, fortresses, and large stone walls. The population of Terracina diligently preserves its cultural heritage, with many museums and fascinating tours that attract attention as much as the beaches and the sea.
History of Terracina
The city was founded in the 9th century BC, a century and a half before the foundation of Rome. In 600 BC, the famous Appian Way passed through Terracina, connecting Rome and Naples. Thanks to its location on the route between these important cities, the settlement gained a special status and rapidly developed. The Appian Way reached the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, making Terracina one of the main ports of Lazio. All of this contributed to the growth and prosperity of Terracina, accumulating not only material wealth but also cultural heritage.
It was on this road that the Apostle Peter, while fleeing from the wrath of Nero, met Jesus Christ as a sign that he should return to Rome and embrace suffering in the name of Christianity.
The first settlers here were nomadic Indo-European tribes, and then Spartan warriors began to settle here, significantly expanding the city's boundaries. Since then, active construction began, which continued until the Middle Ages. Terracina was fortified, and numerous temples were built, dedicated to both ancient Greek gods and Christian saints, as well as watchtowers.
Until the 19th century, it served as a summer residence for Popes, and it was here that Pope Urban II was elected, the only Pope elected outside the walls of the Vatican, in the Cathedral of Terracina.
