20 April, 2013

The perfect daytrip from Rome – Santa Marinella

Santa Marinella – The perfect break on a budget away from the heat of Rome

When you find yourself within the confines of the incredible city of Rome it is easy to forget that you are fairly near to the Mediterranean Sea.  In fact when one thinks of Rome, history, architecture, art and culture immediately spring to mind, with sand, buckets and spades and bikinis, being more widely associated with the likes of the Costa Brava, the Cote d’Azur and the Costa del Sol.

On the contrary, however, if you are lucky enough to be spending some time in Rome this year and fancy forgoing the culture and history in favour of a daytrip from Rome, you’ll appreciate being informed about Santa Marinella, one of the finest seaside resorts in the Rome vicinity.

Santa Marinella is a short train journey away from Italy’s capital and can be a pleasant change from the hustle and bustle of the city. There are other seaside towns dotted around the coast near to Rome but arguably Santa Marinella is the best. Sun, sand and seafood is nearer to you than you can imagine.

By train is the best way to get to Santa Marinella. Trains set off at least hourly from any of Rome’s three stations – Termini, Trastevere, and San Pietro. The round trip costs just 7.00 euros and the train will have you at this lovely Italian beach resort in about half an hour.

Once in Santa Marinella you can explore the narrow maze of interesting streets before ensconcing yourself on the stretches of golden sand that are covered wutg chairs and cabanas, a blantant sign that this beach is geared towards enabling the people and guests of Rome to relax and unwind on the gentle shores of the Mediterranean.

The seafood served in Santa Marinella, excels itself and comes fresh out of the ocean that day. One particularly great seafood restaurant is” Tavola Azzurra 2.”

Here you can buy very reasonably priced food and wine. Just sit back and enjoy yourself as plate after plate of local delicacies from the land and sea are served up, including raw vegetables, sardines, anchovies and meatballs, all washed down with ice cold white wine.

If you do find yourself in this popular and unpretentious Italian seafood restaurant, be sure to try the “seadas,” which is a fritter of meat and fish, fried with cheese and drizzled with honey. The cost for this treat is a mere 20 euros a head, including wine.

When you consider the low cost of the train ticket, Santa Marinella, makes for a perfect daytrip from Rome. Why not combine the two with one of Vintage Travel’s luxury villas in Italy?