Banzai (Santa Marinella)
Lazio's best-known reef right, on the Santa Marinella shoreline.
Santa Marinella, north of Rome, has a low rocky coast with several reefs. The most famous is Banzai, a right that, with a south-west or west swell and a north-easterly wind, offers long walls and the odd hollow section.
It's one of the reference waves for Roman surfers and gets crowded on good days.
Spot facts
| Wave type | Reef |
|---|---|
| Direction | Right |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Best swell | SW, W |
| Best wind (offshore) | NE, N, E |
| Tide | All tides |
| Size | 0.5–2.5 m |
| Best season | October to April |
| Crowd | Heavy |
| Localism | High |
Surf forecast
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Hour-by-hour forecast for 14 days, with stars for your board and level, and the whole site without ads.
Model forecast for open water a few kilometres offshore: it can't see sandbanks or the shelter of headlands and jetties. The rating (0–5) is worked out from this spot's ideal swell and wind. Use it as a guide and check the sea before paddling out. Data: Open-Meteo (DWD, ECMWF; CC BY 4.0)
Which board to bring
A shortboard or fish. How many litres? Work out your volume with the volume calculator.
What to bring to surf Banzai (Santa Marinella)
The water is around 14 °C in winter and 25 °C in late summer. This is what we'd bring for this spot's water, level and boards.
The autumn-to-spring suit for water at 12–16 °C.
View on AmazonFor water from 17 °C.
View on AmazonKeeps your board from drifting off or hitting someone.
View on AmazonThe classic fish fins: speed in soft waves.
View on AmazonRock or urchins on the bottom: protect your feet going in and out.
View on AmazonWarm-water wax won't grip in this water.
View on AmazonAmazon affiliate links: if you buy through them, Shapers Europe earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Localism and vibe
A very local, competitive peak. Watch, respect priority and don't paddle out in a group.
Surfing style
Reef right with walls and fast sections.
Hazards
Shallow rock, sea urchins and getting in and out over the rocks.
Map
Other spots nearby
Santa Marinella (Roma)
A beach with mixed bottoms below the medieval castle of Santa Severa.
Roma (Ostia)
Rome's beach: miles of sand with peaks by the piers and groynes.
Sabaudia (Latina)
A long, wild beach among the dunes, in the Circeo national park.
Gaeta (Latina)
Gaeta's beach, in southern Lazio, open to southerly swell.
Indicative information gathered from surf guides and surfers' experience. Conditions change with the sandbanks: check the forecast and ask at the beach.