Latina is a city in the Lazio region of Italy, south of Rome, on land that was once marshland. It was built during the Fascist era, when large areas of the Pontine Plain were drained and reclaimed, and the city stands as one of the planned settlements that came out of that work. For a visitor, it offers a clear contrast with the older towns of central Italy: broad, orderly streets and buildings from a single distinct period rather than centuries of layered history.
What to expect
Latina suits those interested in twentieth-century Italian architecture and town planning, and in how the landscape around Rome was changed by reclamation. It is also a practical base for exploring the surrounding Lazio countryside and the coast nearby, without the crowds of the capital.
- Walking the city centre to see how its layout and buildings reflect the period in which it was founded
- Comparing it with older towns in the region for a sense of how different Italian settlements developed
- Using it as a quieter stopping point between Rome and the south of the region
Getting there
Latina is in the province of the same name, within easy reach of Rome by road and rail, so a day trip is possible, though staying a night allows a slower look at the city and its surroundings. Visitors who enjoy planned cities, rural landscapes and a less touristed side of Italy will likely find it worth the detour.
