7 Places to Visit near Rome

Medieval towns, ruins, imperial villas, vineyards, the Tuscan countryside... beyond the outer walls of Rome lies a myriad of places where you can see, touch and feel ancient history.

Keep reading and I'll tell you about the excursions near Rome that are definitely worth doing!

Booking an excursion to Assisi and Orvieto is the ideal complement to a trip to Rome: you can enjoy a simpler and more peaceful atmosphere than that of the City of Seven Hills, travel to the Umbria region and discover Orvieto and its incredible cathedral, whose façade resembles a pictorial triptych depicting scenes from the New Testament in mosaic.

At the end of your visit to Orvieto, you will head to Lake Trasimeno, a beautiful expanse surrounded by small villages and inhabited by cormorants and fishermen, where you will stop for lunch. To end the day, you will go to Assisi, where you will discover key sites associated with the historical figures of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare. You will visit convents, basilicas and palaces, as well as an ancient Roman temple. Upon returning to Rome, the tour will end with a short tour of the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, next to Piazza della Repubblica.

In my opinion, this tour is well worth it, as it includes round-trip transportation, a professional guide who will explain all the details about the visits, and lunch at the lake.

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Ostia Antica is the name given to the archaeological site of what was once an important port near Rome. These ruins are a window onto the ancient world, and you can stroll through a perfectly preserved open-air theatre, a commercial square with mosaics depicting the different guilds of the settlement, the forum, the temple and a number of warehouses, as this was a place dedicated to the exchange of goods.

If you book an excursion to Ostia Antica, you will have a professional guide at your service who knows the ruins like the back of their hand and will help you imagine the splendour of the Roman Empire.

The experience includes the guide's commentary and return transport.

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Booking an excursion to Villa d'Este and Villa Adriana is one of the best experiences you can include in your trip to Rome.

• Villa Adriana, as its name suggests, was the residence of Emperor Hadrian, from where he ruled the vast Roman Empire. It is a unique place, built in a setting of natural pools and aqueducts, around which gardens were cultivated for the emperor's relaxation. The more than 30 buildings of Villa Adriana are now ruins, including residences, dining rooms, a theatre, thermal baths and buildings inspired by various corners of the world. With the narration of a guide, it is not difficult to imagine yourself in the times of the Empire.
• Villa d'Este offers a completely different experience, as it is a luxurious 16th-century villa with spectacular gardens and countless fountains and statues, so exquisite that during my visit I felt like I was on a theatre stage.

This excursion includes round-trip transportation from Rome by air-conditioned bus, as well as a full narration by a professional guide.

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If you book a visit to the Catacombs of San Calixto, you will discover the most important catacombs for the first Christian cult in history and the burial place of some of Rome's most famous martyrs and the first sixteen popes.

Because of this, you will find an immense amount of symbolism and art from the early Christians, such as the Chi-Rho, the monogram of Christ, the Alpha and Omega, and the ichthys, all of which were part of the secret code of this persecuted cult in its early days.

One of the main attractions of these catacombs are the Papal Tombs, as well as the numerous tombs and beautifully preserved works of art, which constitute the most important collection of Christian art in the world.

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Castel Gandolfo is the Pope's summer residence, located 25 kilometres from Rome, nestled in the Alban Hills and surrounded by a privileged natural environment.

Opened to the public in 2014, this site features the beautiful Barberini Gardens, Lake Albano and the Apostolic Papal Palace, which houses a collection of valuable works and objects.

You can book an excursion to the papal villas of Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence, which includes round-trip transportation, so you don't have to worry about how to get there.

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If you book your ticket to the Villa Gregoriana in Tivoli, you will have the opportunity to explore this park located just half an hour from Rome, a place described by many as a true "fairytale" with its Cascata Grande waterfall, which has been a source of inspiration for numerous artists and writers.

You can lose yourself in the paths, natural caves, ruins and woods, and discover the second highest waterfall in Italy. Commissioned by Pope Gregory XVI in the early 19th century, this park is a haven of peace just a few kilometres from the Italian capital.

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Book your excursion to Frascati and discover this wine-producing town with an expert guide. You'll be treated to Italian wines and a delicious traditional lunch featuring local products such as bread with olive oil, biscotti and porchetta.

You'll also have free time to hunt for little treasures in the town's shops.

The trip starts at Rome's central train station and you will have the opportunity to tour the region's vineyards.

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Rome is an exciting city that you will never fully explore, but the endless possibilities it offers when it comes to excursions is definitely something to consider on your trip. You can read more about the other excursions we recommend at this link: 8 Best Day Trips from Rome

If reading about Ostia Antica has made you want to visit Pompeii and see the ruins left behind after the eruption of Vesuvius with your own eyes, you can read more about how to take a trip to Pompeii from Rome here: 5 Best Day Trips to Pompeii from Rome

It is also possible to visit the famous cities of Florence, Naples and Pisa from Rome on a day trip. On these excursions, you can see Michelangelo's David, discover the wonderful Florence Cathedral and its architectural genius, or try authentic Italian pizza. Here are two articles where you can read all the details about these experiences: Day Trips to Florence from Rome and Day Trips to Naples from Rome.