City: Lazio
Top Things to do in Lazio
Countries
The 10 Best Historic Sites in Lazio, Italy
Lazio (UK: /ˈlætsioʊ/, US: /ˈlɑːtsioʊ/; Italian: [ˈlatsjo]; Latin: Latium) is one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy. Situated in the central peninsular section of the country, it has almost 5.9 million inhabitants – making it the second most populated region of Italy (after Lombardy and just a little ahead of Campania) – and its GDP of more than 170 billion euros per annum means that it has the nation's second largest regional economy. The capital of Lazio is Rome, which is also Italy's capital and the country's largest city.
Restaurants in Lazio
1. Bunker Soratte
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 527 reviews
Museo storico diffuso "Percorso della memoria": un sito straordinario dove la storia d'Italia si tocca con mano, dai drammi della seconda guerra mondiale fino al fantomatico rifugio antiatomico del Presidente della Repubblica edificato durante la guerra fredda. Visite guidate su prenotazione, all' interno dei rifugi antiaerei creati da Mussolini per il governo italiano e che tra il 1943 e il 1944 furono sede del Comando Supremo nazista della Wermacht di Kesselring durante i dieci mesi più drammatici della seconda guerra mondiale. La visita conduce il gruppo in un crescendo di drammaticità e patos fino al bunker antiatomico del Presidente della Repubblica e del Governo Italiano realizzato durante la guerra fredda a 300 metri sotto la roccia! Visita media 2 ore, consigliati abiti comodi e caldi (temperatura interna 10-12°). Prenotazione obbligatoria. Aperto tutte le domeniche, mentre nei giorni feriali è richiesto un gruppo minimo di 10 persone con orario da concordare.
Reviewed By Lenadino
Banker Soratte is worth the visit and is only a short drive from Rome. Really knowledgeable and passionate guide provided history about the bunker's use during both ww2 and the cold war. Would highly recommend.
2. Chiesa di S. Giovanni Battista del Gonfalone
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 72 reviews
Reviewed By Muccu - Island of Malta, Malta
The church is not as well known as teh cathedral and the sanctuary of Santa Rosa but contains one o the most beautiful and ingeniously painted flat ceilings that looks like a vault besides possessing and incredible painting with tow paintings one on either side of the same canvas which, besides the extensive use of lapis lazuli is still apparently a mystery of how it was managed . But the false perspectives of the ceiling are simply incredible . The church is managed by the Confraternity of St John the Baptist who are restoring it and who only ask for a donation for a explanation and guide around the church's treasures. Certainly a must for any art lover
3. Villa Borghese
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,870 reviews
Famous villa constructed at the beginning of the 17th century for Cardinal Scipione Caffarelli Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V, which is surrounded by one of the largest and most beautiful public parks in Rome.
Reviewed By FunFilledFamily - Tulsa, United States
My fourth trip to Rome and I decided to try something new that I hadn't heard of before and that was Villa Borghese. Besides the awesome art on display, the property in this area is incredible. We walked and walked enjoying the truly beautiful park and other attractions - Villa Medici, garden, fountains, zoo - it was truly picturesque and incredible. For Americans, it was like Central Park. There were bikes and golf carts to rent to drive around the grounds. Loved my afternoon here and wished I had allowed more time to explore more. Go!!
4. Villa d'Este
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,482 reviews
Started by architect and historian, Pirro Liggori in 1549, for Cardinal Ippolito dEste, this famous villa estate is one of the finest examples of Renaissance residence and garden architecture and design.
Reviewed By 109gedask - Zarasai, Lithuania
It's perfect day trip from Rome.... 1 hour and you are in one of the most beautiful place in the World... Ticket cost 10 euros and its really worth it :)
5. Villa Adriana
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,290 reviews
This is an exceptional complex of classical buildings built in the 2nd century AD by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, which reproduces the best elements of the cultures of Egypt, Greece and Rome in the form of an "ideal city."
Reviewed By Fazziefritz - York, United Kingdom
What a site(sight)! For 1 Euro 30 we purchased a bus ticket to the stop in Tivoli for Hadrian’s Villa. We caught the bus from the ponte de Mammalo stop on the B metro line. The driver of the bus stopped at a stop which was signposted for the Villa Adriana. Following the signs we arrived at the villa’s ticket office after a 20 minute walk.The walk was well worth the effort. Paying 10 euros each and another 5 euros for a mobile commentary we entered the grounds of the emperor’s Villa. Take your time looking at the model of the Villa because it gives you a great impression of the sheer size of the place. There are about 27 information boards dotted around the grounds giving you information about the building or scene you are looking at. Be prepared to do do a lot of walking if you want to explore. Hadrian’s visionary Villa. Having refreshments to hand would be a good idea and there are plenty of seating areas to enjoy your picnic. We returned to Rome using the same route, after purchasing our ticket from a tobacconist near the bus stop. We were surprised to find we had spent a good 3 hours enjoyed visiting this iconic historical site.
6. Palatine Hill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24,994 reviews
The commercial, political and religious center of ancient Rome, which features the Arch of Septimus Severus, Temple of Saturn, Arch of Titus and the House of the Vestals.
Reviewed By genie26c - Plymouth, United Kingdom
I would certainly advise pre-booking your tickets, or join a group tour to avoid the very long queues and group tours get to use a separate entrance too, which makes it even easier. We'd just been on an express tour of the Colosseum with 'Tour in the City' and wanted to see the Palentine Hill and Forum as well (your Colosseum ticket includes entry to Palentine Hill and Forum) so our Colosseum guide was able to arrange for us go with another tour company that they are affiliated with ('Fun Tours'), which meant we were able to get into the Palentine Hill/Forum and also tag onto that tour too - which was really informative and didn't take too long, maybe about 45 mins. Then we were left to our own devices. The Palentine Hill is surprisingly tranquil and has some beautiful views. it wasn't crowded and it was nice to simply walk about and take in the scenery and history of everything at our own pace. Thoroughly enjoyed it here and if we'd been a bit more organised, it would have been nice to bring refreshments/food and find a quiet place to sit and have a picnic.
7. Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16,079 reviews
One of seven pilgrimage basilicas in the world, this church was founded in 432 AD and is where the famous architect Bernini is buried.
Reviewed By 282LisaH - Melbourne, Australia
We were staying in Trastevere with an air B and B.we walked around the cobbled lanes and came across piazza Santa Maria and this beautiful church which I had read about it is amazing and inspires serene meditation ????♀️ . The frescoes and building are beautiful and it sits in the piazza . Absolutely stunning and to think it started building in the 2nd century
8. Domus Aurea
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,324 reviews
The imperial estate of Nero was built in 64AD, which is comprised of a series of pavilions, set in an articulated garden with an artificial lake in its center.
Reviewed By Lesleyjane71 - Kent, United Kingdom
If you love archaeology and Ancient Rome is your thing, and if you are lucky enough to visit Rome over the course of a weekend then please do make sure you book for a guided visit of Domus Aurea. It is only open on a Saturday and Sunday and tickets must be booked on line, which can be a little daunting but well worth it. Despite what some people have written, the site entrance is easy enough to find. Head to the Piazza Del Colosseo and if you use the Oppio Café and the metro across from the Colosseum as your marker you can not go wrong. Turn Left and take a very short walk up the hill to the entrance of a Parco delle Colle Oppio. As you go in the entrance turn left and walk about 50 paces and you will see the entrance to the Domus Aurea and there will be guides and assistants waiting. Ignore the positioning of it on google maps. It will through you right of course! If you are early, do not be scared to walk around the park, there are fine ruins there of Trajan's baths which sit atop the buried ruins of the Domus. For some reason, people think that this is the Domus it is not. Yes there are some refugees sleeping in the park but to be honest they pose no threat. In fact you are more than likely to see them cleaning up the place. The area is full of dog walkers and runners and as a single female traveller, I felt absolutely safe in there. So now that the whereabouts of the entrance has hopefully been demystified, on to the visit. You go in your designated time group and don fetching hairnets and hard hats before being led underground by one of the archaeologists fortunate enough to work at the site and who will be very passionate about their work, so some may find this a little boring others will relish it. To be able to traverse the corridors of a fraction of this once vast and oppulent palace is phenominal. It is damp but well lit so take a light weight jacket or sweater, you may need it. You are free to take as many photos as you like. The VR is amazing and puts you right in the heart of the palace as it may once have been as well as giving you an idea of what the view across Rome from here would have been like. Word of advise, if you are light sensitive or suffer a bit of vertigo or balance problems then the VR headset is likely to make you feel a bit weasy. I had to lift mine up a few times just to get my head back straight. You are sitting down for the VR session so don't panic and it is well worth persevering with. You carry on with your tour and it is hard to believe that you are walking in the footsteps of Nero no matter how sadistic and twisted he was. There are a few wall frescos still visible, the rest having been removed to safe them from being completely ruined by the damp. Unfortnatuely they have now desided not excavate further as the cost of preserving the rest of the underground network of rooms and corridors is just to expensive both in monetary terms, manpower and the tecnologies needed to keep it from deteriorating but please rest assured, what you see is well worth it. Have a great trip!
9. St. Peter's Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,805 reviews
This grand and magnificent square has retained its classical beauty and serves as the place from which the masses receive the Pope's weekly blessing.
Reviewed By Ius84 - Fairfax, United States
First, request or obtain (free) tickets to attend Palm Sunday Mass at St. Peter's Square (however, I was not asked for my ticket to enter, but it's a nice souvenir.) On the morning of the mass I took Uber from my hotel at 6:35 am and arrived at 6:50 am at the corner of Borgo Vittorio & Via di Porta Angelica . The streets were quiet and my driver had no trouble dropping me off near the Vatican Walls where the line began on the east side. Upon my arrival I found approximately 200-300 people already in line. At 7:35 am the entrance was open and groups of 30 were allowed to approach the security screens. Once I was through security I was able to pick up an olive branch from the pile set out for the congregants. Also, at the entrance to each of the seating areas congregants were given a booklet for mass and a wooden rosary. I then headed to the area where I could easily get an end row seat to see the Palm Processional (midway between the Vatican Obelisk and the altar.) From this vantage point I was one of the few visitors to be given a 6 foot palm to hold during the processional. I was also able to see the entire processional unobstructed including watching Pope Francis (just a few feet away) walking to the obelisk for the Blessing of the Palms and then walking back to the altar. The mass was an incredible and beautiful service. After the mass concluded Francis then was driven around the crowd in his popemobile and I had a third opportunity to see him up close as he went by. (Also, for Catholics...communion is available to the crowd. The system that is used is 1) communion is only given to the congregant by the mouth (taking the communion by hand is not allowed 2) the priest stands at the end of one of the rows and begins giving communion out to each person who approaches him (which means that the row will need to negotiate between the chairs and other congregants to make their way to the priest.) At 12:30 pm I was able to make my way out of St. Peter's Square. Also, the only restroom I was able to determine that were open were the ones near the Vatican gift store/museum shop on the left hand side of St. Peter's Square.
10. Giardino di Ninfa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,821 reviews
Reviewed By marina603 - Rome, Italy
Nice walk among gardens and ruins of the property. Very beautiful in April/May, although the weather allows to enjoy flowers all year long. Well organized and highly recommended
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