Sabaudia is a coastal town in theprovince of Latina,Lazio, in central Italy. Sabaudia's centre is characterised by several examples ofFascist architecture.Villa Volpi, a neoclassical seaside villa built for Countess Nathalie Volpi of Misurata, is located on the sand dunes of Sabaudia.
In ancient Roman times, the extensiveVilla of Domitian was built nearby and embellished by the emperor.[3] Some of its remains have been excavated.
It is one of several towns built on the reclaimed marshland of the ancientPontine Marshes (Agro Pontino). This marsh was drained under orders fromBenito Mussolini. Vast tracts of malaria-infested swamp were drained by workers transported from poor areas of northern Italy, leaving the coastal area south of Rome with rich farmland. These towns were built so that the fascist regime could demonstrate the draining of the marshland, as well as to provide housing communities for the increasing urban populations of Italy's large cities.
Architects Gino Cancellotti, Eugenio Montuori, Luigi Piccinato, and Alfredo Scalpelli were responsible for the town plan and many of the buildings after winning a competition for the design of Sabaudia, sponsored by Mussolini. Work commenced on the town's construction on 5 August 1933 and was completed 253 days later. The city itself is based on a rectangular grid road layout and rationalist architecture. It was named after the then-reigningSavoy dynasty (Italian:dinastia sabauda).
Sabaudia is well frequented by residents of Rome and Naples, as it is about halfway between the two cities. Sabaudia has 15 km of beach that were awarded theBlue Flag designation by theFoundation for Environmental Education (FEE). The FEE grades a beach based on the quality of water, recycling and waste management practices, the presence of lifeguards, and inclusion of pedestrian paths and green areas. Surrounded by theCirceo Forest, access is provided by a boardwalk along the entire coast.[4]
Burdett, Richard (1982).Sabaudia: città nuova fascista. London: Architectural Association.
Muratore, Giorgio; Daniela Carfagna; Mario Tieghi (1999).Sabaudia, 1934: il sogno di una città nuova e l'architettura razionalista. Sabaudia: A. Boschi.
