Tyrrhenian Sea. Small but strategically important Tyrrhenian Sea

Salerno is called " sunny city» – and it fully justifies this name. Among the ancient sights of the city are the Palatine Chapel, built of stones (inside - ancient frescoes of the 11th century), Cathedral of San Matteo 11th century medieval castle Areca; For more information about the history of the city and the region, see Archaeological Museum Salerno.
Amalfi - belongs to the province of Salerno. According to legend, the city was named after one of the wives of Zeus. Since the city is located on a hill and has a vertical layout, there is a wonderful view of the bay from almost anywhere in the city. Of the sights, one can note the Cathedral of St. Andrew, in which services are held every Sunday.
The Amalfi Bay annually hosts maritime competitions of national importance - the "Regatta of the Maritime Republics", to take part in which is considered a very prestigious matter.
– perfect place for spa fans: on this island a large number of thermal springs. This is a great option for those who seek secluded relaxation and are used to combining relaxation with restorative procedures.

Sperlonga seems to be divided into two parts: sprawled along the coast resort area with sandy beaches and entertainment complexes, and a little higher is historical Center cities from ancient buildings and a number of architectural landmarks. The beaches have a blue flag category, which is an indicator of cleanliness and environmental friendliness.

Ajaccio, located on the island of Corsica, went down in history for the reason that Napoleon Bonaparte was born in this city - the second child out of thirteen in a poor family. Despite the deeds committed by Napoleon, the Corsicans are proud of their eminent countryman. In Ajaccio there is a house-museum of Napoleon, the church where he was baptized, as well as a memorial built in his honor and named after him.

Capri is called "the island of writers". At one time, many writers loved to relax here, whose names today make up the golden fund of world literature - Heinrich Mann, Ivan Bunin, Maxim Gorky, Oscar Wilde and others. The most famous attraction of the island is the Blue (Azure) grotto., a natural cave with the only entrance from the sea by boat.

The light entering this cave gives off a bluish glow, which gives the cave its name. There are statues in the grotto - apparently, this place was especially revered in antiquity.

Sabaudia - a glamorous resort town. Mostly Italian bohemia rests here, and the resort itself cannot be clearly called a budget resort. Sabaudia has great opportunities for beach holiday and for classes water sports sports.
Among the historical sights- Villa Domitian (a building dating from the 1st century - a complex of Roman baths), the Church of the Annunziata, the cave of Guattari with its mysteries. Social entertainment includes discos, bars and clubs. Near the city is national park Circeo.

Anzio - seaport close to Rome. Ancient legends say that Antaeus (the son of Odysseus and Circe) was born here, after whom the city is named. Anzio was also a favorite resting place of Emperor Nero - you can still walk to the ruins of the ancient imperial villa.
Significant ancient buildings can no longer be found here.- everything was destroyed during the Second World War, but the surviving ancient artifacts from the excavation sites can be seen in the Archaeological Museum of Anzio.

Terracina - a paradise for lovers of antiquities. Here are the famous Neapolitan Gate, the equally famous Appian Way, the Aemilian Forum, the Tower of Roses and the Temple of Jupiter. And a few kilometers from the city is big water park"Miami Beach" with various slides and attractions. Boat trips or fishing tours in the sea are very popular among tourists.

Montecristo, an island in the Tyrrhenian Sea part of the Tuscan archipelago. Fans of the work of Alexandre Dumas do not need to explain why this island is famous and famous.

Attractions and entertainment

Area Tyrrhenian Sea can be said without exaggeration the best place for a beach holiday. Small sandy coves, lush vegetation, the purest water and mild climate - all this is a guarantee have a great holiday. The beaches are mostly rocky or pebbly.(only in the area of Terracina and Sperlonga the beaches are sandy), and the beach areas are protected from the winds by rocks or hills.

Tyrrhenian Sea - perfect place for yachting, boating, diving.

For those who like to spend time studying the culture of the country and visiting various excursions, you can pay attention to historical districts . Many cities have preserved the heritage of the ancient era - the ruins of palaces and temples, ancient man-made caves and sanctuaries.

For example, you can go to, or Naples to discover unexplored pages Italian history and see with your own eyes the structures that have come down to us from time immemorial. Fans of antiquities will enjoy an excursion to the Appian Way or the Temple of Jupiter.

The small town of Gaeta was once a military fort., and today there are still buildings that speak of past battles. Fans of water parks will love the cities of Terracina and Cassino - in the vicinity of these cities are big water parks with a set of entertainment and attractions for both children and adults.

From the point of view of historical geology, the Tyrrhenian Sea is a deep tectonic basin, descending to 3719 m in the central part. It is here that a seismic fault between Europe and Africa passes through the entire sea, along which a chain of underwater mountain peaks and surface active volcanoes.
Settling here, the first settlers took into account the proximity of volcanoes and the possibility of earthquakes, but the beautiful weather, fertile soil and a climate conducive to agriculture turned out to be stronger than the fear of an eruption.
The Etruscans belonged to the so-called "peoples of the sea" - a group of Mediterranean peoples, who in the XIII century. BC e. began to leave their usual habitats, in particular due to negative consequences Trojan War for Mediterranean Civilizations.
The Tyrrhenian Sea got its name precisely from the Etruscans, who in ancient times were called tyrsenes or tyrrhens (from the Trojans).
The Etruscans were brave sailors and after them - between the Arno and Tiber rivers there were many traces of a highly developed civilization that preceded the ancient Roman and had a huge impact on it. The Etruscans were inventive architects, they built cities, paved roads and came up with arched vaults. They also introduced gladiator fights, chariot races and burial rites into the custom, knew anatomy very well and even knew how to make dentures. From them, the Romans adopted the most popular clothing model - the toga. But under the pressure of the Romans, the Etruscans completely assimilated and lost their language and identity, dissolving among the conquerors.
The Romans who came gave the Tyrrhenian Sea its name: Mare Inferum, or the Lower Sea: in contrast to the Mare Superum, or the Upper Sea (). But these names disappeared along with the Romans themselves after the collapse of their empire.
It is from the history of the ancient Roman Empire that we know about the most destructive natural disaster of ancient times, when the eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroyed three Roman cities at once: Stabiae and Herculaneum. August 24, 79 AD e. began the eruption of Vesuvius, it lasted a whole day. Of the 20 thousand inhabitants of Pompeii, approx. 2 thousand. In 1592, the ruins of Pompeii were first discovered, and since then excavations have been ongoing. In the cities buried under the ashes, everything remained in the same form as before the eruption: streets, houses. The eruption was so strong that the ash flew as far as Egypt and Syria.
Currently, Vesuvius is one of three active volcanoes in Italy and the only active volcano continental Europe. His behavior is considered unpredictable. Tourists are served by the inhabitants of Torre Annunziata, a city that arose on the site of an ancient settlement destroyed by an eruption. In 1970, the villa of Poppea Sabina was discovered here, an object world heritage UNESCO.
Two other volcanoes are located on the islands of the Tyrrhenian Sea: Etna - on about. Sicily, Stromboli - on the island of the same name in the archipelago of the Aeolian Islands.
But perhaps the most interesting from the point of view of mythology is the fourth volcano of the Tyrrhenian Sea, located on the island of Vulcano. More " sea people The Etruscans believed in the divine purpose of this place, and the ancient Romans had no doubt that it was here, in the south of the Tyrrhenian Sea, that the forge of Vulcan, the god of fire, was located.
The water of the Tyrrhenian Sea is distinguished by the greatest transparency, which is another of the many tourist advantages of this Mediterranean region, in addition to exquisite landscapes, deep bays and a measured lifestyle of local residents.
However, life here has not always been so quiet. On about. Corsica, in the city of Ajaccio, during the time of the Republic of Genoa, Napoleone Buonaparte was born - the second of thirteen children in a poor, but aristocratic family. It was he who became Emperor of France and King of Italy Napoleon I Bonaparte. In Corsica, they are proud of their great countryman. Here is the house-museum where the first emperor of France was born, the church where he was baptized, and memorial Complex in his honor.
Another island of the Tyrrhenian Sea, located very close to Corsica, is also associated with the name of Napoleon. Elba is the most big Island Tuscan archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia. In 1814, Napoleon was exiled to Elba, where he immediately declared himself emperor of the island. After staying here for about ten months, Napoleon returned to France, was defeated at Waterloo, was exiled to St. Helena in South Atlantic where he died.
Thanks to the beautiful landscapes, it was the Tyrrhenian Sea that many writers chose as the setting for their novels. The most famous of these works is the adventure novel "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas. Dumas came up with the name of the hero while traveling in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The writer saw the island of Montecristo, and later heard the legend about its treasures. The island of Montecristo is part of the Tuscan archipelago, its area is 12 km 2, and the Phoenicians knew about it. The island had a bad reputation: it was a haven for pirates and smugglers. Today it is a reserve, and only the caretaker's family lives here.
There is an island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, which the locals call "the island of writers." On the island of Capri, located in the southern part Gulf of Naples, V different time lived and worked Leonid Andreev, Ivan Bunin, Maxim Gorky, Graham Greene, Heinrich Mann, Alberto Moravia, Ivan Turgenev, Oscar Wilde and many other great writers. And almost every one of them left enthusiastic descriptions of the beauties of the Tyrrhenian Sea and Capri itself, visiting the most popular attractions of the island, in particular the Blue Grotto Also known as the Grotto Azzurra, or the Azure Grotto, it is a natural cave on the northern coast of the island, about 60 meters long m, with the only entrance from the sea by boat. Light enters the grotto from above and gives the water a light blue tint. When ancient Roman statues were found in the grotto, it became clear that they knew about it from ancient times and revered the beauty of this place.
Today, the Tyrrhenian Sea is not only an object of tourism, but also an area of intensive navigation: passenger sea lines connect the islands with the mainland. Fishing is also developed: sardine and tuna are caught here. The size of fish stocks has been steadily declining, and coastal states have introduced tight control over the size of the catch.

general information

Part mediterranean sea between peninsula off the western coast of Italy (regions, and), the islands of Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica.
Largest islands: Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Elba, Lipari, Ischia.
Major cities and ports: Italy - Naples (963,357 people, 2009), Palermo (657,161 people, 2010), Cagliari (161,465 people, 2004); France - Bastia (42,900 people, 2005). Straits: Corsican, Bonifacio, Sardinian, Sicilian, Messina.
Languages: Italian, French, Sardinian, Corsican.
Religion: Catholicism.
Currency unit: Euro.

Numbers

Area: 214 thousand km 2.
Max Depth: 3719 m
Average depth: 1519 m
Average salinity: 37.2596‰ on the surface, 38.25‰ on the bottom.

Economy

Industry: mechanical engineering (shipbuilding, ship repair), petrochemical, oil refining, food (fish and seafood processing). Fishing.
Agriculture: fish farming.
Service sector: tourism, transport, trade.

Climate and weather

Mediterranean.
Water temperature:+13ºС in winter, +25ºС in summer.
Average monthly air temperature: in summer +20 - +25ºС. in winter +5 - +12ºС.
Average annual rainfall: 400-600 mm.
Relative humidity: 60-70%.

Attractions

■ Corsica island: Ajaccio. Genoese fortress, House-Museum of the Bonapartes, Cathedral of the Assumption Holy Mother of God(1577-1593);
■ Island of Capri: villa Iovis and baths (residence of Emperor Tiberius), villa Damekuta, Piazzetta, Cherio Palace (XIV century), Blue Grotto;
■ National parks : Tuscan archipelago Golfo di Orosei and cases of Gennargentu (Sardinia Island), Aspromonte, Cilento and Vallo di Diano, Circeo;
■ Volcanoes: Stromboli, Vulcano, Vesuvius;
■ Naples (Italy): Castel dell'Ovo (XV a), Cathedral of St. Januaria (XIII century) of the Palazzo Reale (XVII century), Gesu Nuovo Square, Castel Nuovo (1279-1282), the ruins of Pompeii;
■ Isle of Ischia: Aragonese castle (first mentioned 474 BC);
■ Capraia Island: Castle of San Giorgio (XV century).

Curious facts

■ The island of Sardinia is the birthplace of the Casu Marzu cheese. Translated from the Sardinian language, "casu marzu" - "rotten cheese": it contains live insect larvae. These larvae jump to a height of 15 cm, which is why gourmets have to protect their eyes while eating. Due to health risks, the cheese is officially banned from sale in Italy, but in 2010 "Casu Marzu" was recognized as a cultural property of Sardinia and its sale here is again allowed.
■ The Stromboli volcano erupts with varying force about four times per hour for 3 thousand years.
■ According to Greek myths, Eol - the son of the god of the seas Poseidon - lives on the islands of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The supreme god Zeus made him the master of the winds. locals and today we are sure that Eol lives on the islands of the Tyrrhenian Sea and rules over the winds of the Mediterranean: tramontane (northern), mistral (northwestern), marshmallow (western), libecchio and sirocco (southwestern), acute (southern), levante ( east), grekale (northeast).
■ On the island of Sardinia, in the province of Nuoro, there is the largest number of people over 100 years old in the world. The explanation for this phenomenon is found in a healthy lifestyle and Mediterranean cuisine. The traditional Sardinian greeting is “a kentannos”, which means “live to a hundred years”.
■ The ruins of the villas of the Roman emperors Caesar Augustus and his successor Tiberius have been preserved on the island of Capri. The beauty of the island impressed both emperors so much that they built almost a dozen villas on a relatively small area. Deciding that it was life-threatening to be in Rome, Tiberius went to Capri and, according to legend, gave orders by sending light signals from a lighthouse, the top of which collapsed from an earthquake a few days before the death of the emperor.
■ The Aragonese castle is located on the island of Ischia, built on a cone of volcanic lava. It was erected by order of the tyrant Hieron I of Syracuse in 474 BC. e.
during the war with the Etruscans. In 1441, Alfonso I of Aragon destroyed the outer road and improved the bridge between the islands.

Picturesque resort towns Italy is increasingly becoming a summer destination Russian tourists. Among Western European travelers, one of the most popular destinations is considered to be a long coastline washed by warm waters Tyrrhenian Sea. The resorts here are diverse, lovers of pleasant leisure come here for a variety of purposes:

get to know old buildings- medieval monasteries, palaces, abbeys, fortresses, monuments and temples - Naples, Terracina, Pompeii and other Italian cities;
have fun and carefree rest on the local pebble, rocky or sandy coastal edges;
ride cheap yachts or explore with experienced divers undersea world unusually transparent Tyrrhenian Sea.

Thanks to mediterranean climate holidays on the Tyrrhenian Sea are extremely comfortable, although rains in the summer months are rare "guests" on the coast. The first vacationers appear here in early May. In October, you can still meet vacationers at the resorts, albeit not numerous. They will not be disappointed with the temperature of the water and air during the warm period:

May: +21.3…+22.6 (+18.9);
June: +26.1…+27.6 (+22.8);
July: +29.7…+31.2 (+25.6);
August: +30.7…+32.2 (+26.3);
September: +25.9…+27.2 (+24.4).

Here are the average air temperatures for three recent years. In parentheses are the indicators to which it warms up sea water. Each of the most famous local resorts attracts with something special that distinguishes it from similar cities on the coast, but it's easy to find a tour with us.

Terracina

The Tyrrhenian Sea offers no less choice of holiday destinations than the famous Adriatic coast. Terracina is considered one of the most famous local resorts. The town became famous old quarter With Cathedral and an ancient forum, similar to similar ancient ruins in the Italian capital. But above all, it attracts with a 15-kilometer line of wide beaches.

Fans of underwater swimming will certainly become frequent guests of Pianetamare, a modern diving center. Connoisseurs of incendiary dances have fun in Ribbon, Roma, Grande and several other cozy bars and crowded clubs of the resort. The venerable age of Terracina is evidenced by the remains of the Appian Way covered with stone and the powerful walls of the temple of Jupiter towering on a hill, where travelers rise, dreaming of looking at the city and its beaches from a flat top.

Sperlonga

For devotees of sunbathing on golden sands who have chosen to relax on Tyrrhenian coast, you will find the perfect location 18.8 km from Terracina. Here, surrounded by low cliffs, Sperlonga is located - a tiny settlement where young people and parents with young children like to relax. The first are attracted by dance parties and a restaurant that adorns the 6-kilometer promenade. The second is attracted by the sea, calm and rather shallow off the coast, as well as a large selection of local beaches:

Delle Bambole is known for its clean pebbly bottom;
Dell'Angolo - well equipped and crowded;
Bazzano became famous for its beach restaurant and noisy parties;
Delle Salette is equipped with a playground, volleyball fans gather here;
Delle Fontana is located very close to the central quarters of the village.

Gaeta

Only 16 km separate Sperlonga from another small resort. Gaeta, located on the rocky coast, attracts thousands of avid surfers and passionate divers every year. In the old town there is a lot of interesting things for those who are sincerely passionate about history. Here you can visit several medieval temples and even in the mausoleum of the Roman consul, to wander between the powerful walls of the well-preserved Aragonese-Angevin fortress. Lovers of sunbathing in the Italian sun choose one of 17 sandy beaches picturesque resort. The most populous and well-equipped are Sant'Agostino, Serapo and Fontanya.

Formia

Thanks to the statue of Christ, small resort visible from afar, if you approach it by sea. Formia is 7.3 km from Gaeta, in contrast to which it is a rather quiet place. Tourists who find themselves in Castellón, a beautiful city quarter, seem to fall into the early Middle Ages.

A feature of the local sand beaches is their rather large width. Despite hundreds of vacationers and crowds of surfers, it is never too noisy here. Resort guests often choose to stay in a luxurious hotel, whose rooms are located in the reconstructed Royal Palace.

Baia Domitia

Among the resorts of the Tyrrhenian Sea, those that have arisen quite recently are rare. One of them is Baia Domitia, which appeared in the 1960s. To get to it from Formia, you have to overcome a short distance of 26.2 km. In the town, consisting of three streets, there are no historical sights.

But holidaymakers planning a vacation on the Tyrrhenian Sea are waiting for a lot cheap hotels and the air, saturated with a delicate aroma pine forests. They will certainly appreciate the cleanliness of the local sandy beaches and the variety of water activities, from snorkeling to catamaran. Among vacationers, Italians and tourists from Britain predominate.

Approximately 3.5-4 hours will be required for travelers to fly on a comfortable liner from Russian capital to Rome. This is how long a direct flight between the two cities lasts. From the crowded metropolis, tourists are sent by bus to one of the selected resorts for a pleasant stay and acquaintance with historical monuments and spectacular buildings of different eras and styles. You can visit the Tyrrhenian coast thanks to our air travel to Italy. Pick your favorite and go on an adventure!

The Tyrrhenian Sea is one of the most popular resort areas in Italy. The main advantages of this place are considered sandy shores, picturesque towns and virgin nature.

Tyrrhenian Sea

Finding a reservoir on the map will not be particularly difficult, since it is located between large islands- Corsica, the Apennine Peninsula, Sardinia, as well as the legendary Sicily. On the southeast side are the Aeopian (or Aeolian) Islands, from the west - the Balearic Sea. This area belongs to, which, in turn, belongs to the ocean. Adjacent to this region West Side Italy.

Several straits connect the water area with the Mediterranean Sea: Corsican (in the north), Sardinian (in the south), Bonifacio (in the west), Messina (in the southeast) and Sicily (in the southwest). total area the water area is 214 thousand square meters. m.

The Tyrrhenian Sea washes the shores of such tourist areas like Tuscany, Lazio, Calambria and, of course, Campania. In the times of the ancient Romans, this water area was called the Lower Sea, while the Upper Sea was considered to be the current basin. On the territory of the reservoir you can find such picturesque islands as Salina, Vulcano, Stromboli, as well as the Aegadian Islands

The entire coast belonging to this area is a rich historical heritage. The reservoir was named after one of the peoples who inhabited the area. The Etruscans belonged to him - the ancient Greeks who came here from Lydia.

As a result of forced migration to Tuscany, the new inhabitants decided to name the nearby sea in honor of their leader, Prince Tyrrhenus. For the same reason, historians began to call local population tyrrhenes. The Lydians have lived in this area for several centuries. On this moment most major ports local places are Palermo, Cagliari, Bastia (France) and Naples.

sea map

Tyrrhenian bottom relief

This water area is remarkable for everything in that under it there is a fault formed between two continents - Africa and the territory of Europe. This means that the reservoir is in a zone of seismic activity. For the same reason, the area is characterized by a chain of seamounts, as well as volcanoes that are still active today.

by the most famous volcano here, of course, Vesuvius is considered, whose lava buried under itself legendary city Pompeii. to no less interesting volcanic formations also include Vulcano and Stramboli. The latter remains active for 3,000 years. Eruptions in this place occur with an enviable frequency - up to 4 times per hour, and their strength varies markedly among themselves.

The sea itself is located in the basin. Its deepest point is located at a rather large depth - 3830 m. The average values reach a mark of 1519 m.

Hydrological regime of the Tyrrhenian Sea

Passing in this region currents form a general cyclonic circulation. As for the climate, it is typical of the Mediterranean. As a rule, here is warm weather with a light breeze. But the direction of the wind here is quite changeable.

Summers on the Tyrrhenian Sea are hot days, while winters remain mild throughout the season. In August, the water temperature reaches a maximum of +25 0 С. In February days temperature regime drops to +13 0 C. Salinity surface water is in the range of 37.7-38 ‰.

Fauna and flora of Tyrrhenian

Since this reservoir has little contact with the ocean, these places are characterized by a mild climate, a small flow of rivers, as well as high salinity. This kind climatic conditions contributed to the development of numerous plants and animals found throughout the Mediterranean. However, phyto- and zooplankton live here in small numbers.

Attractions of the Tyrrhenian Sea

This area can certainly be called one of the most popular places for a beach holiday. Various resorts, golden sands and numerous hotels are available to travelers from May to September. Very developed maritime passenger traffic, thanks to which tourists can easily get to anywhere on the mainland and to local islands.

The main attractions are the following cities: Anzio, Terracina and Sperlonga. During the reign of the Roman emperors, the city of Anzio played the role of the residence of the most august persons. Also on the ruins of the city of Pompeii, where excavations are still being carried out.

Fans of castles and temples are advised to visit another ancient area - Miratea. You can enjoy the thermal baths by going to picturesque island Ischia. In general, holidays on the Tyrrhenian Sea remain affordable for most tourists.

The name of the sea Tyrrhenian" comes from the word that the ancient Greeks called people from the country of Lydia, which was then in Malaya. This ancient people immigrated to the Apennine Peninsula - to the area where it is currently located Italian province Tuscany.
The respected ancient Greek historian Herodotus claimed that after a series of several lean years and, as a result of this, famine in his country, the Lydian prince Tyrrhenus led part of his people in a westerly direction in search of a new homeland and a better life.

Therefore, the Lydian people landed on west coast Apennine Peninsula. Having settled in the new lands of the Apennine Peninsula, the Lydians began to be called Tyrrhenians in honor of their leader, the legendary prince Tyrrhenus. On behalf of this people, the "Tyrrhens" began to call this part of the Mediterranean Sea Tyrrhenian Sea, on the coast of which they have lived for many centuries.

Tyrrhenian Sea is a part . Tyrrhenian Sea washes the coast of the western part of the country. Tyrrhenian Sea located between the Apennine Peninsula and the islands of Sardinia and Corsica.

in the southeast Tyrrhenian Sea located or as they are also called the Aeolian Islands.

Tyrrhenian Sea geologically represents tectonic basin. Depth Tyrrhenian Sea in the central part it reaches 3719 m. Tyrrhenian Sea there is a seismic fault between and . As a result of this, a chain of underwater mountain peaks arose, as well as active volcanoes to this day: Vesuvius, and others.

Tyrrhenian Sea communicated with other straits:

in the north - the Corsican Strait, which is located between and the island of Corsica, the width of this strait is about 80 km;

in the south it connects with the help of the Sardinian Strait, which is located between the island of Sardinia and the country of Tunisia, the width of the Sardinian Strait reaches about 200 km;

in the west - the Strait of Bonifacio, located between the islands of Corsica and Sardinia, the width of the Strait of Bonifacio is 11 km;

in the southwest - the Strait of Sicily, located between and the state of Tunisia, the width of the Strait of Sicily is about 160 km;

in the southeast - the smallest Strait of Messina which is only 3 km wide.

Main ports Tyrrhenian Sea are the following cities: - the capital of the region, Palermo, Cagliari, belonging to the country of Italy, as well as the port city of Bastia, located on the island of Corsica and country-owned France.