“Show and Tell”: Uncovering gems in Northern Lazio

Everyone knows Rome, but few know about Lazio, the region where it’s situated and home to many fascinating places that are off-the-radar for most visitors.  This first part covers some stunning sites in Northern Lazio and in a future post, we will share more gems from Southern Lazio.

These places make for a great day trip from Rome and  we hope you will be inspired to add a few of these to your bucket list on your next visit.

6 Gems in Northern Lazio

1. The tranquil and charming town of Casperia, perched on an outcrop in the Sabine hills, is only 60km from Rome, yet it feels like you have stepped back in time. With the historic center a pedestrian-only area, it’s quiet alleys is a wonderful getaway and boast sweeping views of the verdant countyside.

However, on certain days of the year, this town knows how to party and in summer, there are many festivals (sagre) held here. One sagra that we come to almost every year is the sagra dei stringozzi, great load and plenty of entertainment.

Sweeping views of the countryside from Casperia

2. We love gardens and Villa Lante, in the town of Bagnaia, is one of my favorite places. There is hardly anyone here and tucked at the end of a street in this sleepy town, you often have the place to yourself. Adorned with fountains with water ascending from one terrace to another, it’s a fascinating place to visit.

Villa Lante in Bagnaia

3. A short drive from Bagnaia, is the town of Caprarola, home to the dominating Villa Farnese that sits above the town and has commanding views of the area. It boasts some incredible frescoes and also an impressive garden.

Room of the Map of the World in Villa Farnese

4. Of the gems in this list, Civita di Bagnoregio, probably gets the most attention and has received its share of coverage from Rick Steves. While the photos of the town are jaw-dropping stunning, it still doesn’t prepare you when you see it in person. Surreal!

5. Montefiascone, a town known for its Est!Est!Est! white wine, is situated in the province of Viterbo. A quiet town with origins dating back to the Etruscans, we enjoyed a delicious lunch of different types of focaccia etrusca made of spelt flour and stone ground floor, which they supposedly claim were made following Etruscan traditions!

6. Looking to spend time outdoors? With trails of varying difficulty, Monte Soratte is a great place to hike. We went with 2 young children and they had no problems with the easy hike. Pack a picnic and enjoy the view. While here, drop by the town of Sant’Oreste, a lovely hill-top town on the shoulders of Monte Soratte.

Have you been to these places? What are your favorite towns in northern Lazio? Share them with us in the comments below.