Minturno
Let's discover Minturno together!
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Minturno, a small town in the heart of Lazio with a great history. Let's discover together everything there is to know!
Physical geography
The territory of Minturno extends across the coastal foothills of the Monti Aurunci, washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea in the Gulf of Gaeta and reaching the mouth of the Garigliano. The city of Minturno is located on the medieval hill of Traetto, which stretches down to the coastal towns of Scauri and Marina di Minturno.
Moreover, the border with Santi Cosma e Damiano is delimited by the Ausente river and the city is served by the Rome-Formia-Naples railway with its own station, the Minturno-Scauri Station.
Etymology
But where does the name Minturno come from? According to some, the current name has echoes of the chthonic goddess Manturna. Others, on the other hand, suggest a Tyrrhenian or pre-Aryan origin. Even local historians have tried to reconstruct the etymology of Minturno: it is supposed that the name is Etruscan and derives from Mintur or that Minturno would be the contraction of the Hebrew Menath-ur.
History
The city of the archaeological area of Minturnae was located along the ancient Appian Way near the Garigliano river. Its origins date back to an Ausonian center, belonging to the Pentapolis Aurunca. In honor of the nymph Marica, a tuff temple was erected, which was then rebuilt in masonry at the end of the 1st century by the Romans.
After the defeat of the Aurunco people in 314 B.C. during the second Samnite War, the Romans completely destroyed the cities of the Pentapolis and Minutrni was refounded as a Roman colony in 295 B.C. and its "ager" included the area between the Monti Aurunci and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Curiosities
But Minturno also hides some secrets: near the mouth of the Garigliano there was the sacred grove of the goddess Marica. In addition, in the swamps of ancient Minturno, the consul Gaius Marius found refuge in 88 B.C., chased by the men of his rival Lucius Cornelius Sulla. Local magistrates ordered his killing by the hand of a Cimbrian slave. The leader managed to escape death, having intimidated the Germanic man.
Conclusions
That's all there is to know about Minturno! This town in Lazio is really rich in history and traditions, a true treasure to discover for those who love to travel in search of authenticity. If you have the opportunity to pass through these parts, don't miss the chance to visit Minturno and admire all its beauties!
