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Latium Photographs, Museums, Etruscan Ruins, Transportation
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There is much, much more to Lazio than just Rome! Do you like the mountains, the beach, Renaissance papal villas, wineries, Etruscan ruins, health spas or secluded Franciscan hermitages? Then schedule a few more days in this region, because it has everything you've been looking for. Start with a day in the Castelli Romani, right on Rome's doorstep - we'll tell you how you can absorb 2000 years of history without staying in the city. Just south of there, on the way to Naples, is the world-class spa town of Fiuggi, surrounded by a host of picturesque hill towns like the one featured in the movie For Rosanne. Or head east to Rieti, where you can visit the tiny monasteries St. Francis built, birthplace of the nativity scene and the Christmas tree. You can even sleep at a couple of them, if you like, or try some skiing in the beautiful mountains that loom overhead.
North of the city, within an hour's easy drive from Fiumicino Airport (also called Leonardo da Vinci), is the former homeland of the mysterious Etruscans. Join a car caravan to visit their delightfully painted underground tombs, or head out on your own to explore their stone tumuli, usually located in idyllic forests or deserted valleys. No matter whether you go north or south along the Latium coast, you will find wonderful sandy beaches and rocky coves for all tastes, delightful resort towns like Capalbio and San Felice Circeo, Grecian fishing villages like Sperlonga, or ancient strongholds like Gaeta.
- If you need a break from the madness of the city, do as the Romans do: discover the wonderful Castelli Romani!
- St. Francis loved the valley near Rieti, about sixty miles east of Rome. You can visit one of his magical hermitages there and stay overnight if you like.
- Convents and monasteries abound in Rome and surrounding Latium. Here are a few that offer overnight hospitality.
- A great day trip from Rome is to visit the monumental papal villas at Bagnaia and Caprarola. They were built by the same man, but they're as different as salt and sugar.
- Many people associate the Etruscans with Tuscany, but these mysterious ancient people left fascinating ruins all over Latium. Here's a great two-day itinerary combining beautiful scenery with a search for the elusive Etruscans.
- No one who's ever seen a Roman outdoor market is likely to forget the mountains of silvery artichokes crowding the stands. Here's how to make them alla romana.
- On the coast just 38 miles south of Rome is the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial dedicated to the 7861 Americans who died in the battle to liberate Italy from the Nazis. It is a beautiful and moving site.
- Find the location, zip code, area code, province or region of a specific town.
- Find a flag of Latium / Lazio, along with hundreds of other flags from Italy and around the world.
- Useful WWW links.
- A year-round calendar of the colorful festivals and pageants held throughout the region of Latium.
- Ceramics, kitchen utensils, hand-made linens, antique bric-a-brac: what better place to find souvenirs for your friends and yourself than a flea market, set in the shadow of a 16th-century cathedral, perchance? Keep this calendar of outdoor markets in Latium for your files.
- The basic facts about Latium.
[Regions of Italy]