Ladispoli, located on the Italian coast, only 35 kilometers west of Rome, is a very popular summer resort city.  During the months of July and August, the city is filled with sun worshipers, beach goers, and others, all out for a bit of fun and relaxation.

I, however, was visiting the city in the beginning of May.  So, I had the place pretty much to myself.

Ladispoli shares a train station with the neighboring city of Cerveteri.  It lies on the Roma-Pisa train line, which runs along the coast, for the most part.  I arrived by train from Piombino.  Before arriving, I checked the location of the apartment I had rented, wanting to find out if it was within walking distance from the train station.  It was, but not with luggage, and a computer.  So, I did the only sensible thing I could do, and once out of the train station, I made my way to the nearest taxi stand, which was right in front.

Luckily, for me, there was a taxi waiting there, at the taxi stand.  The driver, a woman named Eleonora, spoke perfect English, and I gave her the address I needed, and she took me to my destination.  During our brief ride, I mentioned to her that I would need a ride up to Cerveteri in a few days, so she gave me her business card, instructing me to phone her an hour or so before I wanted to leave, so that she could come pick me up.

I had booked myself a two-bedroom apartment, with a small terrace, a full kitchen, and a full bath, for three nights.  The property was called “Beach and City,” and I found it on Booking.com, my “go-to” site when seeking places to stay.  The apartment was part of a residential complex.

The place was spacious, clean, and safe, and I was, once again, very happy with where I was!  After I settled in, I went out to buy some essentials for the place, such as breakfast items, juice, etc.

Ladispoli is a working class city.  The people who live here are good, hard-working people, and the prices, especially in the markets, reflect that.  A quart of blood-orange juice, and a six-pack of one-liter bottles of water, came to €1.90.  At a local dairy shop, four yogurts, and a kilo of homemade cookies cost €3.00.

Even though the the area has been populated since ancient times, the modern city of Ladispoli , as we know it today, was founded in 1888 by Ladislao Odescalchi.  That said, there is no Centro Storico, so to speak, like in many other Italian towns.  You won’t find the stone covered streets, and medieval alleyways here.  This is a real working city, full of real working people, except during the peak summer months, of course.  Yet, there is another kind of beauty here.  The people are welcoming and friendly.  And the city itself, while it has a bit of grit and grime to it, as you walk around, you can’t help but notice the beautiful small details that people have added to their homes, and apartment buildings.

The heart of the city is Viale Italia.  This is the main shopping street of Ladispoli, and it runs from the train station, all the way to Piazza Roberto Rossellini, and the waterfront.

Ladispoli has long been a favorite of Italian film directors, seeking a seaside location.  Films such as “Umberto D.,” by Vittorio De Sica; “Era Notte a Roma,” by Roberto Rossellini; “Il Sorpasso,” by Dino Risi; and the more recent “Saimir,” by Francesco Munzi, were all filmed here.  The town is proud of this fact!

Before heading to dinner, I stopped at the Bar Nazionale for a Negroni Sbagliato, which cost €5.00.  This is obviously where many of the locals go for an aperitivo.  The place was full of people, all sipping drinks, and nibbling snacks.  Sunsets in Ladispoli can be spectacular!  I experienced just such a sunset!  The buildings were suddenly bathed in a rich, honey red that immediately made you want to look heavenward, to a sky that could only have been painted by the hands of a master artist!

For dinner, I headed a short distance to the waterfront, and to a restaurant I had noticed earlier, while strolling around.

I highly recommend this place!  My meal cost me €40.00, and that included an amuse-bouche, which consisted of fried shrimp, with a puree of potato and asparagus.  Then, I had a mixed seafood appetizer, followed by pasta stuffed with fresh fish and creme.  Then, came branzino in a cheese crust, while desert was a white-chocolate torte that was to die for!  To drink, I had a bottle of local wine, a bottle of water, coffee, and a grappa.  It was a wonderful meal!  The food was delicious, and the portions were just right, meaning, you were able to finish each plate, and not leave the restaurant feeling as if you were going to explode!  All in all, it was a great first day in Ladispoli!

Next up:  More from Ladispoli!

 

Note: This blog is written in English and Spanish, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any other translations which may appear.  If you have enjoyed this post, please, check out our archives for more posts from Ladispoli, as well as other Italian destinations.  Grazie!