10 Things To Do In Lazio

An obvious start, but definitely not a waste of time, this magnificent city lies on the Tiber River and is home to centuries of history, art and culture. It shows off its splendors in its monuments, fountains, museums and architectural works. Some examples of these works include the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, The Galleria Borghese, the Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps. The Tivoli has two splendid villas that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. When visiting Rome, you need to taste some of its regional cuisine like cod, zucchini, oxtail, gnocchi and pecorino cheese, maybe along with a glass of local Frascati wine.

The Vatican City has several museums and the Sistine Chapel and these give you the opportunity to appreciate the artwork created by the ancient geniuses and their masterpieces. Within the area of the Vatican City, you find the Vatican Gardens, which cover more than half of the land. The gardens were built during the Renaissance and Baroque eras, and they are decorated with fountains and sculptures. The gardens are from the medieval times. The Vatican contains some of the world’s greatest artistic masterpieces. St Peter’s Basilica has had a series of famous architects like Bramante and Michelangelo and is a global phenomenon. The Sistine chapel is famous for its frescoes by artists like Perugino and Botticelli as well as the ceiling painting depicting the Last Judgment by Michelangelo. The Vatican Apostolic Library and the Vatican Museums’ archives are of historic, scientific and cultural importance. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On this island, you can browse through shops, grab some street food or catch a movie playing on the outdoor movie screen during the summer film festival called Isola del Cinema. It is the only island on the Tiber River that passes through Rome. The island is shaped like a boat and is connected to the mainland by bridges. It is located in the southern bend of the river. Since it is home to an ancient temple and a hospital, the island is associated with medicine and healing. Shrines dedicated to other Roman gods like Jupiter, Gaia, and Bellona were constructed.

Lazio is the place for art galleries. The Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica: Palazzo Barberini was created to celebrate the Barberini’s family rise to papal power. The palace was built in the Baroque period, and it’s impressive just for its external structure. As for the inside, it is just unimaginable. Several exclusive architects have their work featured there, including rivals Bernini and Borromini. Palazzo Colonna, a 17th-century gallery house only has one part open to the public. It is a private art collection owned by the Colonna family with works by Salvatore Rosa, Guido Reni, Geurcino and Annibale Carracci. The gallery has six rooms, covered in frescoes, all of which are dedicated to Marcantonio Colonna who was successful in defeating the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. Address: Palazzo BarberiniVia delle Quattro Fontane, 13, Rome, Italy, +39064814591. Opening hours: Tue-Sun: 8.30am-7.00pm Address: Palazzo Colonna Via della Pilotta, 17, Rome, Italy, +3966784350 Opening hours: Sat: 9am-1.15pm, closed August

The Capitoline Museums date back to 1471 and are globally the oldest museums around the world. The classical sculpture collection is the most spectacular collection of its kind one can find in the whole country. Some of the more popular structures are the Capitoline Wolf depicting Romulus and Remus (the twin founders of Rome) under a wolf and the dying Gaul. In addition, masterpieces by Titian and Caravaggio are found there. The National Roman Museum called Palazzo Massimo alle Terme is one of Rome’s most fabulous museums and a treasure of classical antiquities. There is a section dedicated to sculptures and a separate section just for brightly colored frescoes. These paintings illustrate a variety of natural, mythological, daily and erotic genres, all according to the room they were placed in. The most significant frescoes are from 30 BC to 20 BC fromVilla Livia. Address: Capitoline Museums Piazza del Campidoglio 1, Rome, Italy, +3960608 Opening hours: 9.30am-7.30pm, last admission 6.30pm Address: Palazzo Massimo alle TermeLargo di Villa Peretti, 1, Rome, Italy, +390639967700 Opening hours: Tue-Sun: 9.00am-7.45pm

The Gardens of Ninfa were constructed on the remains of the Etruscan town of Ninfa. They are known to be the most romantic gardens in the world. Due to their restricted opening hours, plan ahead so you don’t miss this unique experience. The Peony Gardens inViterbo are home to a wide variety of 200,000 Chinese tree peonies with 600 different variations, many of which are extremely rare and are endemic to these gardens. Address: Gardens of Ninfa (Oasi di Ninfa), Via Provinciale Ninfina, 68, Latina, Lazio, Italy, +390639967700 Opening hours: Nov: 9.00am-12.00pm and 2.30-4.00pm (change monthly) Address: Peony Garden, Vitorchiano, S.S. Ortana 46, Loc. Il Pallone Vitorchiano (Viterbo), Italy, + +390761300493 Opening hours: March: Monday – 9:30am – 1:00pm and 2:30pm – 5:30pm and April and May: Monday – Friday: 9:30am – 1:00pm and 2:30pm – 6:00pm, Saturdays – Sundays – Holidays 9:30am – 6:00pm

The Societa Abbligliamento Rappresentanze Tessuti (SART) is a man’s dream for style and fashion. Making use of only the finest Italian cloth, SART is tucked away near the great palace. With rolls of wool, linens and cotton on display, you can select cashmere winter tops to top off your outfit. Battistoni is a Roman clothing institution established in 1946 and boasts the most elite classic Italian tailoring of the finest cut, specifically fitted to suit your measurements and needs. As for the décor, that’s a whole other glamour to itself. Address: SART Largo della Fontanella di Borghese, 19, Rome, Italy, +39066876449 Address: Battistoni Via dei Condotti, 60, Rome, Italy, +39066976111 Opening hours: Mon: 3-7pm and Tue-Sat: 10am-7pm By Sophie Muscat