Seaside Castle with Ocean-View Gardens in the Roman Countryside

Today, I visited a private castle not too far from home in Santa Marinella, one of the most popular seaside resorts around Rome. One of my university professors also lives in this charming town. 🏰 I was warmly welcomed by the enthusiastic castle owners. The castle stands on a headland overlooking the sea and has been renowned since ancient times for its strategic, scenic, and natural features. This spot was once home to an Etruscan port and a Roman villa. In the 11th century, a grand watchtower was built here to protect the coast from Saracen raids, and it still stands today. 🏰 Later, it became a true defensive fortress. At the end of the 17th century, during the reign of Pope Barberini, the palace was further expanded, and the family's bee emblem can be seen on the glazed terracotta statues of the small chapel. 🐝 In the late 19th century, the Odescalchi nobility (the current owners' ancestors) purchased the land and transformed the castle, creating a beautiful ocean-view terrace garden. It features a mix of palm trees, Mediterranean shrubs, and giant cacti from South America. 🌴 I asked the owners if they had a private beach. They said no, and the beaches below the castle are public. But actually, their family is the founding family of the town. When they bought the land, it was barren. Their ancestors planned and developed the area, creating the modern seaside resort we see today. 🏖️ #citywalk #ItalyTravel #RomanticSeasideLiving #CastleLife #GardenViews #EuropeanTravel #Watchtower #HikingAroundTheWorld #NobleCastle #SeasideVilla