Suio is a ''frazione'' (rural borough) of

Castelforte Castelforte is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Latina, in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is located at the feet of the Monti Aurunci massif. History Castelforte was founded most likely before the year 1000 AD. According to som ...

, a municipality in southern Latium, central Italy.

Overview

It is located on the northernmost slopes of the Monti Aurunci, near the Garigliano river, and is composed of two villages: Suio Paese (or Suio Alto), situated on a hill with a medieval castle, and Forma di Suio, at the feet of the castle, in a location where thermal baths exists. The latter were mentioned since ancient times by writers such as Pliny the Elder and

Lucan Marcus Annaeus Lucanus (3 November 39 AD – 30 April 65 AD), better known in English as Lucan (), was a Roman poet, born in Corduba (modern-day Córdoba), in Hispania Baetica. He is regarded as one of the outstanding figures of the Imperial ...

(Suio was a center of the Aurunci before the Roman conquest), and were frequented until the late Roman imperial times. Bath tourism became again active after World War II. Part of the

Battle of the Garigliano (1503) The Battle of Garigliano was fought on 29 December 1503 between a Spanish army under Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba and a French army commanded by Ludovico II, Marquis of Saluzzo. Preliminary phase In mid-November 1503, the French and Spani ...

was fought nearby. Other sights include the 13th century church of Santa Maria in Pensulis, which was perhaps built over a Roman villa, and was originally owned by the Knights Hospitaller of

Gaeta Gaeta (; lat, Cāiēta; Southern Laziale: ''Gaieta'') is a city in the province of Latina, in Lazio, Southern Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is from Rome and from Naples. The town has played a consp ...

, and the 15th century church of San Michele Arcangelo, at Suio Alto.

Thermal Baths

The thermal baths are situated along the Garigliano River and are a result of volcanic activity causing natural bubbling springs to occur. During the summer and spring months the hot springs are a common local spot. The baths' water is high in sulfur and mineral deposits from the volcanic activity. These water qualities are thought to have beneficial effects on the skin by the local population, one of the reasons for its popularity.

References

Sources

* {{authority control Frazioni of the Province of Latina Spa towns in Italy Ancient Roman baths in Italy Roman sites in Italy