This is part of a quote taken from the Aeneid where the words after "fuit" are dropped. The complete description in the Aeneid refers to ancient Carthage. It occurs in the first few paragraphs of Book 1 wherein the geographic location of Carthage (in North Africa) is explained in relation to the future site of Rome up river on the Tiber from her ancient sea port Ostia on the west coast of Italy which was washed by the Tyrranean Sea.
"Urbe antiqua fuit (Tyrii tenuere coloni) Karthago, Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe ostia, divers opum studiisque asperrima belli."
It loosely translates as: "There was an ancient city, Carthage (by name) which was inhabited by farmers from (the City of) Tyre (and was) across from Italy and the far off mouth of the (River) Tiber. It (Carthage) abounded in wealth and was very fierce in the skills of war."
The place referred to in Italy at the mouth of the Tiber is where Aeneas, the prince of Troy who had fled it's destruction by the Greek soldiers who had hidden in the wooden horse, would eventually land on his mission to start a New Troy (Rome).
Interestingly enough, this land south of the Tiber's estuary was called Laurentum because "laurus" or laurel trees, dear to the god Apollo abounded there. There is still a place called Laurentum there and a Laurenti Gate at Rome's seaport of Ostia. And the people were called "Laurenti" which later became Lorenti, Lorente, etc.
Aeneas' nursemaid, Gaeta, was in his group and when she died he buried her at what is now a coastal port in south Laurentum which is called after her; it is not too far from Naples.
