pontina

Pontina is a term used for a region and related infrastructure in the Lazio region of central Italy, associated with the Pontine Marshes and the coastal corridor stretching along the Tyrrhenian Sea between Rome and Terracina. The most prominent use of the name is for the Strada Statale 148 Pontina, a major highway that runs southward from Rome through coastal towns and inland areas near the former marshlands, linking communities such as Pomezia, Latina, Sabaudia, and Terracina.

Geographically, the Pontine Plain lies between the Tyrrhenian coast and the Apennine foothills, with the inland marshlands historically forming a low-lying, malarial region. The area underwent a large-scale drainage and land-reclamation program in the early 20th century, led by the Fascist regime, to convert wetlands into arable land and to promote settlement.

Historically, the Pontine Marshes project produced several new towns as part of a colonization effort. Notable settlements established or expanded during this period include Littoria (renamed Latina in 1946), Sabaudia, Pontinia, and Pomezia; later developments added other towns such as Aprilia. These municipalities grew into a populous economic belt that combines agriculture, industry, and suburban development for the Rome metropolitan area.

Today, Pontina refers both to the coastal corridor and to the broader plains region that remains important for transportation, agriculture, and regional planning in Lazio. The name appears in local governance, road signage, and cultural references associated with the Pontine Marshes and their surrounding communities.