Who we are
Situated between Rome and Napoli, nestled into the Apennina Mountain Range, is the little town of Itri.
Itri is a gracious little town situated in the Lazo Region of Italy. Its territory extends along the Appian Way, the main artery of communication to the south. This delightful town was inhabited by various people, even since prehistoric times; Itri later became part of the Roman Empire.
The Romans left their indelible mark on Itri. It was during the Roman domination that the Appian Way was constructed, thereby making Itri a very important part of the landscape. Because of its important strategic location, Itri played a major role during the period of the Roman Empire.
Despite the fact that Itri enjoyed a prominent strategic position as a line of communication to the south, it was only after the medieval period that its population grew to any significant size.
Its strong urban explosion took place around the now famous “Castle of Itri” and the primitive tower. The “Medieval Center” also called “Terra” was then surrounded by a strong wall, dotted by towers and gates for defensive purposes.
Today, Itri is an extensive urban development, extending from the town of Fondi to the town of Sperlongo. Itri is located approximately ninety miles south of Rome and some fifty-five miles north of Naples. It borders with Fondi and Campodimele to its north, Formia and Gaeta to its east and Sperlongano to its west. Itri is also located less than one mile to the south of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
During the summer months, the population of Itri increases as its native sons and daughters return from their adopted foreign countries to their birthplace. While many have speculated on the origin of its name, it appears that Itri is a derivative of the Latin word Iter – which means road, passage or street. An ancient Roman inscription on its wall supports this theory.
At the turn of the century and subsequent years, a mass immigration from Itri to America took place. These early immigrants, among them my grandparents, settled in the Knightsville area of Cranston, Rhode Island.
The passion for southern Italian cuisine has since been nurtured within this community and is proudly being presented to you.
Buon Appetito
A World-Class Dining & Wine Experience
Fresh and delicious Italian favorites perfectly paired with award winning wine selections are our hallmark. Since 1990, we have been providing the finest traditional and contemporary cuisine. Our guests enjoy the intimate and friendly atmosphere of our Tuscan-inspired bar and dining rooms, and al fresco dining on our beautiful outdoor patio is quite popular on warm summer and fall evenings.
“We Work From the Heart”
Our chefs and staff are family and we work as a team to create the traditional dishes our patrons have come to enjoy for over three decades. Using local and imported ingredients of the highest quality, all of our food is prepared fresh daily.
Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator
We carefully chose each wine on our extensive list to pair perfectly with our dinner menu, but don’t take our word for it – Caffe Itri has received the prestious and exclusive Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year from 2003 to present.
Over 250 bottles of award-winning wines are stored in our temperature controlled wine cellar. Dozens of our wines are offered by the glass and these selections are preserved with our temperatured-controlled Nitro-Tap System, ensuring that each glass is as fresh and enjoyable as the first.
Private Parties
Our dining room is available weekdays to host private functions. Our close proximity to St. Ann’s Cemetery makes funeral collations convenient. We also host business meetings and other functions. We can comfortably accomodate up to 50 guests with flexible menus and seating arrangements.