Centro Storico di Nettuno
The medieval walls of Nettuno's old town rise almost directly from the sea — enter through one of the two arched gates on Lungomare Matteotti and the streets narrow immediately to the width of a cart. Stone, shadow, the faint smell of salt. The cylindrical towers date to the 1300s, and the layout hasn't changed much since.
By day the centro storico belongs to cats and slow walkers; by night, the same lanes fill with the town's bar crowd. A small square is reachable by steps cut straight down to the water, which gives the whole place an almost theatrical sense of its own maritime edge.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to arrive on foot from the station, drop their bags, and walk the perimeter walls before doing anything else. Piazza San Giovanni, in front of the Collegiata, is where you want to sit for a coffee in the morning — the light hits the facade differently before noon. The harbour steps are worth finding for the hour before sunset.
The story behind Centro Storico di Nettuno
The borgo is thought to occupy ground where survivors of ancient Antium resettled near a temple of Neptune after Roman destruction. The cylindrical towers you walk past today were built around 1300, during the period of Orsini rule. From 1420 the Colonna family held the fief, and it was under Borgia authority that Antonio da Sangallo il Vecchio raised Forte Sangallo between 1501 and 1503 — its walls five metres thick, its four bastions still intact.
The Colonna reclaimed the town and held it until 1594, when it passed to the Church. The Papal State rebuilt the bulwark of San Rocco in 1625–26. Then, on 22 January 1944, the Allied landing at Anzio and Nettuno — Operation Shingle — brought the Second World War directly to these streets, a history the nearby landing museum addresses in full.
Good to know
The FL8 line from Roma Termini runs about 17 times daily and takes just over an hour; the fare is around €3. Streets are pedestrian-only, so leave luggage somewhere light. Forte Sangallo is free during opening hours — confirm times locally before planning around it.
Summers are hot and reliably sunny — July averages nearly 28°C and logs over 330 hours of sunshine, with the sea reaching 25°C in August. Winters are mild but wetter than the summer months, and the centro storico is quieter then; January highs sit around 12°C.
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What travellers say about Centro Storico di Nettuno
New Ice Cream place is a MUST GO, try the PASTIERA taste abd their super dark chocolate! Sadly handcrafts shops were closed, hooe they will reopen soon for spring and summer as the BORGO is beautiful, full of history to be investigated before going. Do NOT miss to see the Roman Water Fount cause it is a little gem, and go stroll also at the PORTO-MARINA, full of intriguing little shops (ladies, go give a look😉)
Nice and quiet medieval village right by the sea. You can walk through the narrow streets which were practically empty or way less crowded, with houses lined up on both sides, some restaurants and other attractions. But there are much busier parts of the town just few streets away, with a lot more eaters. You have to check out the grotta - Fontana Vecchia Epocha Romana - when you walk down the narrow streets towards the marina, it’s quite historical, from the 4th century!
Nettuno is a beautiful medival town well worth a visit. You can walk under the beautiful arches into the old streets. Weather beautiful mid October still 22degrees
This is the heart of nettuno, its actually a square not a specific establishment. In it you will find restaraunts and our favourite coffee bar called Annas Bar, during the day coffees and spritz, she does great toasted sandwiches. A great square to relax and watch people go by and meet the friendly locals
Smalk streets...old town...Great...
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