After all the wonders of antiquity that you have seen in fabulous Rome, you may want to discover what to do near Rome … You may be surprised by the abundance of classical monuments, medieval villages, and naturalistic attractions that make Lazio’s countryside special. Not far from Rome, which can be visited on a day trip from the capital, there are Etruscan necropolises, Roman ports, seaside villages, and Renaissance villas that will not make you regret having abandoned the beauties of the Eternal City. An alternative way to visit Rome is with Rome bus tours, it is different and comfortable and will save you trouble since Rome is a very big city. Today we will take you to discover the things to do in and around Rome.
Villa d’Este
Tivoli is about 30 kilometers from Rome and has practically always been a holiday resort for the Romans. But Tivoli is world famous, especially for its two villas, Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este, both of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Villa d’Este was originally a Benedictine monastery which in the mid-16th century was transformed into the villa we see today by the son of Lucrezia Borgia. In addition to the villa, you cannot miss the wonderful Italian garden with numerous fountains, nymphaeums, caves, water games and hydraulic music.
Villa Adriana
Villa Adriana, as the name suggests, was built by Emperor Hadrian as his holiday home and is considered the largest villa ever owned by a Roman emperor. In designing the entire complex, the emperor Hadrian, who loved traveling and architecture, was inspired by the monuments he visited around the world.
The hard things to visit are certainly the fish pond, surrounded by an underground gallery and the private quarters of the Emperor in the Maritime Theater, which are located on an island that can only be accessed via a small drawbridge.
The Park of the Monsters of Bomarzo
The same architect who designed Villa d’Este, Pirro Ligorio, also designed this eccentric and dreamlike park near the city of Bomarzo in the province of Viterbo, one of our must-see places near Rome. The project was commissioned by Pier Francesco Orsini known as Vicino in honor of his deceased wife.
Ligorio built the beautiful crooked house and the funerary mausoleum of Giulia, while all the other sculptures in the park were dug directly into the mammoth blocks of peperina found in the valley. Giant animals, Homeric heroes or simple sirens or Roman goddesses come to life from sculpted boulders, between mythology and fantasy.
Ostia Antica
The archaeological park of Ostia Antica is located at the mouth of the Tiber 25 kilometers south of Rome and was the ancient Roman port of the city. Founded in the 4th century BC, Ostia Antica was a strategically important defense and trade center of Rome and was inhabited by merchants, sailors and slaves.
The barbarian invasions and malaria emptied the city near Rome of its inhabitants, the port became almost completely silted up – and this explains the excellent state of conservation of the ruins. Among the most beautiful things not to be missed: the long Decumanus Maximus, the Roman theater that welcomed up to 3000 spectators, the Piazzale delle Corporazioni and the House of Diana.
The Castelli Romani
When we talk about Castelli Romani, we mean the Albanian Hills, which are located 20 kilometers south of Rome, with 16 towns called Castelli Romani. These areas were already used by wealthy Romans in the summer and several cities were founded by popes and patrician families.
The most famous are certainly Castel Gandolfo and Frascati; the first because it hosts the Pope’s summer residence overlooking Lake Albano, the second for the white wine produced there. Other places to visit are: Nemi, Ariccia, Grottaferrata, Rocca Priora and Rocca di Papa.
Orvieto
Medieval Orvieto stands on a tuff cliff overlooking the valley of the Paglia river, a tributary of the Tiber, and is home to one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in Italy. The Cathedral of Orvieto is a real delight for the eyes.
Construction work began in 1290 and the design of this magnificent building was originally Romanesque; however, with the progress of the works and with the succession of architects, Gothic elements were added to the structure. The white and gray horizontal band motif of the central core of the church is overshadowed by the wonderful polychromy of the facade.
