The Lazio landscape varies from the gently undulating green hills of its north to the mountains south and east of the capital. 

The south of Lazio is where you might want to spend some time, perhaps
on your way to Naples; the monasteries at Subiaco and Montecassino are
just two worthwhile stops. 

Much can be seen easily on day trips from the capital. For good places
to swim, visit the coastal resorts of Anzio or Nettuno. The ancient
sites of Ostia Antica and Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli are two of the
area's most important sites, and very accessible from Rome.

Farther afield in the north are the Etruscan sites of Tarquinia and
Cerveteri. Or do as the Romans do, and head out on weekends to soak up
the gentle beauty of lakes Bracciano, Vico and Bolsena, and beach
resorts like Terracina and Sperlonga.

Ponza Island is one of the loveliest spots on the entire west coast.

Cities:

Rome

Rome, the Eternal City, is romantic, mysterious and unforgettable - the
splash of a thousand fountains, the slow and silent flow of the Tiber,
the scent of old stone in the ruins - yet it is also a modern, bustling
metropolis. No place blends old and new like Roma!

Today it is the third most visited city in the EU and, having
escaped the bombings of World War II somewhat unscathed, the historic
center - defined by the traditional "Seven Hills of Rome" and the Tiber
River - is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Legend has it that Rome was founded by the feral twins Romulus and
Remus in the 8th century BC. The timing, at least, is supported by some
archeological evidence. The city grew and developed into the capital of
the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and finally the Roman Empire in
the 1st century BC.

Perfectly placed between Italy's North and South, Rome is perhaps the
perfect capital for modern Italy. Once the seat of a great empire, and
later the home of the papacy, it's still seen as different, and yet
it's quintessentially Italian.

For the visitor, the most astonishing thing about Rome is the sheer
weight of history that the city supports. There is an almost
uninterrupted sequence of monuments, from ancient Roman ruins, early
Christian basilicas, Romanesque churches and Renaissance palaces, to
the Baroque fountains and churches, ponderous, post-Unification
Neoclassical architecture and even contemporary buildings by architects
like Richard Meier, Renzo Piano and Paolo Portoghesi. And it's all
built one century on top of the other.

Important sights of Rome include the Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo,
National Museum of Rome, the Borghese Villa and Gallery, the National
Gallery of Modern Art and, of course, the Vatican.

Be sure to bring a map of Rome with you on your Roman travels!

Vacations to Enjoy in Rome:

• Roman Holiday
• Cosmopolitan Paradise
• Italian Luxury
• Picturesque Italy

Go back to read about Lazio.