WHAT TO DO IN AND AROUND OUR HOME NEAR ROME:

The house is located in a quiet rural area, predominated by olive groves and beautiful hilltop towns and villages. There are plenty of small local shops and supermarkets, as well as restaurants within a 5-15 minute drive of the house. Excursions further afield can include:

Within 1hr drive of Roccantica:

• Casperia, Roccantica, Cantelupo:  The hillsides surrounding the house are dotted with ancient medieval hilltop villages, many with pedestrian access only and steep winding stone roads and staircases up to homes and churches.  Casperia is the nearest town with a small supermarket, pharmacy, post-office and a few other shops, bars and restaurants. Roccantica itself is one of the most beautiful, but very quiet with few or no shops and only two restaurants (depending on the time of year and day of the week!).
• Walking trails:  There are a number of forest and mountain walks around the area. There is a trail map for the hills above Roccantica and Poggio Catino in among the guide books on the chest of drawers in the living room.
• Rome: This is easy to reach by car (1hr) during August as everyone is on holiday and traffic is light.  From the ring road around Rome take exit 8 “Salaria” and follow the signs to the city center. There is parking in the underground pcar park beneath “Villa Borghese”.  Alternatively – at other (busier) times of year drive to the train station at Poggio Mirteto Scalo. Buy tickets in the kiosk next to the station, and exit at the Tiburtina train and metro station in the center of Rome to take metro Line B to sites like the Colosseum.  With Locals (https://www.withlocals.com/) do some fun tours of Rome – including a food tour which lasts 3 hours and includes 10 tastings of different Roman treats (savoury and sweet). 
• Farfa Abbey:  An ancient Abbey with a beautiful church and some quaint shops selling traditional regional products (herbal soaps and fragarances, local delicacies, linen and lace/textiles). There is also a restaurant (Di Lupo) which comes highly recommended.  About 25 minutes’ drive from Roccantica – carry on past Poggio Mirteto and toward Paso Corese.
• Tivoli:  This hillside town has been the summer playground for Rome’s Nobility throughout the ages.  Hadrian’s Palace (Villa Adriana) lies in ruins further down the hill, while the Villa D’Este and its fountains at the top of the hilll are great to visit on a hot summer’s day.  We also recommend the Restauranta Da Falcone in the town of Tivoli itself.
• Orvieto: This hill-top town with a stunning cathedral makes a great morning or day trip from Roccantica.  Park at the bottom of town and take the funicular railway to the top.  We can also recommend the cave tours (starting from the tourist office across from the main entrance of the Duomo), especially on a hot day.
• Bomarzo, Parco dei Mostri:  This estate contains bizarre stone sculptures and fountains.  Exit toward Viterbo North on the A1.
• Villa Lanta:  A beautiful Italian Villa and gardens with hedge mazes near Orte.
• Nepi:  This is a strange little town that is best visited on the way home from, or in combination with other destinations.  It has a pretty Roman Acquaduct, the ruins of a castle, and a lovely gourmet restaurant called Casa Tuscia (named for the regions original Etruscan inhabitants)– 0761 555070.
• La Tancia: Drive up the road above Poggio Catino and at the top is a car park and a number of hiking trails. A guide book with walking maps is available in the living room – walks vary from just over an hour to full day, strenuous hikes. Views from the top are spectacular, but remember to pack all you need (lunch, water, suncream and hat)
• Undereground Rieti: Discover the tunnels and ancient ruins under the city of Rieti. The Rieti underground tour guide is Rita Giovanelli.  Her mobile number is:  3477279591. Her email address is:  rietidascoprire@vodafone.it

Within 1-2hrs drive of Roccantica:

• Asissi: This world heritage site is well worth the 1hr 45 minute drive.  Apart from the hugely impressive “Basilica di San Francesco” (St. Franciss of Assissi), the whole town is stunningly preserved and seems frozen in medieval beauty.
• Ostia Antica:  This is reputed to be the third best preserved Roman city after Pompeii and Herculaneum.  Having visited all three, we think this is pretty accurate and were sorry it took us 7 years to discover. Just beyond Fiumicino Airport, it is the sight of the old port/docklands for ancient Rome.  It has an amphitheatre and acres of well-preserved roads and homes, mosaics and baths.  See pages 151-158 of the Rome and Central Italy guide for details.
• Lago di Vico: This volcanic crater lake is in a lovely setting. There are a few “beach clubs” along the lakeshore where you can rent chairs, pedal boats, umbrellas etc.
• Lago di Salto: This lake is formed by a dam and is surrounded by beautiful mountains. It can be reached in a little over an hour via the road to Rieti (either the one through Poggio Catino or the one past Casperia) and is a good location for water sports. The wakeboarding school is found about 1 km past the Dam on the southern shore (see contact details above under wakeboarding)– this is a great place to try your hand on a wake board and they also have pedal boats and a swimming area. The have drinks / ice-creams available and make a simple lunch (typically paninis or pasta).
• Spoleto: This is a quaint little medieval town with art and craft shops and a beautiful cathedral.
• Tarquinia: This is the site of ancient Etruscan ruins.  Reportedly highly interesting, and also near some nice beaches.
• Terni/marmore waterfall:  This waterfall near Terni is impressive. In summer months, it is also possible to arrange rafting/tubing in the area:  Rafting Marmore – raftingmarmore.com  tel: 330753420, Centro Escursioni Scuola di Ciclismo: info@umbriainmountinbike.it, tel: 380 3088533.

2-3 hours from Roccantica:

• Sienna/Tuscany/Montepolciano/Florence/Naples/Abruzzo