Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Mosaic in Beachfront Park.
Tsunami Walking Tour
Madam Yoko’s gravesite.
Madam Yoko’s Grave
Garden path.
Garden of the Presidential Mansion
Anabaptist Cages
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Aerial view of Bell Labs Holmdel
How the Bell Labs Holmdel Complex Inspired ‘Severance’
1 day ago
Omni Parker House Hotel
The Omni Parker House: Inside the History of Boston’s Most Iconic Hotel
3 days ago
The cute capybara.
Animal Takeover: Brace Yourself for Adorable Hordes
4 days ago
The Codex Gigas (the Devil’s Bible) open to the portrait of the devil.
Codex Gigas: Who Drew the Devil in This Massive Medieval Bible?
5 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Formia Parco Naturale Regionale di Gianola e Monte di Scauri
AO Edited

Parco Naturale Regionale di Gianola e Monte di Scauri

This little visited park is a treasure trove of ancient Roman ruins.

Formia, Italy

Added By
Lana Velkov
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Overlooking Mamurra’s villa and baths.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Overlooking Mamurra’s villa and baths.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
The view from the park near Mamurra’s villa and the baths.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
  Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
  Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Porticciolo Romano - the Ancient Roman port.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
  Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
  Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Ancient Roman mosaics on the site of former baths.   Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
  Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
  Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Hidden away in the Lazio region of Italy, about 50 miles north of Naples, the Gianola and Monte di Scauri Regional Park stretches across 292 stunning hectares. Managed by the Riviera di Ulisse Park Authority, the body that governs other nearby Atlas Obscura locations such as the Villa of Tiberius, this park is home to many ancient Roman ruins that few tourists know about.

Among its notable sites is a remarkable seaside villa, dating back to around 50 BC and believed to belong to the Roman military officer Mamurra who served under Julius Caesar.

Visitors can also explore the evocative Grotta della Janara, a staircase adorned with a barrel vault reminiscent of Sardinia's Domus de Janas, and the remnants of Porticciolo Romano, a small Roman port.

Scattered across the landscape are five coastal towers: the ruins of Torre di Gianola and Torre Fico, alongside Torre Foce and Torre dei Mulini, which, though integrated into private properties, remain strikingly visible. The majestic Torre di Scauri, perched atop Monte d'Oro, offers breathtaking views of Minturno and the coastline.

Related Tags

Trails Hiking Towers Sea Forts Villas Ancient Roman

Know Before You Go

It is best to visit the park with a local or an archeological expert since many of the ruins extend into the sea, making the paths potentially dangerous.

The park often hosts archeological snorkeling events exploring the Porticciolo Romano (the Roman port). Take a look at the park's Facebook page to learn more about upcoming events.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Lana Velkov

Published

April 21, 2025

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Parco Naturale Regionale di Gianola e Monte di Scauri
Via Salere, Gianola
Formia, 04023
Italy
41.251712, 13.677008
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Eremo di San Michele Arcangelo (Hermitage of Saint Michael the Archangel)

Formia, Italy

miles away

Appia Antica in Itri

Itri, Italy

miles away

Via Flacca Ruins

Sperlonga, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,071
Stories 111

Nearby Places

Eremo di San Michele Arcangelo (Hermitage of Saint Michael the Archangel)

Formia, Italy

miles away

Appia Antica in Itri

Itri, Italy

miles away

Via Flacca Ruins

Sperlonga, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,071
Stories 111

Related Places

  • The pyramid shaped chapel & museum

    Bessans, France

    Mont Cenis

    From Carthage's Hannibal to riders of the Tour de France, many have crossed this scenic route through the Alps.

  • Within the flat enclose of the D-shaped fort

    Monreith, Scotland

    Barsalloch Fort

    A 2,000-year-old Iron Age fort offers stunning ocean views.

  • The watchtower and the lighthouse

    Massa Lubrense, Italy

    Punta Campanella

    A crumbling watchtower and a lighthouse overlooks the site believed to be the Sirens' cliff in the "Odyssey."

  • Villa dei Misteri seen from above.

    Pompeii, Italy

    Villa dei Misteri

    This amazingly well-preserved villa just outside Pompeii boasts rare examples of ancient Roman paintings.

  • Villa of Poppaea, Oplontis

    Torre Annunziata, Italy

    Ruins of Oplontis

    Buried next to Pompeii, this lesser-known Roman villa was the opulent vacation home of Emperor Nero's wife.

  • Ivinghoe Beacon seen looking north from The Ridgeway.

    Buckinghamshire, England

    Ivinghoe Beacon

    Model aircraft soar over 360-degree views of the countryside at the start of England's oldest road.

  • Roman circus of Tarragona.

    Tarragona, Spain

    Roman Circus and Praetorian Tower

    Long tunnels run under the ancient chariot racing circuit to the tower.

  • Chedworth Roman Villa, view from northeast.

    Gloucestershire, England

    Chedworth Roman Villa

    Deep in the countryside lie the remains of one of the grandest Roman dwellings in Britain.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.