I Giardini di Margius

When a day on the beach beckons, choose between the golden sands of Spiaggia di Sperlonga (25 minutes’ drive) and Spiaggia di Serapo (35 minutes). Both are equipped with lido clubs offering food, watersports and sun loungers. If you’d like to explore a little further afield, take the hydrofoil from Formia (25 minutes) to the island of Ventotene (an hour and 15 minutes on the boat) and discover the Roman ruins of Villa Giulia. There are more ancient remains at the Archaeological Park of the Villa of Tiberius and National Archaeological Museum Sperlonga (40 minutes) – Emperor Tiberius formerly dined in luxury in the vast and strangely symmetrical sea cave at the site. There are more ancient attractions closer to base camp too, including a section of the Appian Way (25 minutes), where you can spot the remains of monumental marble tombs, rutted pavements and water cisterns. The Mausoleum of Cicero (20 minutes) is a vast stone monument and possible burial site of the renowned Roman orator and poet.