On the sun-kissed coastline near Rome, the Italian seaside town of Nettuno defies the nation’s football-dominated culture with a surprising legacy: baseball. For over 80 years, the sport has thrived here, rooted in an unexpected chapter of World War II history.
The story began when Allied forces liberated Nazi-occupied Italy, introducing baseball to Nettuno’s residents. What started as a wartime pastime blossomed into a lifelong passion. "Baseball is a collective love affair here," says Mario Trinci, a catcher and son of Guglielmo Trinci, founder of the Nettuno Baseball Club. The club’s museum, filled with war-era photographs and gleaming trophies, chronicles this journey from curiosity to cultural institution.
Club manager Roberto De Franceschi walks visitors through exhibits showcasing faded images of American soldiers teaching locals to swing bats, juxtaposed with modern accolades. "Every trophy tells a story of community," he explains. Today, the town’s youth teams dominate national leagues, while older generations gather to reminisce about games played on fields once scarred by conflict.
Nettuno’s unique identity offers a lens into how global histories shape local traditions—a home run for travelers and historians alike.
