Rome and Latium, Italy

Rome and Latium

Latium, land of ancient flavours and art, is the region that holds the capital of Italy: Roma caput mundi, the starting point of our splendid culture.

The region of Latium is a large hill area situated at the very centre of Italy that stretches from the western buttresses of the Apennines to the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The region is divided into 5 provinces:

Frosinone, located on a hill overlooking the valley of Sacco, capital of the wonderful Ciociaria.

Rieti, the geographical “navel” of Italy, which lies at the foot of Mount Terminillo and is crossed by the extremely pure water of the River Velino.

Latina, founded by the Fascist regime in 1932 as the result of important reclamation works, known as Littoria until 1946.

Viterbo, the City of Popes, with probable Etruscan origins, famous for its thermal baths.

and Rome... the Eternal City!

Thanks to its geographical conformation (flatlands on the coastline and in the hinterland, ridges and calcareous highlands) and extremely rich history, Latium is able to satisfy any type of tourist: there's something to suit everybody's fancy!

If you are fond of nature, Latium has plenty of natural reserves that will leave you breathless including the Circeo National Park, considered as an “archipelago of environmental islands”, different environments in a unique sheltered territory.

Latium has four very ancient volcanic areas where the craters of extinct volcanoes form the lakes of Bolsena, Vico, Bracciano, Albano and Nemi, whose surrounding soil is immensely fertile, and there's a super-mild micro-climate, with most of the shores intensely cultivated as a result. Great places for swimming, fishing and relaxing.

And, of course, the Roman Castles: small towns (from Albano to Velletri) sometimes separated one from the other by woods of chestnut trees, by a rich and untouched vegetation, whose name derives from the villages that aroused around the Popes’ villas and the rich noble families palaces that, following an old tradition, chose these sites for their summer residences.

If your vacation style is relax, sun and beaches, you will be astonished by the view of Ponziane Islands, part of Latina, that include 5 small volcanic isles: Ponza, Palmarola and Zannone on the west side; Ventotene and Santo Stefano on the east side. Here, the crystalline waters are predominated by bright colours, such as dark-green, vermilion or violet and the cave's bends are often brightened up by the wonderful orange of the sea marguerites.

You cannot miss the Riviera di Ulisse, a variegate mosaic of lands and marine environments that snakes along the Gulf of Gaeta. You will find incredibly suggestive its faults, imposing falaises and sea caves. This is the legendary land of Lestrigoni, ferocious cannibals, that forced Ulysses return to Itaca.

Interested in art? From Neolithic and Bronze Age weapons and jewels, to the Etruscan school of art, the Capitoline Temples, Baroque and Renaissance buildings and monuments: the best of the Italic production ever is concentrated here. Just come and see!

Latium is also becoming particularly well-known for the goodness of its wines, produced in the area of Castels. In fact most of the towns in which wine is produced hold harvest festivals where the wine flows freely. The most popular is the Festa dell'Uva which takes place in Marino. Sometimes an old steam train is used to carry tourists from Rometo Marino, to join in the merry-making.

In November, wine-bars in Rome celebrate the Festa del Vino Novello, serving the fizzy new wine, bottled in mid-fermentation. It is not exactly stuff for connoisseurs, but it's definitely funny.

In May, there is a festival that involves wine-growers throughout Italy, entitled Cantine Aperte: producers throw open their cellars to visitors, who are invited to taste the wines and - it is hoped - purchase them too.

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USA & Canada Toll Free: 1 800 509 8194
UK Toll Free: 0 800 047 0248
International: +41 91 220 0567
Italy: +39 089 842 6126
Email: info@summerinitaly.com