Rome and the Lakes of Lazio Region

Vico Bolsena and Bracciano

Rome the Capital of Italy is a trip inside the contemporary reality of the eternal city, visiting 20^th and 21^st century sites and museums. A journey that begins with the Rationalist style of the EUR and Foro Italico districts, through the working-class areas of Garbatella, Quarticciolo and Pigneto from the twenties and thirties, as well as newer architectural challenges such as Renzo Piano’s Auditorium and Richard Meier’s Dives in Misericordia Church. Just a few kilometers outside the city you can go boating, windsurfing or canoeing on volcanic lakes, walk or bike in the colorful countryside, taste unique typical foods and experience the history, traditions and ancient culture among Etruscan ruins and in medieval castles.

The Lakes

Vico as with most lakes in this region Lake Vico is of volcanic origin; it is surrounded by cane fields and is horseshoe shaped. Mount Venere is 800 meters high, with several walking and biking trails. At the "well of the devil" - a semi-vertical grotto – there is a great view of the entire lake. Watch out for foxes and wild boar! The coastline is great for bird watching, cycling and water sports - windsurfing, sailing and canoeing. Overlooking Lake Vico is Caprarola with a XVI Century Farnese Palace; the Sagra della nocciola occurs here at the end of August; an opportunity to taste local chestnut based specialties, sweets and ice cream.

the best way to travel is in the company of people who live and work in the places you visit. So, if you are planning a vacation or business trip contact us for a no obligation travel itinerary.

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Bolsena on the border of Lazio and Umbria, and between Viterbo and Orvieto, Bolsena is the largest volcanic lake in Europe. Excellent for water sports, it has English style gardens on Bisentina island and wild nature on Martana Island. Spend time on one of the local fishing boats or cruise aboard a traditional Bolsena Lake boat, day or night. Food lovers will enjoy a vast assortment of restaurants along the coast specializing in local fish, rigorously accompanied by Bolsena area olive oil and wines.

A most Intriguing Trail is Sentiero dei Briganti used by Smugglers and Outlaws

Bracciano This lake is located further south, between Rome and Viterbo provinces and close to the Lazio beaches. The three major communities around the lake are the city of  Bracciano, Anguillara Sabazia e Trevignano Romano. Overlooking the lake is the Orsini Odescalchi castle, famous for vip weddings; this 15^th century structure is also a museum. Nearby is the Air Force Museum with over 60 planes, motors and other equipment.

Your Connection to Rome and the Lakes in Lazio Region

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 Information and Reservation

Book Your Rome and Lazio Lakes Travel Here!

Travel Duration 3 nights and 4 days. Group Size Minimum 4, Maximum 50 persons.

Cost/Person/Day Euro 245 for adults age 19 to 64 Euro 195 for seniors 65+ and children under 18.

Information for Booking First and Last Name, Passport Number, Expiration date and Issuing country, Date of birth, Email address.

Included Travel between cities and states that are part of the itinerary, lunches and dinners, accommodations in double occupancy with breakfast for three nights, applicable local and state taxes, one-half day sightseeing events, local transport services.

Excluded Evening entertainment and transport to tour location start and from tour ending location.

Day/time Day to day programs and specific events at each location, as well as the sequence of the tour stops, will be finalized with the participation of the clients after details on family/group composition have been determined to take-into-account client priorities and preferences.

Reductions Children under the age of 18 and seniors over the age of 65 traveling with parents and/or guardians, staying in the same hotel room receive a 20 percent discount.

Dante in the Marche Region: Poetry Food Wine and Eroticism

Dante Alighieri was a statesman, poet and father of the modern Italian language. May 29^th2015 was the 750^th anniversary of his birth in Florence. As a literary figure, Dante is placed alongside Homer and Shakespeare, creators of larger than life characters.

The Divine Comedy, his defining work, is, among other things, a first for the Italian language and a representation of the spiritual, personal and political circumstances of his time. The latter led Dante into exile from Florence, including in Marche, where he provided profound inspiration to the local culture.

Urbino is remembered by Dante in the 27^th canto of the Inferno in a dialogue with Guido of Montefeltro, the local lord. Fiorenzuola di Focara owes its notoriety for having hosted Dante Alighieri in a baker's house where the poet experienced the emotion of strong wind gusts lashing the promontory on which stands a castle by the sea creating the most incredible and dangerous currents.

The Gradara Castle and rocks live in the hearts of lovers all over the world; here, the love story between Paolo de Malatesta and Francesca da Polenta - better known as Francesca da Rimini – blossomed, came to a tragic end and was eternalized by Dante in the V canto of the Inferno. You can view the altarpiece by Giovanni Santi, father of Raffaello Sanzio - Raphael.  

Pesaro is not directly cited however it maintains strong connotations to Dante because Gianciotto de’ Malatesti, nicknamed the Cripple, was mayor of this seaside town and is buried here. Dante consigned him to Hell.

Fonte Avellana Dante spent much of his life in the footsteps of Pier Damiani, to whom he dedicated the 21^st canto of Paradise in the Divine Comedy. He also visited Mount Catria in search of a peace and tranquility denied him in his native Florence.

Dante and the Gastronomical Traditions of Marche

There is a rich presence of food in the Divine Comedy and his other works, including lentil soup laced with wine, figs, apples, honey and vin santo; in all, 14 courses are cited in the Convivio. Also well-known are the cantos dedicated to the gluttons in both Hell and Purgatory that accompany his constant hunger; he even coined the neologism scuffare - to eat avidly and noisily. There is a rapport between diet and eroticism: the gluttons come right after the lustful in Inferno’s 6^th canto and, in Purgatory, those that fall to temptations of the senses are presented in the last of the seven frames.

the best way to travel is in the company of people who live and work in the places you visit. So, if you are planning a vacation or business trip contact us for a no obligation travel itinerary.

We don’t just sell you a travel plan; we experience it with you!

Some Dishes inspired by Dante

Tartare of Madonna Bellaccoglienza these are the classic waffles from Abruzzo wrapped with aged cheese, making them into cannoli. Madonna Bellaccoglienza is the sensual protagonist of the novel in verse The Flower which Dante wrote translating from the French Roman de la rose.

Glauco Omelette a cheese omelette, served hot and in wedges, with algae or herbs that make it gently magical. Glauco, the legendary fisherman of Boeotia, places his catch on a bed of herbs, then sees them take heart and jump back into the sea. He ate the algae, turned into a fish and became a marine deity.

Suppa alla Beatrice a barley soup of barley with tricolor vegetables sprinkled with grated aged cheese.
Beatrice, dressed in white, red and green, announces that God’s righteousness is not afraid soup, referring to the curious Florentine custom of forgiving even the most serious crimes if the perpetrator could eat a soup dish at least 7 times at the crime’s site without getting arrested. ("Paradise" 33^rd).

Mense alla Virgilio the Piadina of Romagna. Virgil, acting as a guide to Dante in the Divine Comedy,

tells him from the Aeneid that the Trojans acquired the custom of eating piadine with their food during

a stopover in Africa; a culinary tradition they introduce in Rome and later in Romagna (Inferno 1^st).

Salse alla Ciacco a spicy Bolognese mustard. Ciacco is a Florentine character know for the

prodigious appetite, and placed among the gluttons in Hell by Dante. The colors of the sauce – white,

red and green – symbolize the Christian Faith, Hope and Charity.

Anguille alla Vernaccia the famous eels from Bolsena and Cornacchio are marinated in Sardinian or

Ligurian vernaccia and roasted over olive wood coals. For Dante, a condemnation of Pope Martino

IV to Purgatory (24^th) who spent more time on food and less as St Peter’s Vicar.

Honey and Fossa Cheese from Monte Diana a classic accompaniment and an aphrodisiac which in

theological terms unite knowledge (milk) and justice (honey). The reference to Diana – goddess

of the moon and of night – is the ancient etymology of Mondaino, a town now famous for its fossa

cheese (Paradise 18^th).

Torta di Frutti Misti a pie made of apples, pears, figs and plums, present in all religions.

Vini dei Colli di Romagna famous area wines – sangiovese, albana, rebola, vini di sabbia.

Acqua Lete available commercially today. When Dante reached Earthly Paradise, he was

immersed by a beautiful woman named Matelda in the Lete River, so named because capable of

removing one’s sins – a baptism. Emerging from these waters, one could continue the journey to

Celestial Paradise (Purgatory 28^th).