OUTSIDE ROME
All tours are organized with private Limo or Minivan up to 8 persons
exclusively for your family and friends.
HALF DAY EXCURTIONS
• Ostia Antica – the ancient town and its port
16 miles west from Rome and near the sea, lies Ostia. Founded in the 4th century
B.C., it became important during the Empire: all the goods passed here: marble
for temples, wild animals for circuses, and food for one million Romans!! The
excavations led to discover an intact roman town nearly as well preserved as
Pompeii with houses, thermal baths, a theatre, and temples dedicated to local
and oriental gods; here is also Europe's most ancient synagogue.
Strolling amidst the ancient buildings is really picturesque and you will
discover how wealthy the Romans were 2000 years ago!
• Castelli Romani (Roman Castles)
Passing by the old Appian way and
reaching the beautiful Roman hills, deepened in nature the "Castelli", are
medieval villages, built on the edge of volcanic lakes. The Renaissance
aristocratic families built also many holiday-villas. Goethe, Stendhal, Byron,
witnessed the beauty of the spot, the good food and wine! To name only three of
them: Frascati, known for its good wine; Castelgandolfo,
known for the Pope's summer palace, and Nemi famous for its
delicious wild strawberries.
• Tivoli - Villa D’ESTE and Villa ADRIANA
Tivoli is located 20 miles east of Rome, visit first the emperor Hadrian’s Villa
(134 a.d.), and Villa D’Este (1550).
Hadrian had a special passion for architecture and his three-hundred hectares
original Villa in the Roman countryside is a reproduction of exotic monuments.
Here the emperor used to rest, think and write.
Fifteen centuries later the cardinal D'Este was elected Governor of Tivoli and
accustomed as he was to luxury, he was unable to live in the bare governor's
palace. So he called the finest artists of the time and commissioned magnificent
gardens with fountains creating his own little Versailles.
• The wine Route of Alta Tuscia (art, gastronomy & wine)
Visit the countryside in the northern part of Lazio called Tuscia, with its
agricultural and handicraft products, you will taste typical dishes and
different wines in local farms, you will visit the historic monuments such as
castles and churches, you will admire the naturalistic sites, and you will
experience the popular traditions of Alta Tuscia.
This tour can also be done on your way to Florence, provided you want to stay at
least one night in Florence.
Wines: the region is divided in three areas of Doc wine production
named: Est Est Est!!! - Aleatico - Orvieto
Outside the crater of the Bolsena Lake, the biggest volcanic lake in Italy, is
the village of Acquapendente, with ancient double city walls,
clock tower and fortress built in the XII century. The imposing Romanic
cathedral of Santo Sepolcro, 9th century, dominates the city centre; inside the
church there is a small chapel like the one in the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
where a stone is kept: it is supposed to belong to the pillar of flagellation
and is stained with Christ’s blood. The second main church is St. Francesco, in
gothic style, 11th century.
Another village is Treviniano, the medieval castle dominates a
panoramic view.
Extremely important on a naturalistic point of view is Monte Rufeno’s Natural
Park (3000 hectares). In this territory there are many typical farmhouses,
called agriturism, because they offer rooms and hot meals to the visitors. It is
very pleasant to eat a good homemade lunch in one of those typical restaurants.
The atmosphere is cosy and people are proud to show how they make products such
as oil, wine, honey and cheese.
Civita di Bagnoreggio is also called the dying town, because of
the continuous erosion of the clay hill where it lies. The size of this village,
surrounded by a canyon-like valley, without vegetation, is shrinking. In the
past there were ten entrances to the town, nowadays there are only two gates!!
So if you wish to see this unusual medieval village hurry up!!
In the beginning of the second millennium, many pilgrims used to travel through
Europe to come and see Rome and the Christian churches were St. Peter and St.
Paul were martyrised. The pilgrims arrived by the Via Francigena,
or Romea, across the Alp and passed through the region. Montefiascone
is a medieval centre where the pilgrims used to stop, and drink the famous “Est
Est Est” wine.
FULL DAY EXCURTIONS
Sperlonga
It is located 70 miles from Rome and 70 miles from Naples, and boasts mythical
origins. The Romans were attracted by the beauty and the mildness of the
climate. Emperor Tiberius built an imposing Villa in which precious marble
sculptures celebrated the heroic exploits of Odysseus.
The town was named after the numerous natural caves called in Latin speluncae.
After the fall of Rome, the ruins of the Imperial palace were used as a shelter
by local populations.
A road along the shore from Terracina to Gaeta was opened in 1957 and Sperlonga
along with the villa of Tiberius become soon a popular tourist and cultural
destination.
When Tiberius succeeded Augustus in 14 a.d., he lived in the palace until 26
a.d., when he nearly lost his life in a landslide and decided to move to Capri.
The Museum: Next to the villa a museum was created to
protect the sculptures found during excavations. They were in thousands of
pieces and restored; they were probably executed by three famous sculptors from
Rhodes: Athenodorus, Agesandrus and Polidorus, who also produced the celebrated
Laocoon now in the Vatican Museums.
Montecassino
The ancient abbey dominating the broad plain of south Latium was built by Saint
Benedict in the year 529 AD on a limestone hill which is 516 metres in height.
Here there was the famous scriptorium, which guaranteed the survival of many
classical works of literature. In 1349 an earthquake caused the abbey to be
abandoned again until the 16th century, when renaissance and Baroque-style
additions were made. It was totally destroyed on 15 February 1944 during the
Anglo-American bombing. Today the Abby of Montecassino has returned to its
ancient splendour.
Florence
Firenze is located 175 miles north of Rome. It is the birthplace of the Italian
Language and the Renaissance; the Europe’s 15th century centre of art and
culture. One day trip to see the imposing marble Cathedral in the Piazza del
Duomo, with Brunelleschi’s dome, Ghiberti’s golden Gates of Paradise and
Giotto’s Bell Tower. Then passing through the Piazza della Signoria, the hub of
Medici family power, they ruled Florence for 300 years. Here you will see
Michelangelo’s masterful statue of David. The Uffizzi, fine art gallery; Santa
Croce Church which is Michelangelo’s final resting place. Moreover, you can
learn how Italian leather is made at a local leather workshop.
Siena
Through the landscape of the Tuscany, we will reach Florence’s long life rival.
Visit the Duomo, housing works by Donatello and Nicola Pisano, as well as the
Libreria Piccolomini, featuring eight ceiling frescoes. And the famous Piazza
del Campo, where a horse race still takes place every year since the Middle age!
Pisa
Pisa is located 200 miles north of Rome. Visit the famous 12th century Leaning
Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli
Assisi
Assisi is located 100 miles north of Rome. In the Umbrian hills visit the
medieval hilltop town of Assisi, the birthplace of both St Francis and St.
Clare. In visiting the town’s basilica, you will follow the life of Italy’s
beloved saint through Giotto’s frescoes. In the 12th century, St Francis founded
the Franciscan order, dedicated to poverty and charity.
Perugia
Perugia is located 100 miles north of Rome, it is a town once conquered by the
Roman emperor Octavian. The main gate of the city, the Etruscan Arch, was built
in the 3rd century B.C. Marvel at the Palazzo dei Priori , the medieval palace
built in 1298, and the Gothic Church of St. Pietro, which maintains its stunning
10th-century layout.
Naples, Capri, Sorrento
Napoli is situated 130 miles south of Rome. After a visit of Naples' historical
centre, we will cross the Bay of Naples by boat to reach the resort island of
Capri, where you’ll enjoy an island cruise (weather permitting) and a lunch.
Pompeii
The archaeological wonders of Pompeii’s ruins are at only 20 miles from Naples.
When Mt Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79, volcanic ash completely buried this Roman
resort for wealthy Romans, see the well-preserved remains, excavated from the
volcanic ash.
You can also spend a night in Sorrento.