Marina di Minturno

by Mario Rizzi

and traslated by Fabio C.  Filosa

Marina di Minturno is the second bathing resort. It is, along with Scauri, the most important centre for recreation of local and foreign tourism with a total of six camping areas. Our rivieras are the destination of more and more holiday makers, who know how to appreciate the beauties that mother nature has fully enhanced it with. Visitors are also gratified by a wholesome climate, by interesting archeological ruins and by the golden sand where there are modern bathing establishments, hotels and boarding. The sunbathers can dive into a crystal clear sea, due to one of the most efficient depurators which has been functional since 1996. The tourists can take great walks along a totally flat and newly rebuilt promenade since 1995.

The Marina di Minturno beach is divided by the Monte D’Argento, a small hill of limestone where in 1014 the famous “Placito di Castrum Argenti” was declared in order to mark a denunciation, called for property confinement between the count of “Traetto”, Dauferio, and the Abbot of Montecassino.

In the S. Reparata district another virgin was martyred by Decius, S. Reparata (probably S. Reparata and S. Albina were the same person).

To the east of Marina di Minturno, near the Garigliano river which divides Lazio from the “Campania Felix”, rises “ancient Minturnae” . Tito Livio wrote that the Auruncan city began to have its first contacts with Rome in 504-503 BC. It was part of the “Pentapoli Aurunca” along with “Vescia, Ausonia, Sinuessa and Sessa”.

Since it had taken sides with the Sanniti against Rome, in 315 BC “Minturnae, Ausona and Vescia” were completely destroyed.

After the construction of  the Appian way (Regina Viarum) by Appio Claudio Grasso, known as “Blind”, in 314-312 BC, “Minturnae” was reconstructed and repopulated with the inference of a roman colony in 295 BC. Two other colonial envoys were sent during the eras of Cesar and Augustus.

“Minturnae” was the fourth most important city in Europe after Rome. It had a great importance as a commercial centre and, along with other incidents, was abbandoned by its citizens only in 590 AD, when the Longobards made it vulnerable by cutting off the Vespasian  aqueduct, 11 km long. It was built in concrete and covered with a tannery of dark tufa in a reticular fashion. After the destruction the survivors hid on the nearby hill and thus originating the ancient “Traetto”.

In 88 BC the swamps of “Minturnae” gave shelter to Caio Mario, who was declared as being a public enemy by Silla. When the magistrates of “Minturnae” found him, they sentenced his death by the hand of a slave. Caio Mario, whose bronze bust is placed in the City Hall of Minturno, was able to escape because he frightened the slave with these words: “Homo audes occidere Cajum Marium?” In Marium Plutarc wrote that the people of Minturno, moved by compassion, helped Caio Mario sail upon Beleo’s ship towards Africa.

The great “Roman Theatre” stands within the archeological area, built at the end of Augustus’s reign or at the begining of Tiberious’s reign (I century AD). Inside the excavations we can find an origional piece of the ancient Appian way built in blocks of basaltic lava; the “Bidental” (sacred well), the “Imperial Forum”; the “Decumanus Maximus”; the “Capital”; the “Repubblican Forum”; the “Nymph”; the “Pubblic Fountain”; the “Quadriportico” (roman arch) of tiberian era; the “Macellum” (market); the “Tabernae”; the “Thermal baths” with a mosaic representing cupids making wine. In the spaces below the “cavea” there is the “Antiquarium” which holds numerous coins of the ancient city.

In 1817 the austrian general Laval Nugent ordered for some research to be held, which brought to his castle of Tersatto (Trieste) 158 statues, which were sold after his death by the Banato of Zagreb in Jugoslavia.

Between 1931 and 1933 the american scholar Mr. Jotham Johnson, from the University of Philadelphia, made some diggings and brought back to America nine heads. In the National Museum of Naples we can find 104 statues. Others can be found in the Gypsotek of Ny Carsberg in Copenhaghen, Denmark. Lastly, two sarcophaguses are preserved in the Gaeta Cathedral. Most of the sifted material from the ancient city has been used for the construction of the Church of S. Peter in Minturno. Recuperated materials were added here and there in the middle of the old constructions, so it is possible to distinguish, in the corners of the alleys, fragments of marmorial decorations, headbands, half columns, all from “Minturnae”.

Towards the mouth of the Garigliano river there are the ruins of the temple of the nymph Marica.

It has been recently carried out the first suspendedly bridge built in Italy (1828-1832), designed and built by the engineer Luigi Giura.

Adjecent to the way to Castelforte, about 300 meters from the intersection for Minturno, there is the rural Church of S. Anne. Founded by Raffaele Morelli in 1839, it was restored by his son Thomas in 1876 and completed by his grandson Mariano in 1931.

Inside there is a marble altar covered by majolica from nearby Campania. There are paintings all over the vaults done by local artists which represent: The encounter between S. Elisabeth and S. Anne, the Baptism of Jesus and the exodus  from Egypt.

For further information:

Mario RIZZI via Monte Ducale, 20
04026-MINTURNO (LT)
Tel: +39 (0) 771-65348 
 
rizzimario@yahoo.com    

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