No other region will give you such a sense of history, a stirring sensation that what you see around you is the very fabric our modern society is built on.

What makes Lazio unique?

Lazio is a region steeped in history and dominated by its famous Capital which deserves some attention of its own… Rome is quite simply an astonishing place to visit. Easily explored in bite size pieces, the Historical Centre is almost entirely confined by the easily recognizable Aurelian wall. Shopping ranges from world-renowned designer shops, at better value than Milan or Florence, to wonderful street markets such as Porta Portese. If you are planning to visit Italy it would be a real mistake to not include a visit to Rome.

What makes Rome special?

There is arguably more to see in Rome than in any other city in the world. Relics from civilizations dating back over 2000 years are there to see and touch. Any visit, but especially your first, cannot fail to make the hair on the back of your neck tingle as you witness the Colosseum for the first time. Contrast that vision with a visit to the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms in the Vatican Museums and you are touching the outer limits of the spectrum of sites. All that remains now is to see the almost limitless sites in between.

“Rome in a Rush” can be done in 1 day, it encompasses a start at St Peter’s Basilica and then a slow stroll to take in the atmosphere in via Castel Sant’ Angelo and the Ponte S.Angelo to mix with the students and take a piece of pizza or a panino. Next is an ice cream in Piazza Navona followed by the Pantheon, the column of Marcus Aurelius, the Trevi Fountain and on to Piazza Venezia, the Roman Forum, under the triumphal arches of Septimus Servius and Titan to finish at the Colosseum.

Much better give yourself at least a week in Rome.

Don’t miss Rome’s top ten...

1. Colosseum
2. Sistine Chapel & the Raphael Rooms
3. Capitoline Museums
4. St Peter’s Basilica
5. Trevi Fountain
6. Roman Forum
7. Piazza Navona
8. Spanish Steps
9. Pantheon
10. Castel Sant’Angelo

What makes Lazio special?

Perhaps unfairly regarded as “pale” in comparison to its culturally rich capital Rome, Lazio still has lots to offer. If you really want to see what a Roman town looked like, visit the old Roman seaport of Ostia Antica it provides a far better representation than the Forum in Rome. To the east there are the world famous Tivoli Gardens and Hadrian’s Villa that was in reality more a medium size town than a villa.

For the more curious push on to the seaside towns of San Felice, Terracina or Sperlonga, these are all beautiful places with perhaps Terracina with its rich cultural centre as the highlight. The port of Anzio is a pleasant place for a working fishing port and lunch at one of the seafront restaurants followed by a visit to Ninfa Gardens makes for good day.

If you’re in Lazio in the winter try skiing in the Apennines, not as demanding as the resorts in the north but, frequented by local Italians, they are almost tourist free.

In Lazio Don’t Miss...

1. Ostia Antica
2. Hadrian’s Villa
3. Ninfa Gardens (Prince Charles and Diana stayed there during a visit to Italy) <