Just 60km from Rome, the seaside town of Santa Marinella is home to about 15,000 people on the coastal SS1 highway. A fast growing area, it was once known as Pyrgi by the Etruscans, with evidence of human habitation that go back at least 5,000 years. The Villa Romana delle Grottacce is one site that has been fully excavated, though many continue to be discovered in the area. The La Polveriera civic museum is also full of the many antiquities found nearby.
Lago Bracciano and the castle on its banks are a short drive and provide more terrestrial activities. As one might suspect, many of the restaurants and hotels in Santa Marinella are found along the shore that wraps around a point, for twice the coastline. There are also several beaches within easy walking distance of most Santa Marinella hotels. For budget-minded visitors to Santa Marinella, cheap hotels are most often found in the off-season and a short distance from the sea. When using an online booking service (such as EasyToBook.com) to find discount hotels, Santa Marinella's selections are usually a bit more diverse than if one simply arrived looking for a room.