It is mentioned by
Dionysius among the cities which were founded by the
Pelasgians in connection with the aborigines, and afterwards wrested from them by the Tyrrhenians (
Etruscans). But no mention of it occurs in history as an Etruscan city, or during the wars of that people with Rome. In 247 BC a Roman
colonia maritima was established there and which exempted them from all military service, which was, however, overruled during the exigencies of the
Second Punic War. It is mentioned by
Strabo,
Pliny, and
Ptolemy, and it still retained its colonial rank (from an inscription of the time of
Caracalla), and corresponding municipal organisation. It became a favourite resort with wealthy Romans as a place of retirement and pleasure; and
Pompey the Great had a villa there, and
Julius Caesar also, where he landed on his return from
Africa, and at which all the nobles of Rome hastened to greet him. Another is mentioned as belonging to
Lucius Verginius Rufus, the guardian of Pliny, and emperor
Marcus Aurelius had a villa there, to which several of his epistles are addressed. At a later period the town itself had fallen into utter decay, but the site was still occupied by villas, as well as that of the neighbouring Pyrgi. ==The site==