Hello,
We will be in Rome in March and will have time to either go north to Orvieto and Civita or south to Castel Gondolfo and Sermaneta. What would your choice be? We will have our 4 children ranging in age from 9 to 18. We love charming towns, beautiful scenery and just wandering and exploring. We will have a car.
Thank you for your advice.
Tough choice. Both options are good.
I’d probably choose the first, if it’s your first time in Orvieto.
If you decide on the Castelli Romani option make sure you spell the towns correctly or the GPS might send you on the wrong way.
It’s Castel Gandolfo and Sermoneta.
I'd choose Orvieto. Not a huge fan of Civita di Bagnoregio, but with a car it won't be terribly time-consuming to reach. Orvieto itself can fill more than a full day, though, so that's where you should focus most of your time; there's really no comparison.
Spend the most time in Orvieto. We took our younger son to Orvieto when he was nine and he loved all sorts of things there, including the St. Patrick's well and (despite a previously less-than-zero interest in art) the Signorelli Chapel.
Also between Rome and Orvieto is Bomarzo with its very entertaining Garden of Monsters (more monsters than garden, so no problem going there in March).
Orvieto for sure. Do an Etruscan cave tour. I haven't been to Civita in over 10 years, so I don't know how much it has changed.
Both options are good.
My vote is Orvieto. Amazing and beautiful hilltop town. The views, underground caves and kids get to ride a funicular to the top.
I'm not familiar with Sermaneta but would choose Orvieto over Castel Gondolfo every time.
