The nearest town for shops, restaurants and essentials such as banks, and chemists is Caprarola, starting point for walks in the woods covering the slopes of the Cimini mountains, also the site of the Palazzo Farnese, a very fine piece of architecture with frescoed rooms by Federico and Taddeo Zuccari. Close by to the house is a restaurant if guests prefer not to cook.
There is so much to recommend Lazio - the unprecedented quality of its art and history, the unspoilt hilly landscapes, and clear freshwater lakes. Not to mention the food, drink and shopping! Northern Lazio is home to the fascinating Monumento Naturals della Caldara - a bubbling hot water pool, complete with sulphurous egg smell (guaranteed to amuse the children!). You can swim in the clear waters of the lake at Bracciano, followed by a tasty lakeside meal of freshly caught fish. Meanwhile, at Cerveteri and Tarquinia you will find the marvelously preserved tombs and wall-paintings of the mysterious Etruscans. In Southern Lazio you can sight see at Tivoli, with its imperial Roman Villa Adriana, or at the romantic Renaissance Villa d’Este. If country walks are more tempting, try the unbelievably picturesque tree-bordered crater lake at Nemi, dedicated to the goddess Diana and forming part of the ring of volcanoes because Nemi is one of the Alban Hills. Further south still, you can catch a le ferry from Anzio to the Pontine Islands, with their beautiful pastel-painted houses. Back on the mainland, continue on to the amazing Emperor Tiberius’s Grotto, via the ancient acropolis of Anxur, perched above the coastal town of Terracina.
All roads lead to Rome...
And its indisputable wealth of culture, history and beauty. In the aptly named Eternal City, modern living - with its stylish clothes, scooters and sunglasses - sits comfortably with the renowned architecture and art that surrounds it. Turn any corner, and you will find yourself in a hidden piazza or a narrow cobbled street, gazing at marble fountains, flower-decked balconies and secret courtyards. And amongst the incredible landmarks, such as the Roman Forum, the Vatican Museum and the Colosseum (to name just a few!). you can enjoy living la dolce vita. Watch the morning sun lighting up the fountains in the Piazza del Popolo, or savour the moonlit atmosphere of an alfresco dinner at a trattoria in Trastevere. With a huge variety of cafes and restaurants in every area, you can sip your cappuccino and watch the world go by at any time of the day or night. The classic happy-go-lucky Roman attitude to life is strong and infectious, and the romantic atmosphere of the city cannot fail to influence all who fall under its spell.
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