An hour and a half to the south of Rome, Sabaudia is a coastal town. It is one of several towns built on the reclaimed marshland of the Pontine Marshes Agro Pontino. This marsh was drained under orders from Benito Mussolini. Vast tracts of malaria-infested swamp were drained by workers transported from poor areas of northern Italy, leaving the coastal area south of Rome with rich farmland. These towns were built so that the fascist regime could demonstrate the draining of the marshland, as well as to provide housing communities for the increasing urban populations of Italy's large cities.

Architects Gino Cancellotti, Eugenio Montuori, Luigi Piccinato, and Alfredo Scalpelli were responsible for the town plan and many of the buildings after winning a competition for the design of Sabaudia, sponsored by Mussolini. Work commenced on the town's construction on 5 August 1933 and was completed 253 days later. The city itself is based a Roman grid road layout and rationalist architecture.

Sabaudia is well frequented by residents of Rome and Naples, as it is about half way between the two cities. Sabaudia has 15 kilometers of beach that boast the Bandiera Blu (Blue Flag) designation, which is awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). The FEE grades a beach based on the quality of water, recycling and waste management practices, the presence of lifeguards, and inclusion of pedestrian paths and green areas. Surrounded by the Circeo Forest, access is provided by a boardwalk along the entire coast.