You have probably never heard of Lavinio, yet this holiday resort on the outskirts of Rome has been a VIP destination for centuries. Indeed, in the golden days of the Roman Empire, Lavinio (also known as Lido di Enea) was a favorite destination of wealthy Romans who built opulent villas here.

Today, Lavinio is still an exclusive place; Italy’s prime minister Mario Draghi has a villa here, and many well-known personalities of Italian politics and entertainment do too. Even prominent foreign  figures stop by in summer, from the Royals of Belgium to Albert of Monaco, to name a few.