Nettuno
Encyclopedia
Nettuno is a town and comune
of the province of Rome
in the Lazio region of central Italy
, 60 kilometers south of Rome
. It is named in honour of the Roman god Neptune
. A resort city and agricultural center on the Tyrrhenian Sea
, in the Mediterranean Sea
it has a population of approximately 46,000.
It has a touristic harbour hosting about 860 boats and a shopping center, selling everything for fishing and sailing. There is also an extensive yacht club.
Nettuno is the city of the D.O.C.
wine Cacchione.
The town was founded by the Saracens in the 9th century. It is a popular tourist destination today, where there are a well-preserved old quarter, the Borgo Medievale, with mediaeval streets and small squares, and the Forte Sangallo, a castle built in 1503
by renaissance architect Antonio Da Sangallo Il Vecchio
(Antonio da Sangallo the Elder
).
It is an important center of pilgrimage to the shrine
of Saint Maria Goretti. In the shrine there is a crypt
where lie the mortal remains of the saint. The church keeps also a priceless polychromed wooden statue of Our Lady of Grace
, which is honoured by the town with a procession every year the first Saturday of May.
Nettuno has one of the most important Italian baseball
teams, Danesi Nettuno often winner of the Championship. This game was taught to the local people during the Second World War by U.S. soldiers, who landed along the coasts for Operation Shingle
. At the north edge of town is the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial
, where over 7,800 U.S. soldiers are buried.
The privately-owned Villa Costaguti-Borghese at Nettuno, built 1648, has extensive gardens in a landscape park designed about 1840, now protected as a nature reserve. The Borghese Gladiator
was discovered at Nettuno.
A key feature of Nettuno is the "fort" - a medieval wall which goes around an entire neighborhood of stone-paved streets.
In the late 1980s, Nettuno figured prominently as a transit point for Jewish immigrants on their way to Israel or the United States. Since the Soviet Union and Israel did not have diplomatic relations, Italy agreed to serve as a staging ground for Jewish refugees to Israel from the Soviet Union. Upon entering Italy, refugees would file a petition with the Israeli consulate and await approval. Many Jews took advantage of this opportunity to petition the U.S. consulate for asylum to let them enter the United States on religious persecution grounds. Though the majority of Russian Jews settled in Rome and Ladispoli (a small city near Rome), a significant number of them, particularly those from the Ukrainian city of Odessa, chose Nettuno as their temporary home, perhaps due to its magnificent beaches and lively night scene. Other, much more insignificant Italian cities such as Santa Marinella also served as temporary homes, though they offered little beyond "Wheels of Immigration" - a pretzel-like snack as comfort to their visitors.
, and one of the most important Italian Police Schools, where especially police dogs are trained.
Nettuno is one stop south of Anzio on the local train from Rome.
, Ireland
Corinaldo
, Italy Traunreut
, Germany
Bandol
, France
Cleveland, USA Wehr
, Germany
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of the province of Rome
Province of Rome
The Province of Rome , is a province in the Lazio region of Italy. The province can be viewed as the extended metropolitan area of the city of Rome, although in its more peripheral portions, especially to the north, it comprises towns surrounded by rural landscape.-Geography:The Province of Rome...
in the Lazio region of central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 60 kilometers south of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. It is named in honour of the Roman god Neptune
Poseidon
Poseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon...
. A resort city and agricultural center on the Tyrrhenian Sea
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.-Geography:The sea is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia , Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria and Sicily ....
, in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
it has a population of approximately 46,000.
It has a touristic harbour hosting about 860 boats and a shopping center, selling everything for fishing and sailing. There is also an extensive yacht club.
Nettuno is the city of the D.O.C.
Denominazione di Origine Controllata
Denominazione di origine controllata is a quality assurance label for food products, especially wines and various formaggi . It is modelled after the French AOC...
wine Cacchione.
The town was founded by the Saracens in the 9th century. It is a popular tourist destination today, where there are a well-preserved old quarter, the Borgo Medievale, with mediaeval streets and small squares, and the Forte Sangallo, a castle built in 1503
by renaissance architect Antonio Da Sangallo Il Vecchio
Antonio da Sangallo the Elder
Antonio da Sangallo the Elder was an Italian Renaissance architect who specialized in the design of fortifications.-Biography:Antonio da Sangallo was born at Florence....
(Antonio da Sangallo the Elder
Antonio da Sangallo the Elder
Antonio da Sangallo the Elder was an Italian Renaissance architect who specialized in the design of fortifications.-Biography:Antonio da Sangallo was born at Florence....
).
It is an important center of pilgrimage to the shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
of Saint Maria Goretti. In the shrine there is a crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
where lie the mortal remains of the saint. The church keeps also a priceless polychromed wooden statue of Our Lady of Grace
Our Lady of Grace
Our Lady of Grace is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It may also refer to:England*A Roman Catholic church in Chiswick, London, England, in the Archdiocese of Westminster*Our Lady of Grace School , in Prestwich, Greater Manchester...
, which is honoured by the town with a procession every year the first Saturday of May.
Nettuno has one of the most important Italian baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
teams, Danesi Nettuno often winner of the Championship. This game was taught to the local people during the Second World War by U.S. soldiers, who landed along the coasts for Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
. At the north edge of town is the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial
Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial
Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial is a cemetery for American military personnel who were killed in World War II. Established as a temporary wartime cemetery on 24 January 1944, in Nettuno, two days after the landing at Anzio and Nettuno, codenamed Operation Shingle, the site in Italy...
, where over 7,800 U.S. soldiers are buried.
The privately-owned Villa Costaguti-Borghese at Nettuno, built 1648, has extensive gardens in a landscape park designed about 1840, now protected as a nature reserve. The Borghese Gladiator
Borghese Gladiator
The Borghese Gladiator is a Hellenistic lifesize marble sculpture actually portraying a swordsman, created at Ephesus about 100 BCE. It is signed on the pedestal by Agasias, son of Dositheus, who is otherwise unknown.-Rediscovery:...
was discovered at Nettuno.
A key feature of Nettuno is the "fort" - a medieval wall which goes around an entire neighborhood of stone-paved streets.
In the late 1980s, Nettuno figured prominently as a transit point for Jewish immigrants on their way to Israel or the United States. Since the Soviet Union and Israel did not have diplomatic relations, Italy agreed to serve as a staging ground for Jewish refugees to Israel from the Soviet Union. Upon entering Italy, refugees would file a petition with the Israeli consulate and await approval. Many Jews took advantage of this opportunity to petition the U.S. consulate for asylum to let them enter the United States on religious persecution grounds. Though the majority of Russian Jews settled in Rome and Ladispoli (a small city near Rome), a significant number of them, particularly those from the Ukrainian city of Odessa, chose Nettuno as their temporary home, perhaps due to its magnificent beaches and lively night scene. Other, much more insignificant Italian cities such as Santa Marinella also served as temporary homes, though they offered little beyond "Wheels of Immigration" - a pretzel-like snack as comfort to their visitors.
Famed Residents
- birthplace of Italian soccer legend Bruno ContiBruno ContiBruno Conti is an Italian ex-football player and former coach of the Serie A club Roma from 14 March 2005 to 30 June 2005. His two sons Daniele and Andrea are both professional footballers...
. - Maria GorettiMaria GorettiMaria Goretti is an Italian virgin-martyr of the Roman Catholic Church, and is one of its youngest canonized saints. She died from multiple stab wounds inflicted by her attempted rapist after she refused him...
- Paolo SegneriPaolo SegneriPaolo Segneri was an Italian Jesuit preacher, missionary, and ascetical writer.-Life:Segneri was born at Nettuno. He studied at the Roman College, and in 1637 entered the Society of Jesus, not without opposition from his father. Oliva was his first master in the religious life; Sforza...
- Emiliano Conti (born 30 November 1985 in Velletri, province of Rome) Midfielder of Roma Leones Lacrosse
Other
In the domain of army, Nettuno has one of the biggest bases for the Italian Force, whose territory extends to the Province of LatinaProvince of Latina
The Province of Latina is a province in the Lazio region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Latina.It has an area of 2,251 km², and a total population of 519,850...
, and one of the most important Italian Police Schools, where especially police dogs are trained.
Nettuno is one stop south of Anzio on the local train from Rome.
Twin towns
ArdeeArdee
Ardee is a town and townland in County Louth, Ireland. It is located at the intersection of the N2, N52, and N33 roads. Ardee is on the banks of the River Dee and is approximately 20 km from Dundalk, Drogheda, Slane and Carrickmacross...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Corinaldo
Corinaldo
Corinaldo is a town and comune in the Province of Ancona, within the Marche region of central Italy. As of 2005 it had a population of 5,187 inhabitants...
, Italy Traunreut
Traunreut
Traunreut is a town in southeastern Bavaria, Germany in the Traunstein district. It is located at . Traunreut lies in the heart of the Chiemgau region between Munich and Salzburg, approximately 10 km east of the Chiemsee, 25 km north of the Alps, and 35 km west of Salzburg. Its...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Bandol
Bandol
Bandol is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-References:*...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Cleveland, USA Wehr
Wehr
Wehr is a town in the Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 9 km north of Bad Säckingen, and 18 km east of Lörrach. Wehr is the home of two very old and large families: the Trefzgers and the Nagelins....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...