Five-day road trip to Lazio

Lazio is one of the most visited regions in Italy. It is where Rome, Tivoli and other cities of extreme beauty are located. Like all of Italy, the region has excellent roads, great signage and, although traffic in some cities is chaotic, there are several parking lots to leave your car in. Today we are going to present to you a five-day road trip through Lazio. Stay with us and make the most of boot country! Here at Italy’s Dream Tourism, we can make the trip of your dreams come true!! Also check out our section, Examples of Tourist Itineraries in Italy!

Our Itinerary

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Lazio is Roma. However, visiting this region does not just mean walking around the Colosseum or the Fori Imperiali, because the Lazio region is as beautiful as it is fascinating. So, if you really want to get to know Lazio, here are some destinations for this itinerary that you cannot miss. It is a five-day itinerary, when you arrive in Rome, rent a car, and the journey begins. The first place after having chosen Lazio as a region to explore, of course, cannot fail to be our capital, the wonderful city of Rome.

1) Five-day road trip through Lazio – FIRST DAY

Day One: Arrive at Rome Airport early in the morning to pick up the rental car; go to the hotel to accommodate your luggage; and then start the tour of the city. We chose a very central hotel to move more easily both on foot and by metro, also because Rome has a chaotic traffic of vehicles and by car you would lose a lot of time, so we will leave the car in the hotel parking lot that day.

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A little about Rome

The eternal city attracts millions of visitors with its endless history and its art treasures and you should spend at least two days to experience the city in all its glory, but if you are only going to stay one day, the things to see will be limited. Although the choice among the many interesting places in Rome is really difficult, we have tried to articulate a walk that includes the main attractions and gives due importance to the beauty of this magnificent place. Also, read our Post: The Most Beautiful Panoramic Views Of Rome

Attractions in Rome

We start our tour at the Vatican with the Basilica of St. Peter, the main church of Christianity. Continue the walk to Castel Sant’Angelo and then go to Ponte Cavour, then take Via Tomacelli and Via dei Condotti to Piazza di Spagna, a Baroque masterpiece by Francesco de Sanctis.

From Piazza di Spagna, you can continue on Via di Propaganda and Via Poli to the Trevi Fountain, which gained worldwide fame not only for its splendor but also thanks to the movie ‘La Dolce Vita’. At this point, you reach Piazza Venezia and follow Via dei Fori Imperiali, which crosses the Fori Imperiali and the Roman Forum, arriving at the Colosseum, the symbol of Rome. You should definitely take a look at Capitoline Hill and enjoy Roman life in one of the many bars overlooking the streets or stop for dinner in one of the many typical trattorias in the capital. And then you go back to the hotel to sleep. FIND OUT WHERE TO STAY IN ROME HERE!

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2) Five-day itinerary by car through Lazio – SECOND DAY

Day Two: after a hearty breakfast, you leave Rome by car to discover the Lazio region, which, in addition to the magnetic charm of the Roman capital, also offers many other attractions that will make your heart flutter. On this second day, we will see one of the many beauties of this region, Tivoli. Called the ‘Tibur Superbum’ in the Aeneid, it is an important destination to understand the history of Lazio.

Attractions in Tivoli

Here you will find many testimonies of the past, not least because it also has origins even older than those of Rome. The beautiful scenery that the city enjoys, has helped to make it an attractive place from the point of view of tourism. After visiting the city center, which is a fascinating nucleus made of an interweaving of narrow streets and a fantastic view, such as the Falls of Aniene and Villa Gregoriana, and the other nucleus, which is the countryside of Lazio, you will visit one of the wonderful villas located in Tivoli, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and dates back to the Renaissance, Villa D’Este, which represents one of the masterpieces of Italian interior and exterior architecture. How about taking advantage of the fact that you are in Tivoli and taking a course at the gladiator school? Click here to learn more!

Villa D’Este

Of particular interest on the visit to the Villa are the rooms on the main floor of the palace, decorated and painted by a large group of Roman artists of Mannerism, and the splendid garden. The Hundred Fountains flanking the 100-meter-long avenue are certainly impressive. It will surely be a hectic day, tiring but full of beautiful things, after a good dinner in a typical restaurant bed. Then, if you would like an amazing experience in the city, embark on a private tour of Rome’s iconic sites, like the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon with an exclusive guide. Skip-the-line ticket to Villa d’Este with audio guide

3) Five-day road trip through Lazio – THIRD DAY

Third Day: After a good breakfast, you leave Tivoli to reach the city of Viterbo. This day will be dedicated to the discovery of Viterbo, the city of the popes. We leave the car in the parking lot of the hotel in Virtebo; we also leave the luggage and immediately we go to visit the city, that appears to be completely surrounded by fortifications.

Attractions in Virtebo

The visit begins at the Palazzo dei Priori, with its rooms decorated with wonderful paintings from the end of the Italian Renaissance and with its inner courtyard embellished with remains of Etruscan sarcophagi. We continue the tour towards the Medieval Quarter, one of the most charming areas of Viterbo, where it feels like being in a small village and not in the heart of a city. Then we visit the museum dedicated to the Facchini of Santa Rosa, and in Piazza della Morte, we discover the underground Viterbo, which will take you to the caves excavated under the city.

After the visit, we had lunch in a typical restaurant not far away and then we arrived at the Duomo. The square has an impressive overall view, between the Duomo, Palazzo Papale and the view of the valley. Continue the walk to reach the Church of Santa Rosa, where the body of the saint is preserved. At this point, after finding a typical restaurant for a dinner based on local products, you return to the hotel for a well-deserved rest. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FOOD IN ITALY!

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4) Five-day itinerary by car through Lazio – FOURTH DAY

Fourth Day: after having a good breakfast, you leave Viterbo to reach Lake Bolsena, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Lazio, its particular oval shape, the islands and this whole area, are of rare beauty. Here the Villanovan, Etruscan and Roman civilizations succeeded each other. The signs of the medieval period are particularly evident in the streets of the villages around the lake.

A little about Bolsena

This place also plays a particularly important role in the history of Catholicism, since the Eucharistic Miracle took place, which gave rise to one of the main solemnities of the liturgical year of the Catholic Church, Corpus Christi. From the hotel that has been booked, you can choose to visit a wide variety of free beaches and seaside resorts, or decide to go to one of the three villages that have developed along its shores, such as Bolsena, Capodimonte and Marta.

Attractions in Bolsena

I recommend you to visit the city of Bolsena. You get to visit the small town of Bolsena, overlooking the lake, and it has beautiful scenery and a medieval village with a magnificent fortress. And it is precisely the medieval core that you will visit with particular attention. Its center is in the square, where stands the Collegiate Church of Santa Cristina, the most important monument, whose peculiarity is to incorporate four churches of different ages, with the oldest part obtained from an internal recess of the volcanic outcrop.

Other fascinating cultural sites

Other fascinating cultural sites are: the Catacombs, the Teatro San Francesco, the Piccolo Teatro Cavour, the Art Gallery, and the Aquarium, which attract many tourists, both for their beauty and their uniqueness. Leisure is the prerogative of the lake and the hills of the interior, where you can practice in complete tranquility many activities, such as hiking, horseback riding, cycling, and mountain biking.

If you want to take a break and relax, there are plenty of cafes where you can have aperitifs, enjoy hot dishes, and enjoy the movement and scenery. If the attraction of the day is on the lake, the attraction of the night is in the historic centers of the villages and in the spectacular restaurants. The gastronomic offer is able to satisfy all needs, from the starred restaurant to pizzerias or tratorias with typical cuisine. You’ll take advantage of one of these places for a typical dinner and then go to bed.

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5) Five-day itinerary by car through Lazio – FIFTH DAY

Day Five: After having a hearty breakfast, we depart for Calcata, a spectacular village considered one of the most charming in Lazio. It is a small town in the province of Viterbo that, despite being only forty kilometers from Rome, has managed to preserve its historical and natural heritage intact. Even today, visiting Calcata is equivalent to an experience that kidnaps you and takes you to an indefinite period, where the charm of nature is added to those of a fairy tale and the mysterious Middle Ages. The medieval village, one of the most fascinating in Lazio, is accessed by a single door that opens between its natural fortifications.

Attractions in Calcata

Start your journey in the quaint little square adorned with three curious tuff ‘thrones’, where you’ll find the Castle of Anguillara and the Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, both significant monuments in the city. Explore the narrow alleys leading to the edge of the deep precipice surrounding the city, passing by craft shops and charming restaurants offering divine dining experiences. After a fulfilling day, retire to your hotel for a restful sleep. The next day, head to Rome to return your car and catch your flight home, reluctantly leaving behind the enchanting atmosphere of this magnificent place.

How to get to Lazio?

1) How to get to Lazio? BY PLANE

All regional air transport gravitates only toward the Fiumicino and Ciampino airports, near Rome. The airports for traffic in Lazio are: Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Fiumicino Airport, and Pastine Airport, near Ciampino.

Also read our Special Posts about Airports in Italy:

2) How to get to Lazio? BY TRAIN

You can travel with the national lines and high-speed trains. The main stations are Roma, Latina and Frosinone. Rome is the main connection of Central Italy.

Did you know that Trenitalia is the leading Italian company dedicated to the management of rail transport? Read here “What is the difference of trains in Italy?“. Buy your ticket online in advance and save a lot; read the Post “How to buy a train ticket in Italy?“.

3) How to get to Lazio? DRIVING

Lazio can be reached via the A1 Milano – Napoli motorway, called the Autovia del Sole. Read also TRAVELING BY CAR IN ITALY: EXAMPLES OF ITINERARIES

If you are renting a car, be sure to read our posts in the Driving in Italy section of Italy’s Dream Tourism Blog. In addition to car itinerary tips, we have everything about signs, tolls, roads, and much more.

Important to know

If you are going to drive in Italy, is it essential to have an international license. If you don’t have one, don’t drive, as you’ll get in a lot of trouble if you get pulled over by the Italian police! READ THE POST DO I NEED AN INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT IN ITALY (IDP)?

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Conclusion

Five-day itinerary by car through Lazio. This region is full of beauties to be discovered and rediscovered and, above all, to be protected and preserved not only in the present, but also for the future. A heritage that makes Lazio one of the most varied and touristic regions in Italy. Lazio has to offer many places suitable for all its guests and inspires young and old with its offers.