We're traveling to Rome 3 days ahead of our friends. Once they arrive we will be visiting Rome together (2nd time for us) and then to Florence, Tuscany, Amalfi Coast, Venice, Cinque Terre and Lake Como. We have a car and were thinking of a drive of about half a day to somewhere nice around Rome. We enjoy scenery, quaintness and great food. Smaller would be better before we get into more crowded Rome.
Appreciate your help.
Eileen - Winnipeg, Canada
Check out the town of Orvieto, just north of Rome.
You will have a car while you are in Rome?
Frascati or one of the other Castelli Romani would be a good place to unwind - other cities that come to mind are Castel Gandolfo (papal residence), Bolsena (volcanic crater lake, castle), or Viterbo.
Yes, we will have a car in Rome.
Abruzzo! Well, depending on time of year,but the mountains are lovely. Try Santa Stefano di Sassanio and the Albergo Diffuso Sexantio. The hotel rooms are scattered about the village in renovated old houses. Good for one or two nights. The quaint towns like Castelli or Sulmona for another night or two. We also liked this hotel as base for spending a couple of days in the Parco Nazionale di Gran Sasso.
I would get rid of the car when you are in Rome. I live here and don't ever use a car. It's a nightmare to drive and worse to park.
How could I forget Sulmona? Beautiful town near the mountains (I could still see snow in July).
Thanks to all for your ideas and insights! Appreciated, Eileen
Eileen,
Unless you just really want to leave Rome, consider a trip out to Ostia Antica just outside Rome. It is the original site of Rome and is quite a different change of pace. You can get there on public transient quickly and cheaply. Google it and see what you think. It is closed either Sunday or Monday -- can't remember which. TC
