What to do in Anzio and Lavinio?

Until last August I would have said to you “go to sea” or “sea, beach, war cemeteries,” but precisely in August I spent a week in Lavinio and I had to change my mind: now, then, here are just four places that I recommend not miss if you go to this area (and want to do more than to go to the beach and take life more calmly).
Let’s start from Anzio and its disembarkment museum: It’s located in Via di Villa Adele 2, a little one way lane where it could be very difficult to find parking. Admission is free and it’s not possible to take photos or video inside the museum (I think it’s a shame, of certain things I would have liked to have a photographic memory). This small museum displays relics of the Allied landings during World War II. Given the high number of things on display, the space is too little! A little more space would have certainly helped the organization of the museum’s display, which would have been a little less cramped. I must also admit that I never expected to find so crowded: I went there in late August and I’ve found a lot tourists, Italians and foreigners, and I was amazed by that. For more information and tips, you can of course visit the museum official website.
In the same building there is also the Anzio Archaeological Museum. Always with a free admission, this museum is definitely larger than the first one, to the point that it appears to be almost too big for the amount of object exposed. The information about the exhibit are almost absent and for this reason it’s difficult to understand the history of the every single object and also it’s hard to understand the logical thread that binds them to the area where they were found. Surely, however, it allows us to understand that this territory is definitely full of history (and it could narrate it with no difficulties).
The last place I recommend you to visit at Anzio is always linked to the Allied landing and is the English monumental cemetery: it is located in Via del Cimitero 10, next to the Municipal Cemetery and the Basilica of Santa Teresa (there are some signs and with a bit of attention you can’t lose it). There are several war cemeteries in the area and this is probably one of my favorites: his silence is deafening as the story it tells and if you add the spectacular bay views you can not walk in his space and thinking.
There is something to see in Lavinio? Yes, there is something to see also in this small seaside town near Rome!
I’m talking about the Tor Caldara Natural Reserve, a natural protected area established in 1988 and with an extension of 44 hectares in the Anzio municipality. Walking through the green area you can reach the tower which was built in 1500 to spot the Saracen pirates: it isn’t a giant tower, but it’s big enough to be seen perfectly from the beach; unfortunately nowadays it’s closed and in ruins. During our walk we found several information boards about animal species (and also of the local flora, if I remember correctly) and different areas for various species: I recommend you to take all the necessary information about the guided tours in the reserve area, to be able to find out most of the history of this wonderful area.
The reserve has a special opening hours: Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to around 19:00 (closing time of course varies between winter and summer). In summer you can take advantage of guided tours (also available for schools) for which you have to apply to security staff.
The entrance is located at 247 Via Ardeatina and I assure you that it’s impossible to miss it.
One last tip to close this post: If you are a photography enthusiast I recommend you take a walk to the waterfront at Anzio at sunset: you’ll be bowled over by the view and the colors