The best walks and hikes around Castel Volturno

The Tower of Lake Patria, usually called Torre di Patria, is a 16th-century coastal tower and part of a vast defensive system in southern Italy. It was built during the Spanish rule of the Kingdom of Naples, primarily under the viceroys in the 16th century. The purpose of these towers was to protect the coast from pirate and Saracen raids, which posed a significant threat to villages, trade, and fishing at that time. The tower is strategically located between Lake Patria and the sea. From here, watchmen could monitor the open sea and the coastline. In case of alarm, smoke or fire signals were relayed from tower to tower—an early warning system that allowed for the rapid organization of military assistance or the evacuation of the population. Architecturally, the Torre di Patria is typical of the period: a massive, square structure with thick walls, few openings, and a raised platform. It was intended less as a residence and more as a purely military and observation post. With the decline of piracy, the tower lost its military significance from the 18th century onward. Today, it is primarily a historical landmark of the region, a reminder of an era when the Campanian coast was under considerable threat. Together with Lake Patria and the ruins of Liternum, it forms a vivid ensemble that combines Roman antiquity, medieval and early modern defenses, and landscape history.

Liternum gained particular fame as the last residence of the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, victor over Hannibal in the Second Punic War. Scipio withdrew here into political exile and died in Liternum around 183 BC. His tomb is believed to have been located nearby, which gave the town great symbolic significance.

Liternium (Liternum) was a Roman colony in Campania, near the modern-day coast north of Naples and not far from present-day Lake Patria. It was founded by the Romans in 194 BC, after the area had previously been inhabited by the Samnites and other Italic peoples. Strategically, Liternum was situated on the Via Domitiana, an important coastal road connecting Rome with southern Italy. Liternum gained particular renown as the final residence of the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, victor over Hannibal in the Second Punic War. Scipio withdrew here into political exile and died in Liternum around 183 BC. His tomb is believed to have been located nearby, which gave the town great symbolic significance. Economically, Liternum thrived primarily on agriculture, fishing, and trade, facilitated by the fertile soil and its proximity to lagoons and the sea. During the Imperial period, the city boasted typical Roman structures such as a forum, basilica, baths, and an amphitheater. From late antiquity onward, Liternum increasingly declined. Floods, the spread of marshland and malaria, as well as the collapse of the Roman administrative structures, led to the city's abandonment. In the early Middle Ages, Liternum was largely deserted and submerged under sediment and vegetation. Today, the remains of Liternum form an archaeological site near Giugliano in Campania. Excavations provide insights into the city's structure and underscore Liternum's historical significance as a link between Roman history and the landscape surrounding Lake Patria.

A stretch of the Appian Way and some Roman remains are visible

I recommend parking the car in the space outside the Monte Nuovo oasis, crossing the oasis and then going down towards Lake Averno, along this lake there are farmhouses and restaurants

A walk among nature and wild animals, between dirt roads and cobblestone pavements, not to be missed in any season.

There is a well-preserved stretch of Appia Antica. The park is not very large and is located in front of the cemetery of Mondragone. The archaeological site is not always open.

Beautiful volcanic lake with a very simple and comfortable circular tour, during which it is possible to admire local fauna and flora. I recommend it together with the circular tour of Monte Nuovo to have a view of the volcanic panorama of the Campi Flegrei area.