San Felice Circeo is a town and comune in the province of Latina, in the Lazio region of central Italy. It was an ancient city called Circeii. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").[3]

San Felice Circeo
Comune di San Felice Circeo
View of San Felice Circeo
View of San Felice Circeo
Coat of arms of San Felice Circeo
Location of San Felice Circeo
Map
San Felice Circeo is located in Italy
San Felice Circeo
San Felice Circeo
Location of San Felice Circeo in Italy
San Felice Circeo is located in Lazio
San Felice Circeo
San Felice Circeo
San Felice Circeo (Lazio)
Coordinates: 41°17′N 13°08′E / 41.283°N 13.133°E / 41.283; 13.133
CountryItaly
RegionLazio
ProvinceLatina (LT)
FrazioniBorgo Montenero, Colonia Elena, La Cona, Mezzomonte, Pantano Marino, San Vito
Government
 • MayorMonia Di Cosimo (Civic list)
Area
 • Total
32.63 km2 (12.60 sq mi)
Elevation
98 m (322 ft)
Population
 (31 May 2015)[2]
 • Total
10,018
 • Density310/km2 (800/sq mi)
DemonymSanfeliciani
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
04017
Dialing code0773
ISTAT code059025
Patron saintSan Felice Martire
Saint dayJuly 29
WebsiteOfficial website

It is included in the Circeo National Park. Sites include the Grotta Guattari, one of the oldest Neanderthal sites in Italy, in which remains of nine Neanderthals were discovered.[4]

Capo Circeo Lighthouse is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the old town.

History

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In the treaty signed between Carthage and Rome in 509 BC, the Carthaginians agreed not to harm Circeii.[5]

In 209 BC, during the Second Punic War, Circeii was one of twelve Latin colonies to refuse any more military contributions towards Rome[6] and in 204 it was severely punished as a result,[7] by furnishing double the greatest number of foot soldiers they had ever provided and 120 horsemen, all chosen from the wealthiest of the inhabitants, and to be sent out of Italy. Also an annual tax was imposed.

The Roman Triumvir Lepidus was exiled here after his fall in 36 BC by his former colleague, and future Emperor, Octavian.[8]

In September 1975 the so called Circeo massacre took place in San Felice Circeo, the murder and rape of two young women which received significant media attention in Italy.

References

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  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Lazio" (in Italian). Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Archaeologists discover remains of nine Neanderthals near Rome". The Washington Post. 8 May 2021.
  5. ^ Richard Miles, Carthage Must Be Destroyed: The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Mediterranean Civilization (London: Penguin Books, 2011), p. 94.
  6. ^ Livy, Ab Urbe Condita 27.9
  7. ^ Livy, Ab Urbe Condita 29.15
  8. ^ Jochen Bleicken, Augustus: The Biography Translated by Anthea Bell (London: Penguin Books, 2015), p. 198
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