A fine sandy beach shelves gently and the Gaeta promontory protects it against south-westerly gales. In the calm waters of the Vindicio beach water-sports flourish; they hold water skiing championships. There are ferries to Ischia and the Pontine islands.

Classical Formia stood on the old Via Appia and was a Roman bathing station. You can see the outlines of hanging gardens and swimming-pools on the sea-front. Among the ruins of large, luxurious Roman villas is that of Cicero, now Villa Rubino. Cicero’s tomb, a conical tower set on bricks and bordered with evergreens, is 2 km west on the Gaeta road.