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Antica Pyrae in Minturno: the cyclopean walls overlooking the Gulf of Gaeta
On the coast of Minturno, looking out over the Gulf of Gaeta, stand the remains of an ancient port: Pyrae. Bearing witness to its former greatness are imposing polygonal walls, built from enormous blocks of stone fitted together with a precision that still astonishes us today. These stones tell a story spanning centuries — from its rise as a maritime trading post to its inevitable abandonment.
From port to Roman villa
Pyrae's golden age was between the seventh and sixth centuries BC, when it was a thriving port. The walls we see today date from precisely that era. With the arrival of the Romans in 314 BC, the city became a colony, and its ancient defences were incorporated into a luxurious seaside villa belonging to Marcus Aemilius Scaurus. Its commercial importance gradually declined, until the final blow was dealt by the Lombard invasions, which sealed its fate.
The archaeological site is located in Minturno (LT), in Via Pasquale Lepone, and is a veritable open-air museum. Access to the walls is completely free, unrestricted, and barrier-free, making the visit easy and fascinating for everyone.
