When visiting Rome, Italy, travelers should follow the example of emperors and popes and see some of the encircling country. Fuori parta (beyond the gate), Romans noted, lie great treasures. The area surrounding Rome, the region of Lazio, is one of the prettiest areas of Italy in its own right, and those who travel beyond Rome’s town gates will certainly be in for a rare treat.

Ostia Antica
To the east of Rome ( about a half hour by train ) lies Ostia Antica, a site that is believed to be “the Pompeii of Rome. ” Once the traditional location of Rome’s port, this area lost its importance when the course of the Tiber river modified, leaving it ( some two thousand years on ) a sandy, muddy wasteland. Find cheap Appartement Rom next to Ostia Antica.

Set up in the fourth century B. C, today it is little more than a site for excavated ruins. Travelers exploring Ostia Antica nonetheless , can gain a better understanding of what life was like in traditional times by exploring the excavations and accompanying museum.

Among the items worth exploring at the site are the mosaic floors with Neptune and the sea goddess Amphitrite at the Terme di Nattuna ( Baths of Neptune ), the theater built by Agrippa ( original creator of the Pantheon in Rome ), and the Mithraeum, in which the balconies and walls of this building are embellished with symbols from the Cult of Mithras faith. Near to the ruins of Ostia Antica is the Medieval town of Castello della Rovere, which began in 1483.

Tivoli
Another spot worth journeying to on a short trip from Rome is Tivoli. In ancient times, Tivoli was the place where emperors went to escape the heat and torment of Roman life in the summertime. Large palaces and villas were created, but by the Middle Ages, this area had largely been abandoned. It was rediscovered by the elect of the Catholic Church, those cardinals and popes with abundant wealth, who revived the area by building anew.

Today, Tivoli is a beautiful and colourful area with amazing views and cascading waterfalls. Two jewels remain from traditional times, the church of Vesta and the ruins of the sanctuary of the Sibyl. Most travelers who make the journey from Rome ( thru bus or train ) , however , come to see the Villa Adriana ( Hadrian’s Villa ) or the Villa d’Este’s mythical gardens.

Villa Adriana / Hadrian’s Villa
One of the most accomplished of the traditional Roman emperors, Hadrian rose to power in 1178 AD, and began a construction boom in Rome ( and elsewhere ) that was unequaled. His villa at Tivoli was a masterwork created by local artisans, which incorporated ideas from Hadrian’s world travels. He much admired Hellenistic ( Greek ) culture. His vast estate in Tivoli was a conglomerate of baths, theaters, libraries, churches, open-air gyms, and guest pavilions. The most famous part at the Villa Adriana is the Canopus, a synthetic pool made to match a canal on the Nile. Those exploring the villa would do well, when visiting, to rent the audio tour ( with it, you will receive a complimentary map to help guide your tour of the area ).

Villa d’Este
At Tivoli’s center lies the Villa d’Este, built by a cardinal in the 16th century. While the villa itself isn’t much to see today, the reason for visiting this special spot are its gardens. To create these stunning water gardens, the Aniene stream was diverted, and the result is astounding. The gardens of the Villa d’Este are a masterwork, with sun and shade, water and stone all working together to form a truly unforgettable experience. Maybe the most romantic time to go to the gardens is on a summer evening, when the floodlit fountains work their sorcery. There are a lot of cheap Hotel Rom in this area.

Castelli Romani
in contrast to what their name might imply, the castelli aren’t castles, but rather beguiling towns and villages scattered throughout the Alban Hills, which ( of course ) aren’t actually “hills, ” but instead remains of extinct volcanic activity.

These beautiful towns today are trapped by olive groves, woods full of chestnut trees, and wonderful vineyards, with accompanying wine basements. Among those towns worth exploring are Frescati, with its Villa Aldonbrandini ; Castelgandolfo, where the Pope summers ( Villa Pontifica ) ; Ariccia, with the beautiful Palazzo Chigi ; and Nemi, the tiniest but most beautiful of all.

Whether one travels amongst the hill towns of the Castelli Romani or takes in the striking villas of Tivoli or takes a step back in time at Ostia Antica, it’s clear that little more than an hour outside Rome ( and often less ), there is a gorgeous Italian country worth exploring. Rome is a tough town to leave, but a short break outside the limits of the city is well worth the time away.
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