But the Riviera also holds a legendary appeal for Romans, who remain loyal to summer vacations in the area. Curious, I took the train to Sperlonga for a day trip with friends, and remember gazing down at the beach in awe. But it wasn’t until I moved back to Rome after an eight-year stint in New York City that I became a regular visitor. Grotto di Tiberio, Sperlonga Laura ItzkowitzThat dreamy trip to Ponza whet my appetite for the area. Reina has been summering in Gaeta and Formia, the next town over, for decades and knows the area like the back of her hand.