Lazio

Rome is wonderful and its surroundings are just as unique. Latium boasts an endless number of natural beauties and a broad range of cultural experiences. It is home to historic sites ideal for excursions and out-of-town trips starting from the Eternal City. Enjoy delightful occasions while touring ancient villages, the sea, stunning parks and splendid lakes.

Typical of the Lazio coastline and the areas of Rome, Viterbo and Latina, the Roman artichoke was the first vegetable in Italy with Protected Geographical Indication at the EU level. It has an age-old tradition, with recognised therapeutic properties. From December to May, it is the undisputed star of regional markets, lending itself to countless recipes. Let's tuck in!

Rome is a unique city, rich in history and beauty, and its surroundings are just as wonderful. If you plan to take a trip outside the city, there are many not-to-be-missed places only a stone's throw from the capital. A heritage and an ancient tradition well-worth knowing, for a day or a weekend dedicated to culture.

The Colosseum, the Spanish Steps and St Peter's Basilica are always at the top of the list of things to see in Rome, but the capital holds lesser-known but equally unmissable gems for anyone who happens to be in town. They are all close to the most famous attractions, so it’s easy to include them in your schedule. Here is an itinerary for exploring a hidden Rome, taking in five must-see sights.

It is a unique complex that has amazed artists, prelates and illustrious personalities visiting from all over Italy and the world for centuries.

If we love to enjoy the beneficial power of spas, we owe it above all to the Romans, who, borrowing the traditions of neighbouring Greece and exploiting the area’s natural springs, made the practice of bathing in these beneficial waters an integral part of Italian identity, laying the foundations of a wellness culture. Fortunately, Lazio was and remains one of the richest regions in terms of natural springs. These can be found throughout the region, each with its own particular characteristics. The most interesting are definitely the outdoor hot water spas – pure oases of pleasure where you can find yourself and relax. You have the choice between natural springs that are free of charge, and those that are within organised facilities, including luxury spas, where you can combine a visit to the pools with aesthetic and medical treatments. If you have chosen to spend your summer holidays visiting the wonders of Rome and the surrounding area, with its rich history and natural beauty, don’t miss the opportunity to visit one of the many outdoor thermal pools in Lazio. Here is are some sites that are worth a visit.

Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club About forty km north of the capital, Calcata is a small village that has preserved its cultural and natural heritage over time. It rests on a tufa cliff, surrounded by lush vegetation, rich in fauna. Before the Second World War, following the collapse of the tuffaceous cliff, the inhabitants deserted the original site and the new town was built 2 km away. However, the old Calcata did not cease to flourish; on the contrary, it began to be populated by artists in search of an isolated and peaceful place to live and create. The red tufa houses were inhabited by writers, intellectuals, artisans that revitalised the village and gave it a sort of bohemian spirit. Along the alleyways in Calcata today, it is easy to hear musicians, watch performances by street artists or admire the artisans at work in their workshops.

Civita di Bagnoregio: the village struggling to live Only a long footbridge connects Civita di Bagnoregio to the rest of the world. On a tuff spur, in the heart of Tuscia, between the Tiber valley and Lake Bolsena, one of the most fascinating villages in Lazio, albeit undermined by the erosion of the fragile tuff rock on which it was built. In the province of Viterbo, from its alleys the eye can reach the spectacular Valley of the Calanques, deep furrows in the ground created over millennia by rainwater erosion. History of the village and its landslides At least 2,500 years of history are stratified in this small village: Civita was founded by the Etruscans in the 5th century BC when the settlement was one with today's Bagnoregio, then called Rota. It then became a Roman colony, in the 6th century a Lombard colony, later, incorporated into a fiefdom, and in 1140, a free commune. In the Renaissance, Civita di Bagnoregio had the upper hand over Rota, experiencing a moment of great development, with the construction of new palaces and the cathedral. From the 15th century to the present, however, the territory of Civita literally thinned out due to no less than 134 landslides documented in manuscripts, chronicles and various other sources. In 1695, an earthquake caused the entire district of Contrada Carcere, the district that connected it to Bagnoregio, to collapse from the cliff. Other major collapses occurred in 1764 and the following centuries. Since 1965, Civita di Bagnoregio has only been accessible via a pedestrian viaduct. About ten people currently live there permanently. The village of Civita The village is entered through the Porta di Santa Maria gate, known as Porta Cava because it was originally a street cut into the tuff. On either side of the arch are two bas-reliefs commemorating a victorious popular uprising in Civita (1457) against Orvieto’s Monaldeschi family who were oppressing them. Worth seeing is the beautiful church of San Donato (formerly the Duomo), rebuilt in the 17th century, with interesting works of art including a 15th-century wooden crucifix. Interesting is the Geological and Landslide Museum, inside the 16th-century Palazzo Alemanni, explaining the difficult evolution of the territory, also to better understand Civita’s future. The museum offers guided tours and excursions. Finally, one of the most venerated places in Bagnoregio is the San Bonaventura Cave, an ancient Etruscan chamber tomb, overlooking the valley, transformed into a chapel in the Middle Ages. According to legend, this is where the miraculous healing of little Giovanni Fidanza took place by St Francis. The Valley of the Gullies Civita di Bagnoregio is surrounded by the fairy-tale landscape of the Valle dei Calanchi, geological formations created by erosion, small valleys of clay soil over which rainwater does not penetrate, but slides, removing the surface layers and preventing the growth of vegetation. The unique landscape of Tuscia's calanchi (gullies) makes it possible to slip into these valleys and observe up close formations that look like castles made of tuff, clay cathedrals with spires and pinnacles. They exist throughout the area known as the “Forre della Teverina” between the municipalities of Bagnoregio, Castiglione in Teverina, Celleno, Civitella d'Agliano, Graffignano and Lubriano. The events of Civita di Bagnoregio The beauty and uniqueness of Civita di Bagnoregio lend themselves well to the organisation of special events. On Good Friday, re-enacting the Passion, the wooden statue of Christ from the church of San Donato is carried in an evocative procession to the cathedral of Bagnoregio. The first of May is traditionally spent walking through the gullies. On the first Sunday in June and again on the second Sunday in September, the Palio della Tonna, a race of four donkeys ridden bareback by jockeys, is held in the church square. The patron saint is celebrated on 15 July. In October, the village smells of roasted chestnuts for the chestnut festival. At Christmas, Civita is lit up with torches in the atmospheric living nativity scene.

That Castel Gandolfo belongs to the Castelli Romani is not surprising either in terms of the sound of the words or of geography, around the Colli Albani immediately south-east of the capital. More than a real town, it is a late-mediaeval village, according to some located on the site of the ancient Alba Longa, and famous for the area outside the territory - i.e., strictly speaking, not belonging to the Italian Republic - where the popes of the Catholic Church still live during the summer. Craft shops and bars that open outdoor tables in fine weather line the Corso leading up to the Piazza della Libertà, a Baroque-style widening with the Fountain and Collegiata di S. Tommaso da Villanova, both the work of Baroque architect and sculptor prince Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The church has impressive stucco work on the high altar and dome, and a Crucifixion by Pietro da Cortona. The square is closed at the end by the papal palace, which started construction in the 1720s by Carlo Maderno, but was later extended several times. The palace is connected to the Papal Villa that had once belonged to the Barberini family and its park, which extends towards Albano Laziale including the remains of a villa of the Emperor Domitian. The two domes of the Vatican Specola, the astronomical observatory moved here in the 1980s to escape the light pollution of Rome, but then for the same reason moved in the later 1980s to Tucson, in Arizona, USA, can be seen on the roof of the palace. Streets built by the Popes descend through greenery towards Lake Albano.

Genzano, the town of the Infiorata, strawberries and bread The town of Genzano lies on the crater of Lake Nemi, on the Appian Way, in the dense woods of the Castelli Romani area. It is the city of the Infiorata, a large carpet of fresh flowers for the religious festival of Corpus Christi, but also of delicious PGI bread and strawberries. A favourite destination for many Roman out-of-town trips, a charming and scenic place to relax amidst greenery and history. What to see in Genzano A walk through the village of Genzano is a continuous discovery of panoramic views of Lake Nemi and the countryside sloping into the crater. In the historical centre, the bulk of the 18th century Palazzo Cesarini Sforza, the barons of Genzano, stands out. On display on the piano nobile, the Hager-Sportelli collection, a hundred or so works of art from the 17th and 18th centuries that belonged to Hellmut Hager, one of the greatest scholars of Baroque architects Carlo Fontana, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Filippo Juvarra. On the mezzanine floor, the permanent exhibition Symposium, at the table between myth and culture displays artefacts related to wine culture with a nucleus of works recovered by the Guardia di Finanza as part of operations to combat illegal trafficking in antique works. There is also a section in the palace dedicated to archaeological finds from the Antonine villa (1st century AD) where two Roman emperors, Antoninus Pius and Commodus, were born. The exhibition is the result of an ongoing excavation campaign carried out in cooperation with an American university. Also worth a visit is the church of Santa Maria della Cima, with its monastery, the remains of the medieval walls and the Infiorata museum, which recounts the most deeply rooted tradition in Genzano, between history and collective memory. The Infiorata of Genzano, Heritage of Italy Every year, for the feast of Corpus Christi (the second Sunday after Pentecost, usually in June), the centre of Genzano is covered with a 2,000-square-metre carpet of fresh flower petals divided into 14 squares made up of more than 400,000 carnations of every colour. The Infiorata di Genzano, recognised by the Ministry of Tourism as 'Heritage of Italy' is one of the most spectacular events of its kind, renewed annually since 1778. A festival that is not just tourist marketing, but a sense of belonging and identity for the locals. Moreover, its preparation lasts a whole year: during the winter, sketches are designed and prepared. In April, how many and which flowers will be needed is estimated. In May the work site is set up and in June, on the Thursday before Corpus Christi Sunday, the stripping activity (separating the petals from the corollas) begins. The petals are divided by colour and kept in cool caves under the town hall. In addition to carnation petals, the following: broom, sausa, fennel, pine seed, chrysanthemum, pine bark, vine black, maize, rice, sage, chilli, wheat, soya, pine nut husks, oregano, coffee black, bran are also used. The laying of the petals and creation of the floral images takes place between Saturday evening and Sunday morning. In the following months, an inventory is made of the materials that can be stored and preparations are made for the next edition. The highlight of the festival is on Sunday afternoon with the procession on the Via Infiorata and continues on Monday with processions and bands until the village children come running down the steps of the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli and finally unravel the flower paintings. What to eat in Genzano: PGI homemade bread The local gastronomic speciality is Pane casereccio di Genzano, the first in Italy to be awarded the PGI mark made from wheat flour, water, natural yeast and salt. The dough is left to rise for about an hour: cut into rolls and loaves, it rests in wooden boxes with hemp cloths and is dusted with bran, then baked in a wood-fired or electric oven. The crust is crispy, the inside is soft and spongy: thanks to the natural yeast, so-called mother yeast or sourdough, it keeps for days. The bakers of Genzano are united in a consortium that monitors compliance with production specifications and ensures survival of the wood-fired ovens. The bread is sold in loaves of 0.5 to 2.5 kg.

Lanuvio: ancient walls and good wines On the last foothills of the Alban Hills, near Rome and in a dominant position on a plateau sloping down to the Latium coast, lies Lanuvio, a small medieval village enclosed by a beautiful city wall that dates back in places to the 5th century BC. Its narrow streets paved with cobblestones leading to squares adorned with Baroque fountains and façades of palaces incorporating Roman remains, on display in the civic museum, are intriguing. What to see in Lanuvio Lanuvio and its territory are like an open-air museum A timeline beginning in the 5th century BC with the construction of the megalithic walls made of local stone, some sections of which remain. The Sanctuary of Juno Sospita (in Latin, propitious), a divinity of Roman mythology of whom we have news from Cicero's writings, can be visited in the park adjoining Villa Sforza Cesarini and dates to the same period. In the centre is Palazzo Colonna, unfinished, although it is the birthplace of Marcantonio Colonna, one of the architects of the victory at the Battle of Lepanto (1571): a marble sarcophagus from the Roman era (3rd-4th century AD) is placed on the main façade. Also worth a visit is the 14th-century Rocca, where the Enoteca del Consorzio dei vini Colli Lanuvini is located, the best place to taste the area's wine production: later, you can visit a small museum of rural traditions and climb the watchtower, symbol of the town, from where the view is breathtaking. There is also a small civic museum in the old town centre, with a pre-Roman section recounting the ancient origins of the village and a Roman section with a fresco from the Augustan period with a Dionysian theme and other artefacts from the sanctuary of Juno Sospita, whose archaeological excavations dating back to the early 20th century are also on display. Two works by Carlo Fontana, a pupil of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, can be seen in the village: the Fontana degli Scogli (1675) and the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, of Byzantine origin but rebuilt in Baroque style. Along the walls is the foundation of a temple dedicated to Hercules from the 2nd century BC, while from the belvedere terrace, you can see the Pontine Islands on a clear day.

Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club The largest lake of volcanic origin in Europe, and also among the cleanest, is that of Bolsena. The village's name is therefore often associated with the lake, to which the local history and culture are naturally, very closely linked. It is reconstructed in the five sections of the Ancient Village Territorial Museum, housed within the majestic Monaldeschi Castle, former stronghold of the Orvietani (13th-14th century) At the foot of the castle, stands the palazzo del Drago, dating back to the mid-16th century, with highly regarded frescoes. In the village, a visit to the collegiate church of St. Christina should not be missed, the most important monument in Bolsena: decidedly original, it combines structures from different eras on the site where the miracle of the host transformed into blood is said to have occurred in 1263. It is from the Cave of St Christina, carved into the tuff, that the catacombs start. An excursion just outside the town, to the archaeological area of Poggio Moscini on the hill of the Mercatello square, allows a better understanding of the foundation of the settlement The lake also offers the area some typical products: the most well-known is the corregone, fish to be grilled or boiled with sauce.

No matter where you might find yourself on the Coast of Lazio, it is impossibile to overlook the astounding outline of the Circeo Promontory. With its peak at approximately 1,775 feet above sea level, it rises above the spectacular landscape of the surrounding natural park, that is also filled with characteristic and picturesque towns and villages. This magnificent spot is a millenary locus of epic natural, historical and mythological events. Founded in 1934, Circeo National Park spreads out along the littoral strand comprising Anzio and Terracina, and lies only 62 miles from Rome.

Visiting the typical touristic hubs in the Regions of Lazio or Campania and want to make a quick getaway to an island paradise? You may be surprised to know that not far from Rome and Naples lie six tiny, yet beautiful islands known as the Pontines. Those in the know (and near the Tyrrhenian) make these Islands their spring/summer weekend destination, and who could blame them? The transparent waters, the gracious little ports, and the easy ferry connections make these “fishermen’s isles” an attainable Mediterranean dream: within just a couple hours from the coast, the Pontine Islands will be welcoming you with all their warmth and hospitality. The Pontines make up an archipelago: individually they are Gavi, Zannone, Palmarola, Ventotene, Santo Stefano and, the first among equals, Ponza, from which the island chain takes its name.

The Garden of Ninfa (Giardino di Ninfa), built on the ruins of the medieval town of Ninfa in the Pontine Marshes (Agro Pontino), has been classified by the New York Times as one of the most beautiful and romantic gardens in the world. Declared a Natural Monument by the Lazio Region, the garden, given the delicate environmental balance, may only be visited on certain days of the year, but the beauty of this place is well worth a visit.

Villages, ancient towns, villas, Medieval castles, and archaeological ruins animate the Regional Park of the Castelli Romani, in the Province of Rome. Located in the Alban Hills, in the past the Castelli Romani were a favorite resort for the Capital's noble families as well as for Popes. 9,500 hectares of protected land, many animal species, such as badgers, martens, peregrine falcons, porcupines, and especially the wolf (a key component in the local ecosystem) also call this their habitat. Fifteen municipalities make up part of the Park of the Castelli Romani however, for an already-exhaustive window onto the area, organize a tour of just six of them, beginning with Lanuvio, a Medieval village near Velletri.

In the meantime, let's consider some of the notable aspects of this pearl of the Mediterranean and its mosaic of wonderful scenery and facilities situated in an area of less than 8 square kilometres. A rocky coastline, cliffs overlooking the sea and various enchanting gorges enclosing small sandy beaches and basins of pure crystalline water are particular characteristics that render this island a unique venue. The interior of the island, which is of volcanic origin, is no exception and you will be captivated by its fascinating archaeological sites and small villages.

Bracciano is built on a hill above the clear water of Lake Bracciano, a volcanic lake where it is possible to canoe, scuba-dive, sail and much more (especially during hot summertime days, when a dip in the lake can be most refreshing).

The Southern Lazio coastline between Sperlonga and Gaeta is a very popular destination for climbers, passing by these parts you’d understand why. The climbs are innumerable and by choosing the right one you could dedicate yourself to climbing in every season. The names of the climbing spots evoke history and myths, the landscape utterly enchanting.

Flying In The Sky is the fastest zip line in the world. This thrilling experience takes you high above the Lazio coastline, over the Alban Hills and the Abruzzo mountains. It offers delightful views of olive groves and karst areas and guarantees a high-adrenaline experience, flying over the slopes of Monte Sant'Angelo, a nesting ground for peregrine falcon. And you will feel exactly like this swooping bird of prey as you soar over the city of Latina.

Practised on a roller board of various sizes, skateboarding is not just an extreme sporting activity, but a real lifestyle. It makes use of benches, steps and handrails, as well as specially designed spaces such as skateparks. Rome, between one archaeological site and another, is home to numerous spots, but two locations deserve special attention: the Bunker Skatepark and The Spot Skatepark Ostia. Let's find out together.

The Eternal City conquers and amazes not only tourists every day, but also Romans who know it like the back of their hands. With the arrival of winter, however, it is traditional to treat oneself to a few weekends in the snow near Rome and take a break from the city bustle. There is no shortage of options for those who wish to ski a stone's throw from Rome, from Terminillo to Monte Livata in Lazio to the small jewels of Abruzzo such as Campo Felice and Ovindoli. An honourable mention goes to Capracotta in the Campo Gentile district in Molise, very close to the border with Abruzzo. Here, we are in the highest municipality in the centre-south, and Romans can reach it in 2.30 hours by car to enjoy skiing and cross-country skiing. The ski resorts can be easily reached from the capital, in some cases even by direct bus, and they are also ideal for snowshoeing and hiking in nature. Want to find out where to ski near Rome? Here are 5 locations - plus a bonus one - not to be missed.

Rome is undoubtedly the central point of the Via Francigena, but the area around Latium traversed by pilgrims is full of lesser-known but equally fascinating places. Between nature, art, architecture and spirituality, here are five that are absolutely worth getting to know.

Soar through the sky surrounded by nature, enjoying breathtaking views of mountains and valleys, seas and lakes, quaint villages and islands, as you glide along steel cables in complete safety, all harnessed up and protected: six spectacular zip lines for an unforgettable, adrenaline-filled experience.

Right in the middle of Rome, within the Vatican City rises the magnificent St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world. Its impressive dome stands out over all the other roofs of the Eternal City, while the Vatican Museums know that what they hold inside goes beyond the value of the Sistine Chapel alone.

Tucked away in the beautiful Rione Monti, in Rome, in the quaint church of San Pietro in Vincoli, there is one of the greatest masterpieces of Italian art, Michelangelo's Moses, an example of superb craftsmanship and incomparable beauty.

If you want to step back in time and admire the splendour of Italy's only pre-Roman urban civilisation, Cerveteri and Tarquinia are most definitely for you.

Viterbo is a beautiful place of art that offers a journey back in time through the halls of the elegant Papal Palace, through intact medieval alleys, monumental fountains, and Renaissance patrician palaces. An ancient land that preserves fascinating Etruscan vestiges, such as the Cava di Sant'Antonio and the necropolis of Castel d'Asso, rich in thermal springs immersed in nature where you can enjoy hot baths in an enchanting landscape.

Its proximity to the famous Civita di Bagnoregio, the “dying town”, makes this area of the Viterbo area a hidden gem, still untouched by large-scale tourism.

The Imperial Fora in Rome include a series of monumental piazzas built between 46 B.C.E. and 113 A.D. They are considered to have been the hub of Ancient Rome’s political activities, and they were eventually accompanied by other structures over the course of centuries.