Formia (Lazio): what to see


post-title

What to see in Formia, itinerary including the main monuments and places of interest, including Villa Rubino, Church of Sant’Erasmo, Torre di Mola, Roman Cistern and Cicero's Tomb.


Tourist information

Ancient city located in the province of Latina, from which it is 76 km away, Formia was a famous holiday resort for the Roman patriciate, among whom illustrious guest was Cicero, who was assassinated in the surrounding area by the followers of Antonio in 43 BC.

After it was razed to the ground by the Saracens in the ninth century, the two villages of Castellone and Mola were built to replace them, unified in 1800.


Everywhere there are remains of Roman buildings and villas, including the tomb of Cicero of the first century BC, the tomb of Tulliola, who was Cicero's daughter, and the fountain of San Remigio, still functioning.

Villa Rubino, built on the ground where the Villa di Cicerone was previously and purchased by Ferdinando II of Bourbon, is immersed in a park decorated with various sculptures.

Near the place where the Roman Theater was located, there is the Torre di Sant’Erasmo, the only survivor of the Caetani Castle.


What see

The medieval Church of Sant Erasmus, reworked between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, has an interior with three naves, embellished with frescoes and other paintings from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, where the relics of the saint are kept.

In the Antiquarium are preserved archaeological finds found in the area, among which a leda and an ares are very interesting.

The Roman fish market consists of 15 tanks, which were used to breed rare species of fish.


The Torre Mola, dating back to 1200, and a Baroque portal, are the only remains of the Angevin Castle.

Nearby is the Church of San Giovanni Battista, which contains a remarkable painting from the 1400s.

Recommended readings
  • Anagni (Lazio): what to see
  • Lazio: Sunday day trips
  • Vetralla (Lazio): what to see
  • Ciociaria (Lazio): what to see in the historic region
  • Alatri (Lazio): what to see

The Roman Cisternone, dating back to the first century BC, is a grandiose underground structure characterized by rows of pillars that divide the vast environment into 4 naves covered by vaults.

Best Attractions and Places to See in Formia, Italy (March 2024)


Tags: Lazio
Top