| According to UNESCO, more than half the world?s historical and artistic heritage is in Italy. Lazio is the most fascinating, and often overlooked, region of Italy for the tourist. The importance of Rome itself hardly needs to be mentioned but Lazio as a whole is incredibly rich and varied archeologically and architecturally, with the history of the Etruscans, Romans, medieval life and the renaissance visible everywhere and permeating every village, every landscape. There is not a clear division between "modern life" and the tourist destinations; they seem inextricably woven together. Here we aim to give you a brief tour of the region, taking in just a few of the most important tourist sites. Starting in the north of the region in the hilly campagna romana (Roman countryside) you are in Etruria. The Etruscans strong belief in the afterlife led to them building the most amazing necropoli, many of which can be found in this region, including the ruins at Vulci (Etruscan bronzes), Tarquinia (underground tombs covered in magnificent paintings and the famous terracotta Winged Horses from a local temple), Cerveteri (fabulous architecture; the necropolis is like a real town with streets and squares) and Sutri (Etruscan amphitheatre and cremation and burial tombs).Northern Lazio is also home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the region (and Italy as a whole) with the Sabatini and Reatini mountains, wild hillsides, dotted with many beautiful villages (Bagnoregio, St. Oreste, Roccantica, Labro) and great lakes. The lakes are volcanic in origin. Amoung the largest are Bracciano (with the imposing Odescalchi Castle perched up on a surrounding hilltop), Bolsena (with its beautiful islands and its own cuisine; Dante once praised the eel of Lago di Bolsena), Vico, and further south, Albano and Nemi. These lakes are popular destinations for beautiful walks and fine lakeside dining in the winter and all types of watersports in the summer. Perched above Lake Bolsena is Montefiascone, an important town in the Etruscan Federation. More recent attractions include the famous double basilica of S. Flaviano and the strangely-named wine Est!Est!Est!; tradition has it that one of Henry V's court, while travelling from England to Rome, liked the wine so much that he died from overdrinking it. One of the provincial capitals of Lazio, Viterbo, is a beautiful town. The old quarter retains its medieval appearance and the town is surrounded by turreted walls. During the 13th century this city became the papal seat and its most famous monument is the Papal Palace (1267), built as a refuge for the Pope from Rome during troubled times. Near Viterbo, you find two other marvellous 16th century papal villas: the magnificent Farnese Palace (with stunning frescoes) at Caprarola and Villa Lante (with its beautiful Renaissance gardens) at Bagnaia. The edge of the Apennine mountain range in north east Lazio is less well-known but just as stunning, with the mountain of Terminillo (near Rieti) a favourite destination of Mussolini (his mountainside villa is still there), as well as today's Romans, for hiking in the summer and good skiing in the winter. From there, you can descend past Rieti (officially the geographical centre of Italy) into the Sacred Valley. This area was a retreat, a second home, for St. Francis of Assisi (the town of Assisi being just over the mountains) and there are four ancient hermitages he used, such as Fonte Colombo (named by St. Francis in 1217; it means Dove Spring). This is also an area with many convents and monasteries, the most famous of which being the Abbey of Farfa; granted complete autonomy by Charlemagne in the 8th century, it became one of the best known (and wealthy) religious centres of medieval Europe. In the centre of Lazio, near the Tyrrhenian coast is Rome; centre of Lazio, once the centre of the world and still one of the most important cities worldwide in terms of history, culture and religion. In a brief description of an area's tourist sites, such as this, it is extremely difficult to even start listing Rome's historical attractions, never mind the shopping districts, museums or quaint areas (such as Trastevere) to stop for a coffee or an evening meal. There are many literary and internet resources that cover Rome in depth but here a few of the most important monuments must be mentioned. The Colosseum (1st century AD) must be one of the most famous monuments in the world. This massive amphitheatre (seating 87,000 spectators) was built by emperor Vespasiano and was the scene of gladiator fights, animal hunts, the slaying of Christians and even "Naumachie" (mock naval battles where the arena was filled with water) in imperial Rome. Nearby lie the ruins of the Roman Forum; the centre of commercial, political and religious life in ancient Rome (1st century BC to 4th century AD). Trajan's Column (113AD) has fabulous intricate figures spiralling up this column that celebrates the Dacian War of emperor Trajan. The Column of Marcus Aurelius (193AD). The Pantheon; originally built by Agrippa (27BC) then rebuilt in Hadrian's time (the present building being a precise reconstruction). More recent day marvels include the Trevi fountain (built by Salvi in 1735 and decorated by artists of Bernini's school) and the Spanish Steps (1772) leading from Piazza di Spagna up to the Church of the Trinità dei Monti (1495); a famous sight for its 2 bell towers. Finally, of course, there is St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican with its huge square and colonnaded walkway by Bernini, and the massive dome by Michelangelo, all supposedly built over the tomb of St. Peter. Leading south out of Rome is the great Appian Way (Via Appia) from Rome right to Brindisi, it was the main route to the south and Greece. It was originally built in 312BC and there are many parts of the original road still remaining, with the nearest part to Rome lined with tombs and the Church of St. Sebastien with its catacombs. To the east of Rome lies Tivoli. Originally known as Tibur, the town was a resort for wealthy Romans around the 1st century BC and there are the remains of aqueducts, mausolea, and Roman villas including those of Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana), as well as the renaissance Villa D'Este with its fabulous gardens. Tivoli lies on the river Aniene and nearby are the great Aniene Falls. To the west of Rome, where the River Tiber meets the sea, stands Ostia Antica. This town was built around the 4th century BC to guard the mouth of the Tiber from invasion. Its position led to it becoming a major trading town to rival Rome and it is full of the most fabulously preserved ruins from this period. To the south east of Rome, and known for its views back over Rome, is the area of Castelli Romani in the Alban Hills. This has always been a favourite area for emperors, medieval feudal barons, the Popes and now the modern day Roman elite to get away from the chaos of the city. The area is full of marvellous palaces and villas including those at Frascati (Villa Aldobrandini) and Ariccia (Palazzo Chigi) and the ruins and beautiful churches at Lanuvio and Grottaferrata. It is also home to Castel Gandolfo; summer residence of the Pope since the 1600's that overlooks the wonderful lake Albano. On the edge of this region is Palestrina, one of the oldest towns in Italy (existing since the 8th century BC). Here one can find the remains of the Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia (2nd and 1st century BC). Stretching up the hillside this huge building housed a large pagan temple and was also used as the town forum. Next to this is the region of Ciociaria, where you can visit the famous spas at Fiuggi, castles and fortresses, Anagni ("the city of the popes"; birthplace and seat of many popes during the middle ages, including Pope Boniface VIII), Veroli (another important medieval town; home to the bishops of Campania), as well as the many ancient Benedictine monasteries and abbeys, especially those near Subiaco; S. Benedetto (built on the grotto of St. Benedict, who spent his life living as a hermit in this area) and S. Scolastica (dedicated to St. Benedict's sister; also a saint).Just south of this area is the small town of Priverno, with the fabulous Fossanova Abbey nearby. Built in the 12th century, this is one of the finest examples of architecture in the Italian Gothic style. The Pontine Marshes are an area of marshy lowland running along a large part of the coast of Lazio. Since Julius Caesar, many attempts were made to have these swamps drained and reclaimed. Finally, during the facist era of the 1930's Mussolini succeeded and you now find fertile farmland as well as a lot of industrial development and even completely new towns, such as Latina (capital of the region) and Sabaudia, which was built by 6,000 men in 253 days in 1933 (according to the propaganda, although the town was by no means finished in this time).On the Pontine Marshes, next to the Tyrrhenian Sea, lies Circeo National Park. As well as many interesting cultural and archeological sites, this is an area of outstanding natural beauty with Mediterranean scrub along the coastline leading up to thick shaded forests in the northern part. At the top of this area, on the coast, lies Anzio. Famous in more recent times as the site of a brutal battle during the Allied landings in WWII, this port was the capital of the ancient Vosci tribe and was also the birthplace of emperors Claudius and Nero (whose legacy, Villa di Nerone, can be visited today). Many sackings by the Goths and Saracens led to Antium's inhabitants founding Nettuno just to the east with its many fortified refuges (Asturia Tower). Anzio later became a resort for the wealthiest Romans and a summer residence of the Popes (Villa Albani).Around the headland from the Circeo National Park, you arrive at Terracina. This was also a Vosci city and is older than Rome itself. It was (and still is) important because of its harbour, one of the safest on the Mediterranean. It is also from this region that you get the famous Italian muscatel wine. The old town has a medieval Duomo and ruins of the temple of Jupiter (1st century BC), perched on the clifftop. Further down this beautiful stretch of coast is the medieval fishing village of Sperlonga. This was emperor Tiberius's seaside retreat and the remains of his villa can be visited, as well as the famous "Grotta di Tiberio"; a sea cave from where you can look back over some of the original statues placed to him. On the last stretch of coastline in southern Lazio, you find the pretty ports of Gaeta (with its hillside castle and the lovely baroque Church of SS. Annunziata) and Formia (the Tomb of Cicero).Inland from here you reach the town of Cassino with the famous Abbey of Montecassino on a mountaintop just outside. Originally founded by St. Benedict in 529AD over a Roman fort, this huge abbey became an important centre in the Middle Ages for the spread of monasticism throughout the world. It has been sacked and destroyed many times through history, most recently during WWII when it was flattened by Allied bombing. It has subsequently been faithfully rebuilt to the original plans. There are plenty of beaches on the Lazio coast and, as well as the coastal towns and ports already mentioned, the resorts of Santa Marinella, Ladispoli, Fregene, Lido di Ostia, Tor Vaianica, Lavinio, Lido di Latina and San Felice Circeo are all popular with Romans for summer holidays and weekend breaks. Off the Lazio coast are the Ponziane Islands. These islands are home to ancient Roman remains (Cicero had a palace here) and magnificent Renaissance fortresses. The scenery is stunning and there are many wonderful bays, inlets, cliffs, beaches and interesting rock formations. The two main islands (Ponza and Ventotene) are linked by ferry to Anzio, Terracina and Formia. |
