If you plan a trip to Rome, don't forget the countryside that surrounds it. In the post we recommend some wonders of Tuscia not to be missed.
The charm of the Eternal City is an undisputed reality but have you ever noticed the beauty around the capital? Let's discover a small town near Rome: Monterosi.
Usually when you visit the big cities you are limited to the urban area or at most some large city park but you completely ignore the landscape context just out of town.
Monterosi, about 40km from the capital, is a quiet village located on a hill, in a strategic position on the Cassia Bis: there is no shortage of places to visit.
What to do in Monterosi
Monterosi is a small village through which a section of the very long road passes via Francigena.
Yes, you got it right, it is one of the last stages of the most beautiful and famous Way in Italy that we envy even abroad.
How many times during one of my relaxing walks, have I walked the white dirt road of the ancient Via Romea that is lost in the silence of the green and lonely countryside ...
It is an ideal place for those who love nature and days outdoors.
In addition to walks you can practice riding in one of the numerous equestrian centers in the area but also the golf in two huge fields, one more beautiful than the other.
If contact with nature is not enough for you, a couple of km from the historic center, you will also find a beautiful pond with an equipped barbecue area, wooden tables and benches on a very green lawn for unforgettable picnics away from the most inflated places (especially at cost 0).
Now as promised it's time to find out i three unmissable places a few kilometers from Monterosi.
1. Trevignano Romano
Orange flag of the TCI, Trevignano Romano is a splendid village located on the northern bank of the Lake Bracciano, on the slopes of Mount Rocca Romana.
It is the closest to reach from Monterosi (10km) to which it is connected by a panoramic road that descends from the mountain to the valley through the most evocative residential part of the town, dominated by space villas with hectares of gardens (Monterosi is said to be the "dormitory "Of wealthy Roman entrepreneurs).
5 things you can do in Trevignano Romano:
1. Enjoy a good coffee at one of the outdoor tables of the bar in the large square of the historic center.
2. Lose yourself in the characteristic alleys of the town.
3. Admire the castle that dominates the village on a hill.
4. Stroll through the lakeside gardens where on the first and third Sunday of the month you can also come across the typical handicraft and antiques market and stop for a short break at the la Vela bar.
5. Conclude the morning or evening in one of the many restaurants that you find on the lakefront they offer lake specialties it's a fantastic view.
The restaurant with the best view is the Frantoio, its mammoth windows offer a 180 degree view of the surrounding greenery and Lake Bracciano.
2. Sutri
Another one pearl of Tuscia: Sutri, an ancient village that stands on an imposing tuff relief that dominates the via Cassia.
Its origins date back to the times of the Etruscans and Romans who left a precious archaeological heritage, rare to find in such perfect condition.
5 things you can do in Sutri:
1. Admire the spectacular Anfiteatro Romano completely excavated in the tuff.
2. Visit the Necropolis Etruscan also dug into the tuff.
3. Enter one of the Most beautiful mitrei in Italy, today transformed into the Church of the Madonna del Parto.
4. Stroll through the narrow streets of the historic center and find one of the many typical restaurants where you can taste local products (meat, mushrooms, oil, beans and wines).
5. Enter the historic center passing under the Clock tower, a structure that overlooks the entrance arch to the town square. The tower is equipped with a clock and hence the name of the Clock Tower.
In the summer, the Municipality organizes the Baroque Festival, one of the largest event dedicated to classical music of Viterbo's Tuscia.
If you are a gourmand, you can't miss it Bean festival (the first two Sundays of September) also called "della Regina", a variety much appreciated for its particular flavor.
3. Calcata
At first glance, Calcata will take your breath away for its beauty: a whole village perched on a tuff mountain that dominates the splendid Treja River Valley which gives its name to the Regional Park.
A sort of Italian “Meteora” that will surprise you with its numerous panoramic views.
5 things you can do in Calcata:
1. Explore the quaint old town - home to artists and craftsmen - getting lost in contemplating their works displayed in the small shops. If you want to make yourself a unique gift, there is a lady who with little money and a photo of you, creates a picture with a lot of ancient gilded frame.
2. Have lunch in one of the many panoramic restaurants in the area: one is more beautiful than the other, you can't go wrong!
3. Choose one of the nature trails, which can be accessed directly from the village, which cross the Treja Regional Park to take an unforgettable walk immersed in history and nature in the cool of the woods.
4. Visit the Sound Grotto, a magical place where you can experience a particular journey through the sounds of hand-built sound sculptures. The idea is to create a space where people can come into contact with sound and its vibrations, also through “sound” massages.
5. Admire the experimental open-air laboratory of contemporary art Opera Bosco, the Museum of Art in Nature which stands out from others in that the materials chosen to create the works are 100% natural raw from the forest.
The next time you happen to visit Rome, remember to Monterosi and the countless wonders of Tuscia.
