FORMIA

formerly Mola Di Gaeta, Latin Formiae, town, Latina province, Lazio (Latium) region, south central Italy, on the Golfo (gulf) di Gaeta between the mouth of the Garigliano and the Gaeta peninsula, northwest of Naples. A town of the ancient Volsci people, it was later taken by the Romans and became a popular Roman summer residence noted for the Caecuban and Falernian wines. Formia was destroyed by the Saracens in 842. There are ruins of prehistoric megalithic walls, and Roman remains include the villa of the statesman and orator Cicero and his restored mausoleum; Cicero was murdered nearby in 43 BC. The town was severely damaged in World War II but has been rebuilt. It is on the main RomeNaples railway and has shipping services to the Isole (islands) di Ponza. Industries include food processing and the production of wine and olives. Pop. (1981 prelim.) mun., 30,306.