The town is on the coast, only 58.5 kilometers away from Rome. Anzio’s harbor is a ferry and freight port; it is approximately 50 km away from the mouth of the Tiber River. Anzio is a well-known tourist attraction and seaside resort, also thanks to its unequalled geographic position. Its history traces back to prehistoric times: many prehistoric finds have been discovered in the area during the years, mostly dating back to the Pontiniano era. The town of Anzio was founded in ancient times, and was occupied by the Volscians first, and by the Romans later, starting from year 338 B.C.. The Roman Forum’s stand from which orators spoke to the people was decorated with the rostrums of the ships that were captured in Anzio. During the Imperial Age, astonishing villas were built in Anzio, like Nero’s Villa, where artworks of great importance have been discovered, some of which are the following: the Statue of Apollo (Apollo del Belvedere), the Borghese Gladiator (Gladiatore Borghese) and the Statue of a Young Girl (Fanciulla di Anzio).

Anzio’s round-shaped harbor was built by Roman Emperor Nero, who was born in Anzio; trade flourished and the whole town’s prosperity increased. Anzio’s harbor was destroyed by the Saracens during the fall of the Roman Empire.

During the Middle Ages the town of Anzio fell into decay, and despite the efforts made by the Popes to bring its harbor back to life, Anzio turned into a small fishing town. In 1378, the Venetian galleys commanded by Vettore Pisani defeated Luigi Fleschi’s Genoan fleet in front of Anzio. In the 16th century the harbor was rebuilt by Pope Innocent XII, and the town of Anzio rose again; it was named Porto d’Anzio. Villa Adele, which is one of the most important tourist attractions of Anzio, was built in the early seventeenth century, while Villa Albani and Villa Sarsina were built in the eighteenth century.

Since the end of the 19th century Anzio has been one of the most popular and renowned seaside resorts in Lazio. Because of its location, it is easily accessible from Rome, and many of the tourists visiting Rome come to Anzio, especially during summer. In 2006, Anzio has been awarded the European Blue Flag, which certifies cleanliness of coastal areas and beaches, upon compliance with the requirements and standards for excellent bathing water. Tourism began in the early 1900s, when families living in Rome belonging to the upper middle-class built their summer houses along the coast of Anzio, mostly on the West Riviera (Riviera di Ponente). Seafood restaurants situated on the Porto Innocenziano are locally renowned. Liberty style villas are positioned in the southern part of the town, near Nettuno, where a gambling house is also located; the latter was built in 1924, but it never operated as a gambling house, since the necessary authorizations were lacking, probably due to a clause contained in the Lateran Treaty that prohibited the construction of gambling houses within certain distance from the Vatican City. Currently the building is owned by the Commune of Anzio and is used as a meeting space, where congresses, cultural initiatives, and the city council’s meetings are held.

But the town of Anzio is renowned worldwide because of a historic event of great relevance: the Anzio Landing. During World War II, American and British troops attacked the Germans in Anzio to break their hold of Italy and trap the German army at Cassino. D-day was scheduled for January 21-22, 1944, when the Allies, under the command of Admiral F. Lowry, landed in Anzio; the Allied forces in this attack consisted of 243 ships, 50,000 soldiers and 5,000 vehicles, as well as over 65 aircrafts. The Germans were taken by surprise, but were not defeated right away, and the battle continued until May, causing great damage to the town and the surrounding area.

Today the town of Anzio is considered as one of Lazio’s tourist meccas, which is exactly what local and regional bodies aim at: promoting tourism in the area and protecting historic-artistic heritage. The fishing industry plays a very important role in town: it attracts a multitude of buyers, as the owners of the numerous seafood restaurants in town.

Tor Caldara watch tower is located in the Lavinio area; it was built by Marcantonio Colonna at the end of the 16th century, put forth with papal authorization by Pope Pius IV, to protect the sulfur mines that existed in the surrounding area. The watch tower has recently been restored. It’s surrounded by a regional park, the WWF Regional Nature Reserve of Tor Caldara, where sulfur springs are located.

Ferries and hydrofoils to the wonderful Pontine Islands depart from the harbor of Anzio; Ponza and the other Pontine Islands of utmost beauty, where tourists can enjoy crystal-clear water, are only a short distance away from Rome, which makes it a paradise lost for foreign and Italian tourists.

Anzio and Rome are connected by Via Nettunense (SS 207) and Via Ardeatina (SS 601): you can reach Rome in 50 minutes by car, by bus or by train; the train from Nettuno to Rome stops at Lavinio, Villa Claudia, Marechiaro and downtown Anzio  railway stations.