Easy hikes and walks in Latina

This famous archaeological site is the tomb of Lucius Munatius Planco, a Roman consul and founder of Lyon and Basel. The mausoleum is located on the summit of Monte Orlando, from where you can also admire the entire Gulf of Gaeta, the Aurunci mountain range, Monte Circeo, the Pontine Islands, and Vesuvius. Lucius Munatius Planco, a lover and admirer of these places, fascinated by their beauty but also attracted by the strategic position and natural fortifications of Gaeta, chose Monte Orlando, wanting once again to excel and ensure his protection. Unlike the mausoleum, which is in good condition today, so much so that it is considered one of the most important existing Roman funerary art artifacts, his sumptuous villa has almost completely disappeared. Few remains of it are left in the area of the Sanctuary of the SS Trinità. The construction dates back to 22 BC and is perfectly circular in shape with a tumulus covering. Inside, this monumental tomb consists of four cells accessible from a circular corridor (ambulatory) and arranged according to the 4 cardinal points. The cells house an antiquarium of artifacts from different historical eras found in the area of Gaeta, and in the main one at the entrance, a copy of the original statue of the consul can be admired, which is currently in Rome. The diameter of the structure is 29.54 meters, while the external circumference measures 93.10.

The powder magazines are an important historical testament to human presence and activity on Monte Orlando in past eras, and they are part of the complex of fortifications and military construction artifacts dating back to the Aragonese and Bourbon dominations (14th-18th centuries). Even in more recent times, as indeed already in Roman times, the extraordinary strategic position of Monte Orlando was appreciated. The powder magazines enclose, within mighty walls, installations where war material (mainly gunpowder) was stored. Today, the Carolina, the Ferdinando, and the Trabacco are preserved in good condition and clearly visible.

This famous archaeological site is the tomb of Lucius Munatius Planco, a Roman consul and founder of Lyon and Basel. The mausoleum is located on the summit of Monte Orlando, from where you can also admire the entire Gulf of Gaeta, the Aurunci mountain range, Monte Circeo, the Pontine Islands, and Vesuvius. An admirer and connoisseur of these places, fascinated by their beauty but also enticed by the strategic position and natural fortifications of Gaeta, Lucius Munatius Planco, by choosing Monte Orlando, wanted, once again, to excel and ensure his protection. Unlike the mausoleum, which is in good condition today, so much so that it is considered one of the most important existing Roman funerary art artifacts, his sumptuous villa has almost entirely disappeared. Few remains of it are left in the area of the Sanctuary of the SS. Trinità. The construction dates back to 22 BC and is perfectly circular in shape with a tumulus covering. Inside, this monumental tomb consists of four cells accessible from a circular corridor (ambulatory) and arranged according to the 4 cardinal points. The cells house an antiquarium of artifacts from different historical eras found in the area of Gaeta, and in the main one at the entrance, a copy of the original statue of the consul, currently in Rome, can be admired. The diameter of the structure is 29.54 meters, while the external circumference measures 93.10.

Wonderful and Fascinating Place The Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity at Montagna Spaccata is a place of deep spirituality, immersed in the extraordinary natural setting of Monte Orlando, in Gaeta. It stands on the remains of the Roman villa of Lucius Munatius Plancus, and owes its name to three imposing fissures in the rock, two of which are visitable. Founded around 930 AD by Benedictine monks, the sanctuary has always been a center of prayer and meditation. It is a place of attraction for pilgrims and visitors from all over the world, fascinated by the sacredness and history of the place. In addition to the suggestive Chapel of the Crucifix, the Church of the Sanctuary, and the Grotta del Turco, the complex offers visitors a spiritual journey between faith and nature, with breathtaking views of the sea. A point of reference for those seeking a moment of recollection and inner peace, immersed in an environment that combines religion, history, and the wonders of creation.

The summit of Redentore (1,253 m) is one of the most striking peaks in the Aurunci Mountains, located in the territory of Formia, famous for the statue of Christ the Redeemer. The summit offers spectacular panoramic views of the Gulf of Gaeta, the Pontine Islands, and the Apennines. The mountain is a destination for hikers and pilgrims, especially due to the famous Hermitage of Saint Michael the Archangel, dating back to the 9th century BC.

The hermitage of San Michele Arcangelo is a small church located on the slopes of Mount Altino, which belongs to the Aurunci Mountains chain, at 1220 m above sea level in the territory of Maranola (a hamlet of Formia). Set in the rock, it is located along the path that leads from Sella Sola to the summit of the Redentore, on a sheer spur. The rock sanctuary, dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, dates back to 830, as it is mentioned in the Codex diplomaticus cajetanus. However, the stone facade, which closes a natural cavity, was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style at the end of the 19th century, in 1893, when Archbishop Francesco Niola climbed Mount Altino on a pastoral visit. He indicated the interior of the grotto as an ideal location for the new construction, in order to avoid the damage suffered by the previous church, caused by runoff water, falling rocks, and ice. The new project was drawn up by the engineer Silvio Forte of Trivio. The rock was squared to form the environment of the Church, and a space twelve meters long, ten wide, and seven high was obtained. On the back wall, opposite the entrance, a niche also carved into the rock houses the statue of Saint Michael. The facade, facing west and with two projecting volumes on the sides, has in the center a pointed arch entrance door, surmounted by a rose window open to let light into the church's interior. On the arch of the door, next to the inscription “Angelorum Principi”, are the dates 830, the year of the foundation of the old monastery, and August 5, 1895, the day of the inauguration of the new Sanctuary. These dates are also reported on a plaque placed inside the church. Both the rose window and the other openings of the facade were closed by polychrome stained glass windows, now lost.

Once at the top of the climb, a wonderful panorama opens up over the valley with a view of Christ the Redeemer.

Mystical place for contemplation where everything flows slowly amidst the beauty of a church nestled in the rock.