Skip menu

Lazio is not only Rome: landscapes and monuments of Lazio

Rome, the capital of Italy and a unique open-air museum in the world, is enough to make Lazio one of the most beautiful and interesting regions. Even in terms of landscape, it boasts an area of great impact and remarkable variety, with its long coastline, beautiful hills and Apennine mountains. A destination to fall in love with.

Rome Viterbo Rieti Latina Frosinone
Rome
Rome

She never hides her years, but still wears them well: after all, Rome is the Eternal City. A walk through the streets of Rome is a stroll through History with a capital H. One of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, it offers and almost demands endless new discoveries, thanks to the enormity of its artistic heritage. As a matter of fact, it is home to two capitals in one city: the Italian capital and the home of the Pope in the Vatican, a place of universal pilgrimage to St Peter's Square.

Discover
Viterbo
Viterbo

Viterbo and surroundings The province of Viterbo lies in the Tuscia region, in northern Lazio. Renowned for its natural beauty dotted with Etruscan and Roman remains, this area also offers villages and towns perched atop hills. You can begin your exploration in Viterbo, the City of Popes. After admiring the majestic Palazzo dei Papi and the San Pellegrino quarter, you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the spa. Among the local villages, we recommend visiting Bagnaia and the magnificent Villa Lante with its Italian-style gardens, the medieval Caprarola with its impressive Palazzo Farnese, and the abandoned villages of Celleno and Civita di Bagnoregio, “the dying town”. Not forgetting Sutri, perched on a tuff cliff. Further down is ancient Sutri, with a Roman amphitheatre and necropolis. Be sure to visit Bomarzo, famous for its Sacred Grove, nicknamed the Park of the Monsters, with sculptures of mythological and grotesque creatures. For nature walks, check out the volcanic Lake Vico, a nature reserve surrounded by the Monti Cimini hills, or the shores of Lake Bolsena. To explore the area’s Etruscan origins, head to Tarquinia. Today it is a medieval village, but it preserves splendid Etruscan treasures, like the Monterozzi Necropolis with tombs cut into the rock decorated with frescoes.

Discover
Rieti
Rieti

In the footsteps of the Sabatini In the most authentic heart of Lazio, the province of Rieti stretches between rivers and lakes in a predominantly mountainous territory, surrounded by the Sabini and Reatini Mountains. Located in the north-east of the region, it borders, along the Tiber, the province of Viterbo, the capital and the region of Umbria. Unspoilt nature amidst parks and protected areas, history and ancient traditions, Franciscan sanctuaries, fortresses and castles come together in a province whose origins go back to the times of the ancient Italic people of the Sabines. Visiting the towns and villages that characterise the area is an experience not to be missed. Take a tour around the town of Sabina and be sure to visit the Abbey of Farfa, an ancient monastery named after the nearby river Farfarus. The regional capital, Rieti, is also called “the navel of Italy” due to its geographical location. Dominated by the summit of Terminillo, it is an excellent tourist destination particularly appreciated for its tranquillity and beauty. Among the monuments and main places of interest is the Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. Once you have finished exploring the surroundings, refresh yourself with traditional cuisine. Typical dishes include spelt with Leonessa truffles, strangozzi alla reatina and sagne scandrigliesi.

Discover
Latina
Latina

Testimony of 20th-century Italy The city of Latina lies in the heart of the Pontine Plain. Once known as Littoria, it still boasts rationalist architecture, bearing witness to the history of 20th-century Italy. The most iconic example is Palazzo M, built in the shape of Mussolini’s initial. For panoramic views of the city, you can climb the 32-metre-high civic tower. The province offers unexpected surprises: medieval villages, cliffs, caves and the beautiful Circeo National Park — what it lacks in size it makes up for in flourishing flora, fauna and architectural gems, like the ruins of the Villa di Domiziano. Near the capital are the towns of Formia and Gaeta. The latter still boasts an intact medieval historic centre (Gaeta Vecchia) and the Angevin-Aragonese Castle. We also recommend visiting the town of Sperlonga, on the Ulysses Riviera, surrounded by crystal-clear waters, with caves and breath-taking views around every corner. Don’t miss the Gardens of Ninfa, where plants grow among the ruins of an abandoned city. From the mainland, you can reach the Pontine Islands in a couple of hours by ferry. Ventotene, Ponza, Palmarola, Gavi, Zannone and Santo Stefano offer crystal-clear waters, beautiful beaches and wild nature.

Discover
Frosinone
Frosinone

A thousand-year-old city, among ancient Roman ruins and traces of papal history Between Rome and Naples, Frosinone is a city with a history dating back thousands of years. Traces of its glorious past can be found at the Roman Amphitheatre built in the 1st-2nd century AD, the town’s archaeological museum and the Tomb of Sant’Angelo in Maniano. The province, known as Ciociaria, is home to countless picturesque villages steeped in history, as well as natural areas such as Lake Canterno, also known as the “ghost lake”, due to its karst origin dating back to the early 19th century. We also recommend stopping by the Monti Simbruini Regional Park, a protected natural area where mountains, majestic panoramas, valleys and rivers reign supreme. Fumone, home to the Rocca Longhi De-Paolis castle, is famous not only for having served as the prison and place of death of Pope Celestine V, but also for its extraordinary, 800-metre-high hanging garden, the highest in Europe. Another location closely linked to papal history is Anagni, remembered in books for the famous, humiliating “slap” inflicted by Philip IV of France on Pope Boniface VIII in 1303. Ferentino is also worth visiting, with its spectacular remains of megalithic walls, which have been attributed to the Cyclopes due to their sheer scale.

Discover
  • Highlights
  • Villages
  • Nature
  • Sport
  • Art & Culture
Villages
Civita di Bagnoregio

Civita di Bagnoregio

Region
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.
Villages
Castel Gandolfo

Castel Gandolfo

Region
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.
Villages
Genzano

Genzano

Region
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.
Villages
Lanuvio

Lanuvio

Region
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.
Region

The capital region that amazes with its history and beautiful landscapes

Lazio is home to some of the most important monuments of Roman civilisation, but it is also a wonderful destination for those who want to experience its sea or its countryside, dotted with picturesque villages and charming towns. And then there's them, Lake Bracciano, the Aurunci Mountains and the Circeo National Park, making Lazio an amazing nature destination.

Learn more
1600X1600_lazio_approfondimento
Ops! An error occurred while sharing your content. Please accept profiling cookies to share the page.