After a week or two in the Italian countryside, returning to Rome for that final night or two can be overwhelming. As spectacular as the Eternal City is, sometimes it is best to skip the hustle and bustle of the big city. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and a short visit can leave you exhausted.
An alternative to Rome for that a night or two before departure from the Rome airport (Fiumacino) is Santa Marinella. This small waterfront town is steeped in history and culture dating back to the Etruscans, long before Christ.
Santa Marinella, Italy is 60 kilometers northwest of Rome on the sea. It offers beautiful beaches, waterside restaurants and cafés, a castle dating back to the 14th century, a lovely church, and a small square in the historic center surrounded be more restaurants.
The regional park of Maremma is nearby, offering hiking and biking in the hills. The attractions are not the reason to stay here, it is the tranquility and charm of this small Italian beach town.
The town offers every type of accommodation from traditional hotels to agriturismos as well as the normal offerings on Airbnb.
In my view, the best option by far is the Hotel Villa delle Palme. This recently restored gem sits in a quiet neighborhood, a short walk to the heart of town. It was recently restored with all the latest comforts.
Beyond the private beach and breath-taking views from the patio overlooking the sea, the star of the place is the restaurant. One day I was there and had both lunch and dinner, given that the food was so good.
As Liz and I had dinner under a full moon, waves were crashing not ten feet from our table.
Beautiful though it was, the lasting memory is our dessert that night, an apple cream pie. Yes, of course it was made in the restaurant.
Be sure not to miss gelato while walking the main street down to the small harbor. Our favorite is Velato.
TIPS:
1. The town is beautiful, but it will be crowded in July and August.
2. The coffee shops are open early, even on Sundays. When we left town at 6:00 a.m. on our way to the Rome airport, we were thrilled to find coffee.
Apple cream pie? OMG, forgot about it and now I have the “Acquolina in bocca” (urge to have it, salivating)!! Happy you mentioned this never considered population: the Etruscans, coinciding with the Greeks with whom they exchange culture, commerce … The more I read your posts, the more I get homesick. So should I stop reading your posts? Of course not!
It was so delicious! We are glad you are pushing through the homesickness and sticking with us — maybe you need some limoncello, too!