Circeo

Circeo is a small and isolated mountain range rising above the Tyrrhenian Sea that runs along Gaeta, a province of Latina, Italy. During the middle ages, Circeo was one of Rome’s first colonies controlled by feudal lords and protected by the Knights Templar. The National Park of Circeo, a massive dolomitic limestone of Mesozoic sediments established in 1934, is one of the oldest protected areas in Italy. The legend of the Odyssey narrates that Ulysses lived with the Sorceress, Circe on Circeo. Seen from afar, the island formation resembles that of a sleeping woman, giving fame to the legend of Circe. Travelers visiting Circeo can explore the Nature Reserve Ruins of Circe, the Selva di Terracina lowland forests, 13 miles of coastal dunes, and four coastal lakes: Paola, Caprolace, Monaci and Fogliano.