Ancient Age
Archaeological Park of the Villa of Tiberius and National Archaeological Museum - Sperlonga
Sperlonga (LT)
In 1957 following the works for the construction of the coastal road Terracina-Gaeta (state road 213 Via Flacca), with a route that in several places coincides with the ancient Via Flacca made by L. Valerius Flaccus in 184 BC, inside the cave already known to the local population, came to light the rich complex of sculptures now exhibited at the Sperlonga museum.
Thousands of marble fragments were unearthed in the exploration, and excavations were therefore undertaken that uncovered the Villa of Tiberius (emperor between 14 and 37 CE). As a result of the excavation, more than 15,000 marble fragments were recovered inside the circular pool inside the cave, all of which were to be referred to sculptural groups narrating various episodes related to Ulysses and which at the time of their discovery had great media resonance as they were attributed to the three Rhodian sculptors believed to be the authors of the Laocoon group, well known to the general public as it has been on display since 1506 in the Vatican Museums in Rome.
The original core of the large monumental complex was a maritime villa built in the first century B.C. that came to Tiberius perhaps as an inheritance from his maternal family. In Tiberian times the residence underwent a total renovation, and the large, richly appointed natural cavern became part of it.
The museum, inaugurated in 1963, houses the sculptural groups found in the cave related to the figure of Ulysses, two of which narrate events related to the Trojan War, the Rape of Palladius and the so-called Pasquino Group (which in the sperlongan version represents Ulysses and Achilles), the other two narrate instead two episodes from the Odyssey, the Group of Scylla and that of the Blinding of Polyphemus. To the latter group belongs the well-known head depicting Ulysses, an iconic image of the hero throughout the world and which has given its name to a large stretch of coastline in lower Latium, the Ulysses Riviera.
Info
Via Flacca KM 16.300, Sperlonga (LT), entrance on Via Valle Corsara.
Museum:
8:30am to 7:30pm (last admission 7pm)
Archaeological area
January: last entrance at 3:30 p.m. (closing at 4:30 p.m.)
February and March*: last admission 4 p.m. (closing time 5 p.m.)
April through September: last admission 6:00 p.m. (closing time 7:00 p.m.)
October*: last admission 5:00 p.m. (closing time 6:00 p.m.)
November and December: last admission 3:00 p.m. (closing time 4:00 p.m.)
*Until summer/solar time change.
Special Opening
January 5 and 6, 2026
Mondays, Tuesdays
Jan. 1, Dec. 25 except for special openings on MiC project.
In case of adverse weather conditions, the archaeological area remains closed.
EXTRAORDINARY CLOSURE
January 7 and 8, 2026
Full price € 7.00
Full only Museum € 5.00 (valid during the closing hours of the archaeological area)
Facilitated € 2.00 (18 to 25 years old), subject to the concessions provided by the regulations for admission to Italian places of culture, which can be consulted on the MiC website.
Free (from 0 to 18 years old)
Sperlonga - Formia Circuit: admission to the National Archaeological Museum and Archaeological Area in Sperlonga and the National Archaeological Museum in Formia at the full price of €10.00. The ticket is valid for 30 days from the date of issue.
Cumulative Parks and Archaeological Museums in the province of Latina: Archaeological Park of the Villa of Tiberius and the National Archaeological Museum in Sperlonga, National Archaeological Museum in Formia, Archaeological Park of Minturnae and Ponte Real Ferdinando in Minturno; full price of €12.00; validity 365 days from first entry, one entry for each site.
As of December 16, 2023, e-ticketing service has been active on the "Italian Museums" app, available on the Play Store and App Store.
Due to a phone line failure, please contact the Museum by email, at the address listed below. Thank you, we apologize for the inconvenience.
Telephone: +39 0771 548028
e-mail: drm-laz.sperlonga@cultura.gov.it
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Groups of 30 people plus the guide are allowed to enter. For groups over 10 people, reservations are required by writing to drm-laz.sperlonga@cultura.gov.it .
1 hour/1 hour 30 minutes
Comfortable shoes, water and a hat during the Summer months. In the museum there are vending machines for water, snacks and hot drinks.
Photography is allowed without flash.For professional photos with a tripod, written permission is required drm-laz@cultura.gov.it.
Sperlonga does not have its own train station. The nearest one is in Fondi.
The museum is outside the town and can be reached from it by an equipped trail (which can be walked in about 15 minutes).
The best way to reach the site is by car.
The museum does not have its own parking lot.
In the summer season, private paid parking spaces are available in the immediate vicinity.
A bus parking area, however, is located in front of the museum. People with mobility disabilities can park inside the museum (for safety reasons, opening the gate must be requested from the reception staff).
The archaeological area is not accessible to people with motor disabilities, in the museum there is a toilet for children equipped with a changing table.
Photo Gallery
