THE JEWELS OF THE LAZIO REGION

TIVOLI, PONZA, CIRCEO, ROME, CASTELLI ROMANI

DAY ONE: TIVOLI

Arrival in Tivoli from town of origin.

Lunch in a restaurant and meeting with guide.

Guided tour of magnificent Villa d’Este and its beautiful gardens, the best example of Italian gardens, animated by over 500 fountains.

The building, with its simple architectural design, preserves splendid rooms decorated by frescos from the Roman School.

On to Palestrina or vicinity in the afternoon. (30 km south of Tivoli)

Arrival in hotel and hotel check in .

Dinner and overnight stay.

DAY TWO: PALESTRINA- ANZIO – ISLAND OF PONZA

Breakfast in hotel then off to the port of Anzio.

Meeting with guide then ferry to Ponza.

Arrival in Ponza and guided tour.

Lunch in restaurant. Continuation of tour in afternoon then ferry back to Anzio.

Bus ride back to hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay.

DAY THREE: CIRCEO PARK – FOSSANOVA – TERRACINA – SPERLONGA

Breakfast in hotel then off to Circeo Park.

Meeting with guide and start of visit.

Various surroundings of the park are within easy reach and can be visited using the numerous roads, state roads, public footpaths and busy bicycle and foot paths (in forest)equipped with signposts. Lunch in restaurant in the area.

Then on to archaeological site of Fossanova (28 km) followed by a visit of the village and Abbey.

The Abbey of Fossanova, situated in the village of Fossanova in the district of Priverno (LT) is considered ( together with Casamari) the first example and original model of Gothic- Cistercian architecture in Italy; a sign of the reform by Bernardo di Chiaravalle, not only in the strict observance of the rule, but also in what was supposed to be an earthly instrument, that is, the monastery.

On to Terracina (23 km) to visit the Duomo and the Capitalino temple.

Next stop Sperlonga (20 km ) with its labyrinth of narrow streets , whitewashed houses, ruins of ancient buildings, beaches on the blue Tyrrhenian Sea.

Back to hotel, evening meal and overnight stay.

DAY FOUR: ROME

Breakfast in hotel and guided tour of Rome for the whole day.

Free to lunch anywhere.

Continuation of tour. Back to hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

DAY FIVE: CASTELLI ROMANI (CASTEL GANDOLFO, FRASCATI)

Breakfast in hotel then off to Colli Albani. (Albani Hills)

Meeting with guide followed by tour of Castelli Romani. We will discover this volcanic area full of woods and vineyards.

Lakes have taken shape in the old craters of the volcanoes.

The visit will start at Frascati (25 km from Palestrina), stretching from the side of the Colli Albani towards the Italian capital.

Going along the lake route we reach the village of Castel Gandolfo .

Situated at a height of 426 m, it is dominated by the historic centre and the outskirts where the Pope resides during the summer months.

The name Castelgandolfo derives from the family Gandolfi which had established its rule in the XII century. Lunch in a restaurant in the area.

Free time and departure.