5. Sea Coast of Latium. NETTUNO. Envir. of Borne. 495
Close by the town itself is the Villa Sarsina, formerly Aldo¬
brandini, commanding pretty views; we reach it by ascending
from the Piazza, crossing the rails, and then following the Via
Pietro Aldobrandini, finally turning to the left. Opposite the en¬
trance is the former Villa Albani, now the Ospizio Marino (for
scrofulous children). Continuing along the Via Pietro Aldobrandini
and ascending the hill straight in front, we come upon (8 min.) the
remains of an antique wall. Fine survey of the town and sea. The
Via della Galleria, a shady avenue, leads from this point round the
back of the Villa Borghese to Nettuno (see below).
Excursions bt Small Boat (comp. p. 494) afford picturesque views
of the beach with its numerous ruins. The promontory upon which the
lighthouse (Faro) stands is pierced by ancient passages ('Grotte di
Nerone'), which lead to a large villa, probably once belonging to the em¬
perors.' The so-called Arco Muto, a little to the N.W., has recently
been walled up. — The farther we retreat from the land the freer a view
do we obtain of the beautiful Monte Circeo (p. 503).
The Railway from Anzio to Nettuno (2 M., fares 35, 25 e.)
follows the highroad (1/2 hr. on foot). Adjoining the railway signal-
box No. 36 is the side-entrance to the —
Villa Borghese, which is surrounded by fine shady trees. When
occupied by the family the villa can be visited only with a special
permesso, to be obtained at the Pai. Borghese (p. 213) in Rome (at
other times, fee 25 e). The main entrance (usually closed) is op¬
posite the Casino, which is said to occupy the site of the ancient
Arx. — From the gate of the villa to Nettuno, 1/2 M.
Nettuno (Rail. Restaurant ; Caffè Nettuno, in the Piazza;
Trattoria della Campana, Via Vittorio Emanuele Terzo 8), a
small place with 5072 inhab., a fort built in 1496 for Pope Alex¬
ander VI., and narrow, winding streets, depends for its interest on
its picturesque situation. It is said to have been once a settlement
of the Saracens. The native costume of the women is now seldom
worn, even on holidays.
A coast-road leads to the E. from Nettuno, past an artillery-range
(Poligono d'Artigleria), to the (7Va M.) Torre Astura, where there are
numerous remains of Roman villas, and where Cicero also once possesscd
a villa. The tower, connected with the mainland by a bridge, belonged
to a castle in which Prince Conradin of Swabia vainly sought refuge
with Jacopo Frangipani after the battle of Tagliacozzo in 1268.
6. The Volscian Mountains and the
Railway to Terracina.
The Volscian mountain-range (Monti Lepini or Monti dei Volsci),
which culminates in the Semprevisa (5040 ft.), to the S. of Carpineto, is
separated on the E. from the principal chain of the Apennines by the
valley of the Sacco, and on the N. from the Alban Mts. by a narrow
depression; it extends to the S. as far as the Bay of Gaeta, and on the
W. is bounded by a dreary and in some places marshy plain adjoining
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