Day Trips Outside of Rome

A true Roman town and the main ancient port of Rome dates back to the 2nd BC.

A site where you can walk into the taverns where Romans ate, temples where they prayed and sacrificed, stand in the theatre where they were educated and entertained by Greek and Roman plays, visit the corporations where they conducted commerce, the baths where they bathed, be surrounded by the barracks of the firemen who alternated as policeman, walk into homes of the rich, look at the apartments of the middle class, hear the work of slaves and more.

30 km outside of Rome, Tivoli overlooks the Tiburtine Valley formed by the River Aniene, which in turn sourced the water that fed some of the aqueducts into Rome. Also, historical tracts of settlements dating back to 13th century B.C. were found in Tivoli. Tibur, its first name, grew into a town and became an independent ally of Rome. Then it turned into an enemy of Rome but finally was absorbed by the Romans, earning Roman citizenship in 90 BC.

Its proximity to Rome, the ample supply of water, and higher altitude, led ancient Romans and their descendants to find a summer haven in Tivoli, a retreat from the heat and chaos of a city. So, it is no coincidence we find three stunning villas to visit, one constructed by an Emperor (Hadrian's Villa), another by a Cardinal (Villa D'Este, a world heritage site) and the third by a Pope.

Tivoli is also famous for its more than 100 fountains in a myriad of shapes and forms including dragons and a water clock, that beautifully decorate its gardens.

Few visitors venture out to Nemi, but we will!! Nemi is a mystical place that one can embrace. It is a quaint pretty town built on the edge of a hill overlooking the cushioned Lake Nemi. Walking along the street, it will be hard not to be drawn into the delectable food shops; a fantastic cured meat store, a pastry shop with delicate and delicious treats, and the most aromatic dried mushrooms. Nemi is also famous for its tiny strawberries that can be eaten on their own or on a cream tart.

The lake is the raison d’ètre for the visit. The lake was the former location of the Caligula’a palatial boats, whose ingenious techniques were employed by the Royal Navy. The huge boats, really floating palaces, originally built in the 1st century AD, were excavated from the bottom of the lake in the 1920s and 1930s. Although the boats were regrettably burned to ashes in a unsourced fire during WWII, pictures and pieces of the boats remain.

The Pope's summer residence, where he holds audiences during the summer months. This charming village overlooks a crater lake over which you can enjoy a delicious meal and feast on a spectacular view.

The recently opened Apostolic Palace and Barbineri Gardens, were built and cultivated respectively by the Popes of the 17th century. A wonderfully-made audio guide can accompany you. Reservations are encouraged though one can buy tickets from the Palace itself.

42 Km from Rome, its most famous landmark is the Necropoli della Banditaccia (the city of the dead), a UNESCO world heritage site, and the best testimony to the ancient Etruscan civiliztion. There are over 1000 tombs in 400 hectares (close to a 1000 acres) in different forms: trenches cut in rock called tumuli (mounds) and tombs shaped in form of their homes or huts. The burial grounds are designed like a city, with streets and entrances, some leading underground. The tombs are the only surviving evidence of Etruscan residential architecture.

In addition, the only urban civilization that antedates Rome is the ancient Etruscan necropolis, with frescoes and artefacts, in actual fact a unique testimony of its vanished and sophisticated civilization. The cemeteries are the earliest that exist in the region, starting from the 9th century BC till past the 7th century BC. The Archaeological museum in the town of Cerveteri displays the finds of the Necropoli. The square in front of the museum also has a market where local produce may be purchased.