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LOCATION AND TERRITORY

In the heart of Italy and along the Thyrrhenian Sea, Lazio is the center of the Italian political life thanks to the presence of the government and Parliament; it is the Catholic world center since there is the Vatican, and a favorite destination of tourism for the innumerable monuments of the Roman civilization and, along the Northern Tuscan border, of the Etruscan civilization.

Apart from the area of Rome, the rest of the territory is mostly plain and hills, with mountains in the area of Rieti and in the north an area of lower mountains of volcanic origins, in whose craters many beautiful lakes took origin.

ACTIVITIES

Lake Bolsena offers quite a wide opportunity of sports: snorkeling, sailing, canoeing, fishing, windsurfing, but also mountain bike riding, trekking, and horse riding. Scuba diving in the waters of Lake Bolsena is a fascinating experience, it is a must both for an expert and a beginner; you can admire the landscape, that recalls at times the moon and at other times the desert, but you can also swim through submerged antique ruins of these fascinating waters unique and rich in history.

Thermal springs. Just outside Viterbo are the natural hot springs of Bullicame, known since ancient times. Nowadays there is a thermal spa complex on the site, called Terme dei Papi (Spa of the Popes).
An adventurous and atmospheric alternative is to visit the hot sulphurous pools at Bagnaccio, which sit in the middle of the countryside.

WHAT TO VISIT

Rome
Rome is the capital city of Italy and is Italy's largest and most populous city.
Rome stands on top of more than two and a half thousand years of history, was once the largest city in the world and a major centre of Western civilization.  Rome is still the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, which controls the Vatican City as its sovereign territory, an enclave of Rome.
Today, Rome is a modern and cosmopolitan city and the third most-visited tourist destination in the European Union.
For more information see the Rome guide in our website.

Castelli Romani
The Castelli Romani is a collection of wine-producing hill-towns to the southeast of Rome. These small towns and villages are scattered over the wooded slopes of the Alban Hills (Colli Albani), a landscape created by long-ago volcanic activity.
The circular craters of Lake Nemi and Lake Albano, testament to the area's geological past, are among the most attractive natural features of Lazio.

The towns of Castelli Romani are:
Frascati. It’s the most well known of the Castelli Romani, and the most visited. The town is famous for its white wine, and is a popular destination for Romans looking for fresh air, good food and drink and a pleasant day out. The most imposing building in Frascati is the grand Villa Aldobrandini, with gardens that are open to the public.

Castel Gandolfo. It is the summer residence of the Pope; an attractive hill-town, above Lake Albano, dominated by the Papal Palace and by the extensive gardens enjoyed by John Paul II. It’s a sleepy little place, but although there's not a great deal for tourists to see, it's a pleasant spot to spend a few relaxing hours.

Genzano. It is above the crater of Lake Nemi and has a pleasant main shopping street. Behind the church of S. Maria della Cima, uphill from the centre, is a belvedere with views over the lake. Genzano's grandest building is a ducal palace, Palazzo Sforza Cesarini which sits rather sadly with ground floor windows bricked up.

Albano Laziale. On a steep slope leading up to the Lake Albano crater, Albano's Roman ruins include a grass-covered arena, bits of fortified wall and town gates, and the ruined Baths of Caracalla, later converted into a church.

Ariccia. It is famous throughout the region for its porchetta (roast pork). The small town's greatest sight is the seventeenth-century Palazzo Chigi, designed by Bernini for Pope Alexander VII. A grand Baroque palace, it dominates its attractive piazza. The extravagant period interior is open to the public.

Velletri. Velletri, twenty-five miles from Rome, has a Camellia Festival every spring (March), with displays, sales and guided tours of local gardens. The town also has an archaeological museum with exhibits dating back as far as the Iron Age.

Cerveteri: The Etruscan Necropolis at Cerveteri is a uniquely haunting archaeological site. Built by this prosperous people between the seventh and the third centuries BC, the 'city' is still not fully excavated, but there are a remarkable number of stone tombs lining little streets, and you can easily spend several hours exploring.
The enigmatic Etruscans built cities and ports that have long since disappeared, but the care and industry they put into the homes for their dead have resulted in a lasting monument.
The experience of clambering inside these tombs is unmissable... it's also rather eerie and feels faintly invasive. One hopes that, unlike the pyramids of Egypt, there are no curses here to blight the adventurer.

Tivoli: It is world-famous for its villas and sulphur baths.
Villa d'Este is known for its water system and the architecture of its gardens, including the fountains. The garden is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its significance in the history of garden design, and its fountains are famous worldwide.
Villa Adriana is a gigantic complex with underground service passages big enough for vehicles and it incorporates lakes, fountains, libraries, baths, temples and gardens. The area covered is staggering, and highly confusing even when armed with a map.

DON'T MISS

The Pontine Islands
The Pontine Islands (Isole Pontine) are a pretty archipelago off the Italian coast south of Rome. With a long history, attested by Roman and pre-Roman ruins, the islands are nevertheless little known to international tourists.
Ponza is the main tourist destination, and is hugely popular with water-lovers; the island offers superb swimming opportunities, particularly for those who hire boats.

Sperlonga is a beautiful seaside town to the south of Rome. Whitewashed houses are clustered together on a steep headland, the streets warren-like stairways that bring you to unexpected terraces above the sea. The old town is compact and charming, and a pleasure to explore.
Beyond the harbour stretches an exquisite length of beach, with gorgeously clean sand and water. There are trees and greenery along the shore.
You can also see through the railings into the ruins of the Roman villa, and the Grotto of Tiberius, in fact in the 20th century, during the construction of the coastal road, extensive ruins were found on this spot.

Terracina is a pleasant seaside resort in the south of the Lazio region, between Rome and Naples. It was an important port on the Roman Appian Way, and the site of a major temple to Jupiter. Nowadays the modern town spreads out on the plain below the hills, along a wide sandy beach, which attracts many summer visitors.

FOOD SPECIALTIES

Bucatini all'amatriciana: with tomato, onion, bacon and a dash of cognac.
Spaghetti alla carbonara: with a creamy egg and cheese sauce dusted with black pepper 'coal flakes'.

Rigatoni alla Pagliata: rigatoni with calf's intestine.

Abbacchio al forno (roast lamb) or alla cacciatora (lamb with an anchovy and rosemary sauce).

Saltimbocca: a fillet of veal rolled in ham and flavored and served in a Marsala sauce.
Carciofi alla Giudia: artichokes done at Jewish style.

CLIMATE AND TRAVEL SEASON

The coastal part has profited from the sea that mitigates the winters and refreshes the summers.
In the departs inside of the Region the winter is rigid and the summer is warm. In the coastal shore and in the lowlands the rains are scarce, while on the mountains they are very abundant especially in the winter and spring periods.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Amatrice festival. Final Sunday August – Amatrice. Expect to eat lots of bucatini all’amatriciana with pecorino romano cheese.

Marino Wine Festival. October – Marino. This annual event attracts thousands of people from all over the region. The highlight is when the fountains of the town start gushing sweet white wine, which is then distributed freely among the crowd. The event includes a procession, music, and period costumes.

La Corsa degli Ussari. Carnival, February – Ronciglione. Horse race with a difference through the streets of the town. The difference? The horses have no riders to steer them.

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