When visiting Rome, Italy, travelers should follow the example of emperors and popes and see some of the surrounding countryside. Fuori parta (beyond the gate), Romans mentioned, 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 that travel beyond Rome’s city gates will surely 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 considered to be “the Pompeii of Rome. ” Once the traditional site of Rome’s port, this area lost its importance when the course of the Tiber brook changed, leaving it ( some 2,000 years later ) 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 nevertheless , 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 decorated with symbols from the Cult of Mithras faith. Close to the ruins of Ostia Antica is the Medieval city of Castello della Rovere, which started in 1483.

Tivoli
Another spot worth journeying to on a day trip from Rome is Tivoli. In ancient times, Tivoli was the place where emperors went to flee the heat and misery of Roman life in the summer. Massive palaces and villas were made, but by the Middle Ages, this area had largely been deserted. It was rediscovered by the elect of the Catholic Church, those cardinals and popes with abounding wealth, who revived the area by building again.

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

Villa Adriana / Hadrian’s Villa
One of the most accomplished of the traditional Roman emperors, Hadrian rose to power in 1178 AD, and started a construction boom in Rome ( and some place else ) that was unrivaled. His villa at Tivoli was a masterpiece made by local artisans, which incorporated ideas from Hadrian’s world travels. He much admired Hellenistic ( Greek ) culture. His massive estate in Tivoli was an establishment of baths, theaters, libraries, temples, open-air fitness centers, and guest pavilions. The most noted element at the Villa Adriana is the Canopus, an artificial 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 form these beautiful water gardens, the Aniene brook was diverted, and the result’s astounding. The gardens of the Villa d’Este are a masterpiece, with sun and shade, water and stone all collaborating to make a truly memorable experience. Perhaps the most romantic time to visit the gardens is on a summer evening, when the floodlit fountains work their wizardry. There are a lot of cheap Hotel Rom in this area.

Castelli Romani
contrary to what their name might imply, the castelli are not castles, but instead captivating towns and hamlets scattered throughout the Alban Hills, which ( of course ) are not really “hills, ” but instead remains of extinct volcanic activity.

These picturesque towns today are trapped by olive groves, woods full of chestnut trees, and lovely 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 pretty Palazzo Chigi ; and Nemi, the littlest but most gorgeous of all.

Whether one travels among the hill towns of the Castelli Romani or takes in the stunning villas of Tivoli or takes a step backwards in time at Ostia Antica, it is clear that little more than an hour outside Rome ( and frequently less ), there is a beautiful Italian countryside worth exploring. Rome is a tough city to leave, but a short trip outside the limits of the city is definitely worth the time away.
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