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Route Map
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Historical attractions
Ardea was, in pre-Roman times, the capital of the Rutuli people whose king Turnus, according to Virgil, was Aeneas' main opponent. Vestiges of this past are to be found on the acropolis, with its archaic remains, fortifications and walls, its basilica and its traces of temples. Recent excavations have brought to light an important temple area under the acropolis as well as traces of a port at the mouth of the Fosso dell'Incastro. The churches of San Pietro (12th century, restructured in the 19th century) and Santa Marina (12th century) are evidence of the survival of this small town during the Middle Ages.
Alongside these traces of the past, the Manzù Museum recalls the stay in Ardea of Giacomo Manzù, the famous sculptor. Manzù also created one of the bronze doors of St. Peter's in the Vatican (1952-1964).
Close by are the charming Landriana Gardens, while along the coast, north of Torvaianica, is the Riserva marina delle Secche di Tor Paterno (marine reserve), which protects a precious underwater environment with many animal and vegetable species, including the red gorgonian and posidionia grass.
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Typical products
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Producers
POMEZIA
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Where to eat
POMEZIA
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Agrigest
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All'Ombra del Gelso
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Tonelli
ARDEA
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La Rosa Scarlatt
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Oca Giuliva
ANZIO
NETTUNO
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Where to stay
ARDEA
ANZIO
NETTUNO
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Mercati e sagre
ANZIO
NETTUNO
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Outdoor activities
THE SEA, AND MORE BESIDES
The southern coast of the province of Rome preserves some areas of rare beauty, which visitors can admire by taking walks in Anzio's Tor Caldara reserve (park keepers give free guided tours) and in Nero's monumental villa. Nettuno offers the possibility of a bicycle ride in the Foligno forest, a majestic planitial forest with rare floral and animal species, which has been recognized as a site of European interest.
In spring and autumn the Poligono Militare di Nettuno (military firing ground) opens its grounds to visitors thanks to the - non-competitive - "ecological bicycle rides". These start in Piazzale degli Eroi in Nettuno and go as far as Torre Astura, crossing a fine marine and rustic landscape.
Riserva Naturale Regionale Tor Caldara
06 98499421 (pren. gruppi); 335 1231835/40 (info)
Cooperativa Sentieri & Pensieri
tel. e fax 06 9866056; cell. 338 2421681;
sentieri.pensieri@tiscali.it
Associazione Culturale Torre Astura
tel. 06 9803985
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A traditional recipe
PORTODANZESE FISH SOUP
Category: soup
Difficulty: medium
Ready in: 1 hr
Season: year-round
Ingredients
1½ kg of different types of fish (weaver fish, rockfish, fragolino, marmora, lucerna [local fish]), 2 cuttlefish, 8 crayfish, 1/2 kg of mussels, 300g of peeled tomatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, parsley and peperoncino (Italian chilli) as needed.
Preparation
Place the oil and tomatoes in a pan and fry until brown (5-8 minutes), then add the cuttlefish. While this is cooking, crush the salt, some cloves of garlic, a small bunch of parsley and the peperoncino in a mortar. When the cuttlefish have cooked for 15 minutes, dilute the mixture in the mortar with some water and pour it into the pan, then add water until you get a clear consistency. Turn up the heat and add the other fish according to their cooking times; first the lucerna, then the weaver fish and the scorpion fish. After 15 minutes add the rockfish, then the rest of the fish after another 5 minutes. When the soup is nearly ready, add the crayfish and cook for another 3 minutes. Separately, let the mussels open, rinse them and use them to garnish the dishes. Serve the soup with fried or toasted square croutons.
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Historycal itineraries
ARDEA, CAPITAL OF THE RUTULI PEOPLE 
