Lago di Turano

Lago del Turano is 536m above sea level. About 10 km long, with a perimeter of around 38 km, connecting with Lago del Salto via a 9 km long tunnel. Halfway down the banks of the lake, the two villages of Colle di Tora and Castel di Tora look onto one another, the first on a peninsula and the other on a rocky summit, their names recalling the ancient Sabine-Roman city of Thiora. The villages of Castel di Tora and Colle di Tora, along with Ascrea and Paganico Sabino, overlook the lake and offer breathtaking views. It is said that in October 1938, in the Valle del Turano, the local farmers harvested and picked their cobs of maize from the water, because the 80 m dam, put into operation a few days before, had begun to form an artificial lake, rising dramatically day by day due to an intense autumn rainfall. In October of that year, while the waters were already rising, the inhabitants built boats and to picked their corn and the grapes not yet submerged. In the winter, the valley disappeared beneath the waters. Thus, Lago del Turano was born. It was built to obtain electricity and to regulate the flow of the River Turano, thus avoiding the frequent floods that damaged the local planes. The hydroelectric basin was built to develop electricity and also to promote the industrial progress of nearby Terni. But it took with it the rich lands of the farmers, forcing them to sell their land in exchange for a few Liras. For the locals, the lake only caused problems and gradually the villages began to empty. Today, Lago del Turano is a corner of rural beauty, immersed in the green of nature, far from crowds, noise and yet only an hour's drive from Rome. It lends itself to please those seeking a quiet place for a picnic, passionate naturalists, horse riding, trekking, the practice of sports such as fishing, biking, canoeing, swimming, water skiing, motorcycle trials, enduro, the training of hunting dogs or just simply relaxing. The lake has an area of 4.75 km², a capacity of 163 million cubic meters, and a maximum depth of 60m. The basin is located in the province of Rieti, in the centre Italy, in the upper Sabina. Lago del Turano is a hidden jewel, reflecting the beautiful Monte Navegna and Monte Cervia, the cone of Monte Antuni, and higher still at 700m, the rocky spur of Ascrea and the village of Paganico Sabino, sitting on a rugged precipice. In 1997, the Riserva Naturale dei Monti Navegna e Cervia was born: a vast area covered with beech woods, beautiful oaks and ancient chestnut trees gifting precious fruits. The excellent quality of the ingredients used in the kitchen makes the food outstanding, ingredients which can also be found in the many festivals organized by the Pro Loco of the Valle del Turano: truffles, porcini mushrooms, fish from the lake, chestnuts and even wild boar and polenta.

Via Appia Antica

The Via Appia Antica is the old Roman Appian Way, one of the oldest and most important roads from Rome. During ancient Roman times, the road was essential in transporting troops down to the port of Brindisi in southeast Italy. Tourist attractions along the Appian Way include the Catacombs of San Callisto and Catacombs of San Sebastiano as well as various basilicas and tombs. The stretch close to Rome of the Via Appia Antica is now part of a nature and archaeological park, the Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica. It makes a lovely day out, particularly on Sundays when the area is closed to traffic. It is quite easy to visit the Appian Way at any time either by public bus or the Big Bus hop on, hop off Archeobus service, and of course there are tours as well.

Monte Tuscolo

Located near Frascati is one of the most historical place near Rome. What makes Frascati really fascinating are the 12 splendid Tuscolan Villas that characterize its surroundings. They were built by papal nobility in the 16th century, becoming the symbol of the Roman aristocracy of that time. These include Villa Aldobrandini, with the baroque and Mannerist frescoes on its walls, and Villa Falconieri with its Italian gardens and the small lake built in the 18th century.

Lago di Canterno

The largest karst lake in the Lazio region, Lake Canterno is in the heart of the Ciociaria, not far from the city of Alatri. It is situated at the foot of the Ernici Mountains and surrounded by woodland. Located at 538 metres above sea level, it is set in a landscape of rolling hills and protected by a nature reserve by the same name. It covers a surface of 0.6 square metres (2 km long and 1 km wide), has a 5-kilometre perimeter and a variable depth between 13 and 25 metres. The atmosphere of this small natural basin has been compared to the fabled aura of the Scottish highlands. Images of elves and medieval legends seem to surface from the calm waters of this lake. The fish of this lake are carp, eel, European perch and molluscs of the Anodonta Cygnea kind. . The avifauna is typical of the wetlands: grey heron (ardea cinerea), purple heron, the little egret (egretta garzetta), common moorhen (Fulica atra) and the great crested grebe (podiceps cristatus). Birds of prey are also present, such as the common buzzard (buteo buteo), the Eurasian sparrowhawk (accipiter nisus) and the Eurasian eagle-owl (bubo bubo). The welcoming and healthy natural environment of the lake makes it an ideal destination for those who love the outdoors, being in contact with nature and physical activities. The many trails around the lake are suitable for bicycles and walking. This is where you can fully enjoy the extraordinary quietness and enchanting panorama. The best side of the lake is certainly the south-east side, which faces cultivated fields. Instead, the side towards the mountain, due to the presence of the Fosso del Diluvio, is defined by marshes which make it difficult to reach the lake.

Trevignano Romano

Trevignano Romano (RM) is a picturesque village on the northern shore of the Lake of Bracciano, about 45 km north of Rome. Built on a leucitic lava cliff, the village is located at the end of a small gulf, a secondary crater of an ancient volcano. Here visitors will find a fine medieval village with a lovely tree-lined lakefront, extending for about 3 km, with various restaurants and pleasant views of the lake. Trevignano, located in the so-called Tuscia Romana, is an ideal centre for trips to a region brimming with artistic, tourist and naturalist points of interest, set in the Bracciano Martignano Regional Nature Park. As well as Rome, from Trevignano one can easily reach Cerveteri (30 km), Bracciano (12 km), Sutri (12 km), Viterbo (45 km), Tarquinia (61 km), Tuscania (52 km), Caprarola (25 km), Monti della Tolfa and other evocative localities.

Bracciano

Bracciano, a splendid Italian town situated halfway between Rome and Viterbo, unites the beauty and tranquility of its protected natural endowments with the fascinating, mysterious aspects of its beyond-millenary history.

What to do:

Bracciano is built on a hill above the clear water of Lake Bracciano, a volcanic lake where it is possible to canoe, scuba-dive, sail and much more (especially during hot summertime days, when a dip in the lake can be most refreshing). Lake Bracciano is actually an important hub for several sports, given the presence of the Bracciano-Martignano Natural Park, that puts a prime on silence and water quality by limiting the number of motorized watercraft. The Park, of course, comprises another lake, that of Martignano; also boasting volcanic origins, it is characterized by its small size and almost perfectly-circular form. The two lakes are really two peas in a pod: born from the same volcano (but from two different craters), each is highly-protected and welcomes a large number of tourists every year.

What to see:

Numbered among the attractions and points of interest in Bracciano is the famous, Medieval Orsini-Odescalchi Castle, that has long been the location for weddings of international status. Still furnished as it was in its original heyday, the Castle houses a well-appointed museum in some of its rooms, a collection of armor and weapons from the Middle Ages. Visitors to the historic center adjacent to the Castle will find that the borgo’s churches and historic edifices lining its characteristic Medieval lanes transport them at least 1,000 years back, if not more. Here they can also see Bracciano’s tiny Civic Museum treating its history by way of interesting finds from the surrounding terrain. Of the panoramas on view from Bracciano, those from the Belvedere della Sentinella and the Church of Santa Maria del Riposo always leave visitors speechless. Some distance from Bracciano’s center are points of interest like the Italian Air Force Museum, found on the shores of Lake Bracciano. Various planes that made Italian flight history took off from this, once the most important experimental flight lab. Now the museum hosts these machines, along with gear, equipment and tools, in its numerous hangars.

Campocatino

Campocatino is one of the first ski resorts born in the central southern Apennines. Skiing has been on the queen mountain of the Ernici since the early twenties, when the first skiers of Guarcino first introduced the practice of Nordic skiing and that of alpine skiing later. Since then, many have been the contributions of winter sports enthusiasts to the development of a real skiing tradition that rivals even the most famous Apennine winter resorts. The Campocatino ski area is located in the territory of the Municipality of Guarcino (FR), a small and pleasant Municipality lying on the slopes of the Ernici Mountains, rich in history and traditions. Already famous in Roman times due to its strategic position on the Via Sublacense and above all for the presence of many water sources and the large availability of timber, Guarcino has maintained its importance even in medieval times. The many noble palaces of the charming old town bear witness to this, among which the one belonging to the family of the noblewoman Emilia Conti, mother of Pope Boniface VIII, stands out.