About
Along Rome's southern coast, a medieval stronghold rises over the ruins of ancient Roman villas.
Lazio's coastal landscape was marked by fear of the Saracens during the Middle Ages when so-called "Saracen towers" and small fortresses were constructed. Torre Astura is one of the best preserved among these fortresses. In the 12th century, the powerful Counts of Tusculum owned the fortress, but it was later taken over by the equally powerful Frangipane family.
