Lazio. Italy. Famous region of Italy - Lazio City on a mountain with a basilica Lazio Italy

- the capital of Lazio and Italy.
Also, millions of tourists are attracted by the state of the Vatican State, the luxurious Villa D'Este and Villa Adriana. The Etruscan necropolises, which are mainly concentrated in Lazio, plunge into the distant past of Italy, and the ancient Roman ruins tell about an important period of history, coastal cities Gaeta, Sperlonga, Terracina and others can offer holidays on the Tyrrhenian Sea near Rome.
Do not forget about the ancient and revered monasteries, hidden among the hills and mountains of Lazio, among them Subiaco and the restored Montecassino.
The abandoned towns of Lazio have a particular charm, the most famous of which is Civita di Bagnoregio, but it is also worth visiting Monterano, which has often become a film location.
The Lazio region is rich, enjoys great fame, the water of which has beneficial properties and is sold even in Russia.
Lazio produces wines, the most famous Est!Est!Est!, the center of the production zone is located in the city of Montefiascone.

A Brief History of Lazio

How to get to Lazio

Get inspired by Lazio

What to see in Lazio

Etruscan cities

Cerveteri

Tarquinia

Tuscania

Ghost towns

Civita di Bagnoregio

Monterano

Coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea

Civitavecchia

Terracina

Sperlonga

Monasteries of Lazio

Montecassino

Today's story is about the Lazio region. Because Lazio is not only Rome, here tourists will find many other interesting places, and in addition they will be able to relax on the beaches Tyrrhenian Sea.

From this article you will learn:

General information about the region

Lazio is a region in Central Italy, with its capital in the city of Rome.
The Lazio region has a population of 5,897,526 people, the second most populous region in Italy (after Lombardy).
Latium borders on Umbria, Marche, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania and includes the territory of the Vatican State.
On the western side, the region is washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea.

How to get to Lazio

In the Lazio region there are 2 international passenger airport, and both of them are in Rome:
✈️ Fiumicino Airport(Roma Fiumicino) named after Leonardo da Vinci (FCO) is one of the main airports in Italy, it serves the main flow of passengers.
✈️ Ciampino Airport(Roma Ciampino) (CIA), serving mainly European flights.

Moreover, in the city Civitavecchia(Civitavecchia) is one of the most important cruise ports (ranks 2nd in Europe in terms of passenger turnover).

Cities of the Lazio region

Lazio is divided into 5 administrative provinces: Frosinone, Rieti, Latina, Viterbo and.

Of course, the bulk of the region’s attractions and the main flow of tourists are concentrated in Rome (see article). But that's not all!

What else to see in the Lazio region?

Tivoli

In the province of Rome, the main source of tourist interest is the city of Tivoli. The main attractions are three villas built in different eras: ancient Roman Villa Adriana, Villa d'Este(XVI century) and Gregorian villa(XIX century), as well as the castle of Pope Pius II (XV).

Viterbo

Viterbo is famous primarily because it has retained its medieval appearance. The medieval pilgrims' quarter is almost untouched. The most interesting sights of Viterbo:

• Papal Palace
• Cathedral of San Lorenzo
• Church of San Francesco
• Town Hall
• Farnese Palace
• Sanctuary of St. Roses from Viterbo
• Gothic fountains
• In the province of Viterbo most interesting town Civita di Bagnoregio, which is located on a mountain ledge made of tuff, and which can be reached by pedestrian bridge 300 meters long.

Rieti

The city of Rieti and its province offer a huge number of attractions and monuments from different eras - Ancient Rome, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
The most interesting:

• Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
• Bishop's Palace
• Basilica of Sant'Agostino
• Dolphin Fountain and Town Hall (Palazzo Comunale)
• Remains of a Roman bridge
• Roman and medieval walls
• Piazza San Rufo and the Center of Italy - a curious place where the geographical center of Italy is located
• Underground Rieti is a tourist route that allows you to see the remains of an ancient Roman aqueduct lying under the mansions in the city center.

Frosinone

The province of Frosinone is often called Ciocaria (Ciocaria - the name comes from the word ciocie - this was the name of the traditional shoes of the inhabitants of the region).
This area attracts nature lovers - here you will find tourist routes, offering to admire picturesque hill towns and ancient monasteries.
The main attractions of Frosinone:

• Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
• Palazzo Pietro Tiravanti
• Palazzo del Governo
• Palazzo della Provincia
• Abbey of Montecassino
• Casamari Abbey

Latina

Latina is widely known for its nature and beaches - it is located here national park Circeo. In addition, there are protected parks in the province: Monte Orlando City Park in Gaeta, Natural park Aurunchi mountains and Suburban Park Janols.
Main attractions of Latina:

• Piazza del Popolo
• Piazza and San Marco Cathedral
• Palazzo M.
• National Archaeological Museum of Sperlonga
• Temple of Young Jupiter in Terracina
• Mount Orlando in Gaeta

What to try in the Lazio region

In Central Italy (as in all other regions) you will not be left hungry, and everyone will find a dish to their liking. Centuries-old gastronomic traditions of Lazio are at your service:

• Snacks: Roman-style artichokes (carciofi alla romana), pumpkin blossoms (fiori di zucca), supplì - rice balls with tomato sauce and cheese (supplì). In addition, you can try a huge amount of deep-fried vegetables: deep-fried vegetables (verdure in pastella), cod fillet (filetti di baccalà in pastella), potato croquettes (crocchette di patate)
• Paste: Carbonara, Amatriciana (amatriciana), Cacio e pepe (cacio e pepe), Grichia (gricia), Roman gnocchi (gnocchi alla romana)
• Meat: Hunter's lamb (abbacchio alla cacciatora), braised beef tail (la coda alla vaccinara), Roman saltimbocca - veal chop with prosciutto, fried in Marsala wine (saltimbocca alla romana)
• Fish: Cod in sauce with tomatoes, onions, garlic, olives, raisins and pine nuts (baccalà in guazzetto)

Wines of the Lazio region

For the most part, wine in Lazio is made from white grape varieties - malvasia And Trebbiano.
Red varieties grown include Merlot, Sangiovese, and Montepulciano.

🍷 The most famous white wine of the Lazio region is considered Frascati And Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone, red - Merlot di Aprilia.

Beach holidays in the Lazio region

Despite the fact that Lazio is not at the top of the list of the most popular regions for a seaside holiday, many tourists choose it because of the opportunity to combine a cultural holiday with a beach holiday.
The beaches of the Lazio region are usually divided into several zones (rivieres):

Etruscan Riviera (Riviera degli etruschi)

The area from Montalto di Castro to Marina di San Nicola is called the Etruscan Riviera because these places were formerly Etrurian territory. Most famous historical cities rivieras - Civitavecchia, Santa Marinella and Tarquinia.
Popular beaches of the Riviera:
Marina di Tarquinia, Sant'Agostino, La Frasca (Civitavecchia), Santa Severa and Campo di Mare, Ladispoli (Torre Flavia), Fregene and Maccarese beaches.

Riviera di Roma

The Roman Riviera extends from the town of Marina di Palidoro 86 km south to the town of Nettuno.
Popular beaches of the Riviera:
Ostia - Lido, Torvaianica and Ardea, Lido dei Pini, Anzio and Nettuno beaches.

Riviera di Ulisse

The regional reserve Odyssey Coast (Riviera di Ulisse) stretches along the Gulf of Gaeta and includes the territory of the cities of Gaeta, Formia, Sperlonga and Minturno.
Popular beaches of the Riviera:
San Felice Circeo, Sabaudia, Formia, Terracina.

💡 In the sea near the city of San Felice Circeo at a depth of 18 meters at the bottom there is a statue of Christ 175 cm high. That’s what it’s called - “Christ Circeo”(Il Cristo del Circeo). This statue was placed at the bottom in 1992 and has since become a symbol of the city and favorite place for lovers of scuba diving. It is curious that underwater wedding ceremonies were even held near the statue of Christ.

Islands

In addition to the coast, Lazio also attracts tourists with its islands:
Ponza Island, Ventotene, Palmarola Island.

The administrative region of Lazio is located in the very center of Italy. About 9% of the country's population lives here, more than half of them (55%, or over 2.75 million people) live in, which is the capital of the region. The western border of the region is washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea. An independent city-state is located on the territory of Lazio.

One of Lazio's main sources of income is tourism: more than 70% of the region's employed population works in the service sector. In addition, agriculture (olives are grown here) and winemaking are well developed.

Avid football fans associate the name of the region with Italian football club, founded in Rome back in 1900.

General information

The region is divided into five provinces. The territory of Lazio includes the Pontine Islands (Isole Ponziane), located southwest of the southern border of the region. Of the six islands of the archipelago, only two are inhabited.

The most major cities Lazio, except Rome: Latina (120 thousand people), Giudonia-Montecelio (more than 80 thousand), Fiumicino and Aprilia (more than 70 thousand), Viterbo (over 60 thousand people).

The region is a supplier of grains, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables and tobacco. Olive oil and varietal wines are produced here; In terms of the volume of their production, Lazio is ahead of many other regions of the country. In livestock farming it is second only to; The well-known one (Mozzarella), which is made from buffalo milk in the neighboring country, is also produced in Lazio.

The region has a fairly mild climate, especially on the coast: In winter it rarely gets colder than +10º C, and in summer there is no sweltering heat. It gets colder as you move away from the sea: in the mountains located in the province of Rieti, real frosts sometimes occur in winter. But Rome is one of the sunniest cities, with an average of 270 sunny days a year.

The first settlements on the territory of present-day Lazio arose two thousand years BC. It is believed that the name of the region arose thanks to the Latin tribe who lived here at that time. Throughout its history, the region has not been subjected to devastating invasions; Wars rarely happened here. In the XV-XVIII centuries the region was part of the Papal States. For almost two years, in 1798-1799, there existed here, created by Napoleon, and then the region again came under the rule of the popes. This continued even after the unification of Italy began in 1860; only ten years later, when Italian troops entered the Eternal City, Rome and Lazio emerged from the power of the papal throne and became part of the Italian kingdom.

Transport

The region's transport network is one of the most developed throughout Italy. The ancient Romans began building roads here; Many of the modern highways follow the same routes, and some coincide with ancient routes. Thus, one of the state roads of Italy, Strada Statale 7 Via Appia, is laid directly along the ancient Appian Way (Via Appia), built in 312 BC. Extended areas with coverings preserved from ancient times are still in use.

Through the central railway station Rome, (Termini), there are main routes: to the north, to, south to, as well as the so-called “Tyrrhenian” (to the west to) and “Adriatic”, leading to east coast countries. Most trips are made from Termini to the north of the country, as well as to France and Austria. Tiburtina Station (Roma Tiburtina) is slightly smaller than Termini. A third of the trains served here are high-speed, they run between Milan and Naples.

The largest air ports in the region are (L’aeroporto di Roma Fiumicino), which bears the name and is located 30 km from Rome, as well as (Aeroporto di Roma-Ciampino), which until 1961 was the main airport of the Italian capital. There is another small airport, Urbe (Aeroporto Roma-Urbe), which mainly serves local charter flights.

80 km northwest of Rome is the passenger port of Civitavecchia, one of the largest in the country. From here ships sail to Sardinia and, as well as to France (including Corsica), Spain, Malta and Tunisia. From several small southern ports, for example in the city of Formia, you can reach the Pontine Islands.

UNESCO heritage

Four architectural and historical monuments in the region are included in the list, which is updated annually by UNESCO. It includes the historical center of Rome with the Vatican, as well as two ancient villas located in the city of Tivoli, and Etruscan necropolises in the cities of Tarquinia. and Cerveteri - their tribes influenced the development of this part of the country until the 5th century BC.

Villas in Tivoli

In the same 16th century, one of the main decorations of the city, Villa d’Este, appeared. It was built according to the design of the architect Pirro Ligorio - it was he who, a little earlier, led the excavations that were carried out at Hadrian’s Villa. The palace was built for the Roman cardinal Ippolito II d'Este, son of the notorious Lucrezia Borgia. In addition to its luxurious exterior and interior decoration, the villa is also famous for its fountains, which inspired Peter the Great to create similar ones in Peterhof.

You can visit the palace at any time of the year, entrance ticket costs 8 euros (www.villadestetivoli.info).

You can get to Tivoli by train (), leaving from Termini or Tiburtina; The duration of the trip is from 30 minutes to an hour, the ticket price is 2.6 euros.

• See instructions:

Etruscan heritage

Etruscan necropolises excavated near the cities of Cerveteri and Tarquinia are a huge layer of history discovered in the 19th-20th centuries. The burials number in the thousands and date back to the 5th-7th centuries BC. Here you can see tombs painted with colorful frescoes depicting scenes from the life of the Etruscans, as well as household items of the ancient people.

There is a bus from Rome to Cerveteri (www.cotralspa.it); the journey will take one hour, the cost of tickets (bus and acropolis) is about 10 euros. The best way to get from Rome to Tarquinia is by train; the distance between them is about 110 km. Travel time is up to an hour and a half, a ticket will cost 7 euros, and a visit to the acropolis costs about the same.

Tourism

Without a doubt, Rome is the main tourist attraction of Lazio. Every year it receives up to 20 million tourists. deserves a separate description; You can wander around it all day long.

https://youtu.be/qX-noj3933A

When coming here, you should keep in mind that not far from Rome there are many interesting monuments. Among them is the zone of Roman castles (Castelli Romani), which is formed by a dozen ancient fortified cities; each one is unique.

• We strongly recommend: from Rome to Castelli Romani.

As for the main tourist centers regions, then, in addition to the capital, there are four of them - Civitavecchia, Frascati, Velletri and Tivoli. The attractions of Tivoli are described above; Let's take a closer look at three more.

The port city of Civitavecchia is notable for its geographical location, thanks to which it is easy to get from here not only to other European cities, but also to North Africa. But that's not all; There is a lot to see in Civitavecchia. The most famous is the Michelangelo Fortress (Il Forte Michelangelo). It was built in the 16th century with the participation of himself.

In addition, there are many beaches to suit every taste, and on the outskirts of the city is the famous thermal resort of Ficoncella(Ficoncella). The sulfur spring around which it was built health complex, was known to the ancient Etruscans. The cost of one day of staying in the complex and undergoing all kinds of spa treatments is less than 10 euros.

The distance to the capital of the country is 70 km. Trains to Civitavecchia leave from Termini Station in Rome several times an hour. The trip will take from 50 minutes to one and a half hours depending on the type of train; ticket price – 4.5 euros.

• See instructions:

Frascati

In the town of Frascati, which is located 25 km from Rome, there are many beautiful villas and palazzos built during the Renaissance. One of them, considered the most beautiful, is named after Aldobrandini, a wealthy Florentine family. The palace stands on a hill and is worth climbing up to, if only to admire the view. The interiors of the villa and the works of art decorating them deserve special attention.

The city is also famous for its white wine, known for many centuries. When you come here, be sure to try it: it is quite possible that it will be difficult to find a bottle of such wine outside of Italy.

Frascati can be reached by taxi or train.

The town of Velletri is located 40 km south of Rome. Known since the middle of the first millennium BC, Velletri became the source of numerous archaeological finds: It was here that the famous Pallas Athena was found, now kept in the Louvre.

The Italians themselves call Velletri a city of churches, of which there are indeed many. And one of the most significant facts from the history of the city is the following: the emperor (Gaio Giulio Cesare Ottaviano Augusto), the adopted son, spent his childhood here. Inspecting the ruins of the villa where he is believed to have been born is an obligatory part of a guided tour of Velletri.

Circeo

In the south of Lazio there is a large natural area - the Circeo National Park. It was created in the early 1930s by order of.

Several natural zones typical of this area have been recreated here, including the so-called Pontine, or Pomptinsky, swamps (Paludes Pomptinae), which arose here more than 2000 years ago. Throughout the history of their existence, attempts have been made more than once to drain the swamps - both emperors and popes tried to do this, but only Mussolini achieved success, spending 10 years on this. By his order, part of the territory was left untouched in order to preserve the unique landscape.

If you are interested in nature untouched by civilization, Circeo is exactly what you need. It's not as difficult to get here as it seems; Detailed instructions are available on the website www.parks.it.

Resorts

There are many wonderful resorts on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast. One of the most famous is Sabaudia, to the creation of which Mussolini also had a hand.

The resort was created as an elite resort, providing top-class services, and remains so to this day: the biggest celebrities in Italy, stars of show business, sports, etc., relax here.

Representatives of Italy's aristocratic families relax in nearby San Felice Circeo. Here are some of the best hotels in the area, restaurants, a lot of entertainment typical of high society - horse riding, tennis, yachting, etc.

50 km northwest of Rome is the city of Ladispoli, whose beaches are popular among residents of the Italian capital due to the purity of the water, sloping sandy shores, and most importantly, low prices in restaurants and hotels. During the high season, many Romans and residents of nearby towns come here.

Traveling the same distance, but to the south, you will find yourself in the city of Anzio, also famous for its beaches, where Roman emperors, including Caligula, rested. It is very clean, quiet, accommodation is much cheaper than in more popular resort areas, and the capital is only an hour away by train. This makes Anzio a very attractive option for those who want to soak up the sun and see all the wonders of Rome in one trip.

Thermal spas

Available in Lazio and thermal spas, including one of the most famous in Italy – Fiuggi. It is located 80 km from Rome, at the foot of the mountains, surrounded by pine forests. Mineral water rich in potassium, magnesium and other beneficial substances and treats urological diseases well. The unique properties of local springs have been known since ancient times: Pope Boniface VIII and Michelangelo came here for treatment.

Winemaking

Lazio's climatic conditions are ideal for growing grapes. The most famous wines produced in the region are white (90% of total production). In addition to the aforementioned Frascati, produced in a variety of varieties - dry, semi-sweet, sparkling, such a famous variety as Malvasia, popular in Ancient Rome, is associated with Lazio; its varieties are grown in 55% of all vineyards in the region.

On the site of drained swamps in the south of the region, in the province of Latina, vineyards were also planted, where red varieties thrive best: Trebbiano, Sangiovese and others. Now this province is showing good development dynamics, far ahead of other areas of Lazio.

Rome is the capital of the Lazio region and the entire country. A countless number of literary works in all genres have been written about the history of this city and its attractions, so we allow ourselves to leave such a wonderful topic and move on to the description of less noticeable, but no less interesting settlements in this region.

The port city of Ostmya was founded in the 4th century. BC for security Eternal City from the Tyrrhenian Sea. IN peacetime it was used as the sea gate of the capital of ancient Rome. Ostia was inhabited mainly by people of not very high income, who preferred to live in inexpensive apartment buildings called insulas. In Rome itself there are almost no such ancient skyscrapers left, but in Ostia entire neighborhoods built up by insulae have been preserved. In terms of historical significance, this satellite city of Rome can compete even with Pompeii.

Ancient Praeneste (modern Palestrina) is the oldest city in Lazio. According to legend, it was founded by Telegonos, the son of Odysseus and Kirke. The military leader Sulla, who destroyed Praeneste. ordered the restoration of the sanctuary of Fortuna Primidgenia, in order to at least a little atone for his own barbarity. Today, archaeological excavations are underway at the site where the temple stood.

Most interesting place in the vicinity of Rome, of course, is Tivoli. There are three unique architectural complexes here, created in different centuries. In 117, Emperor Hadrian began construction of a huge villa with an area of ​​73 hectares according to his own design. The second villa, created in the 16th century. Hippolyte d'Este, has a completely different artistic appearance. It is a romantic palace with an adjacent huge garden with fountains and pools, a little reminiscent of the Russian Petrodvorets. The third villa appeared in Tivoli only in the 19th century, its customer was Pope Gregory XVI.
The Etruscan city of Tarquinia has existed since the 9th century. BC, but it is located a little away from the modern settlement bearing the same name. In 1924 it was opened National Museum Tarquinia, where a huge number of valuable exhibits are collected, including the famous terracotta winged horses.

Around 529, Saint Benedict founded an abbey at Monte Cassino, which within 15 years became the richest in the world. During World War II, the German defense line passed through Monte Cassino. After the bombing of the Allied forces, the Benedictine monastery turned into ruins. Now the abbey is being carefully restored.

One of the most beautiful coasts of the Tyrrhenian Sea is located at an equal distance (approximately 90 km) from Rome and Naples. The ancient land of Ulysses, or the coast of Odysseus, has always attracted not only people, but also gods. Aeneas stopped by here on his way to the cherished Lavinia. Here he buried his old nurse Caeta; in memory of the nanny of the Homeric hero, the burial place was subsequently named Gaeta. The famous Odysseus also spent a lot of time on this divine land, leaving as a memory not only the name of the coast, but also many legends. Judge how much Odysseus liked local beauties, we can rely on the fact that Homer’s hero spent a whole year on the island of Circeo, enjoying the company of the sorceress Circe and the amazing nature of the Tyrrhenian coast.

It is difficult to describe the Ulysses coast in a few words - the individual pearls of this magical necklace are so unique and individual. The area of ​​​​the city of Sabaudia is famous for its sand dunes that separate the vast expanse of the Tyrrhenian Sea from the romantic Lake Paola. The special microclimate of this zone arose thanks to Lake Paola, which stretches parallel to the seashore for 7 km. A long strip of sand dunes formed between salt and fresh water bodies, which local residents called the "white sea". In the background white sand Beautiful Mediterranean plants look especially fresh and colorful, striking in their abundance and diversity. It’s interesting that, despite the wild popularity of this place, none of powerful of the world it never occurred to me to build some kind of locality. Benito Mussolini took into account and corrected the mistakes of his predecessors. On August 5, 1933, the dictator gave the order, and 253 days later he appeared new city, named Sabaudia - in honor of the royal Italian dynasty of Savoy.

Elite resort San Felice Circeo located on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, at the foot of the legendary Mount Circeo, on which in the 6th century. BC lived the sorceress Circe (Chirche or Kirk). Cape Circeo in 1934 became the heart of the newly formed National Park, where many rare species of animals and birds live under state protection. The number of bird species that fly into the reserve during migration usually exceeds 200.

Terracina considered the capital of the Odyssey coast. The famous Via Via Apius passes through it, connecting Rome and Naples 2,600 years ago. According to legend, Terracina was founded by the Etruscans a century and a half before Rome. The Temple of Jupiter, built in the 4th century, is considered one of the main monuments of antiquity. BC on top of Mount Sant'Angelo. The ruins of the majestic structure are still clearly visible from the coast at an altitude of 277 m above the sea. 0.t of ancient Rome, the ancient amphitheater and the Emilian Forum have been preserved.

Small town Sperlonga, located south of Terracina, in addition to its main name, also received the definition " white city" - for the color and originality of the local Mediterranean architecture. And the main name Sperlonga comes from the Latin word “speluncae”, which means “depression”. Such a comparison is quite justified, since the entire coast around the city on Cape San Manio, where it stands Sperlonga, indented by numerous bays, caves and grottoes, was founded by the ancient Romans, who were attracted by the local clean air and magnificent beauty. seashore. Emperor Tiberius built a villa in one of the romantic grottoes, which has partially survived to this day. Now it is a beautiful seaside town with an interesting historical center and a newer coastal part, where the main tourist structures, bars, restaurants, discos, shops, etc. are located.

Virgil wrote that it was in the area near Mount Orlando that Aeneas’s ship made a forced stop. A Trojan refugee went ashore to give the earth the body of his beloved nurse Caeta, who died during a long voyage. Whether it was true or not is difficult to judge, but since then this part of the Odyssey coast has been called Gaeta. The most important attraction of Gaeta and the entire coast is Mount Orlando, which, according to legend, split into two parts at the moment when Christ was crucified. They say that at the same time several rocks split in different parts of the world, and in Italy this happened precisely in Gaeta, and the chips have an absolutely coincident surface with each other, otherwise this hill is also called the “Broken Mountain” (Montagna Spaccata) . Here is located one of the most important santuaries in Italy, where pilgrims from all over the world flock. Through the corridor of Via Crucis you can get to the chapel of St. Philippe Neri, at the entrance to which there is a bed on which the hermit once slept.

Most southern city coast of Odysseus - Formia- the place where the residence of the Neapolitan kings was located for several centuries. The unique microclimate of this territory is due to the fact that the city is located in the very center of a beautiful bay, protected by mountains. While walking through the old town, be sure to visit the medieval quarter of Castellone, sea ​​quarter The pier with a huge medieval tower, check it out ancient towers Saint Erasmus and the Clock Tower. Unfortunately, today it is quite difficult to take an excursion to the royal residence of Ferdinand II, where one of the fashionable hotels is now located.

The region's territory is mostly hilly (54%) and mountainous (26.1%), with plains (19.9%) located in the coastal zone. In the eastern part there is a small part mountain range Apennine, bordering the regions of Umbria, Marche and Abruzzo. This area contains the low and isolated Sabine Mountains (Monti Sabini) and the Reatini Mountains (Monti Reatini), the most high point of which is Mount Terminillo, 2213 m. On the border with Abruzzo rise the Simbruini and Monti Ernici mountains, distinguished by their aridity and poor vegetation. South of the Tiber is a group of Albanian hills (Colli Albani). In the southern part of the region are the Lepini, Monti Ausoni and Monti Aurunci mountains. In the east of Lazio there is the most high mountain region - Monte Gorzano, 2458 m.

Between the Ernici Mountains and in the foothills of the Apennines lies the Ciociaria Valley, a very fertile area where the Liri and Sacco rivers flow. The Tiber River and other small rivers flow into the Tyrrhenian Sea, including Marta, which originates from lakes Bolsena (Lago di Bolsena) and Fiora (Fiora). Lake Bolsena, with an area of ​​113.5 sq. km, is the fifth largest in Italy. Among other lakes in Lazio, it is worth noting Lake Vico (Lago di Vico) in the Cimini mountains, Bracciano (Lago di Bracciano) in the Sabatini mountains, Albano (Lago di Albano) and Nemi (Lago di Nemi) in the Alban Hills.

Lake Bolsena. Photo from asavacanzemelagodo.it

The coast is low and sandy, with several capes; opposite Cape Gaeta (Promontorio di Gaeta) and the port of the same name is the Pontino Archipelago, consisting of six small islands of volcanic origin.

Climate. The coastal part of the Lazio region is influenced by the sea, which softens winters and refreshes summers. On the coast and plains, rain is rare, while in the mountains it is abundant, especially in winter and spring. In coastal areas average temperature is +9-10°C in January and +24-25°C in July. The further from the sea, the more continental the climate becomes: at higher elevations and in the mountains, winters are characterized by more low temperatures, which can drop below zero at night. The coldest is observed in the province of Rieti, followed by Frosinone, Viterbo, Rome and Latina. Snow for Rome is the exception rather than the rule, but in terms of the number of sunny days per year, Rome ranks first among other regional centers in Italy.

Story

Archaeological evidence indicates the presence on the territory of modern Lazio of various Indo-European peoples already in the second millennium BC, among whom were Latins. There is an assumption that it was from this Italian tribe that the name of the region came. According to another version, the word Latium comes from “Latus”, which can be translated as “vast”, “flat”.

In addition to the Latins, these places were inhabited by the Sabines, Volscians, Hernicians, Aequi, and Aurunci, whose tribes lived in the central and southern regions of Lazio, while the northern zones of the region were occupied by the Etruscans, whose influence continued until the 5th century BC. From the 5th to the 1st century BC. The history of Lazio is associated with conquests Ancient Rome, who gradually subjugated and assimilated Latin.

Ancient Etruscan burial in Cerveteri. Photo: escursionitalia.it

Demography

In terms of population density, Lazio ranks third in Italy, second only to Lombardy and Campania. The province of Rome is the most populous (4,208,740 inhabitants), followed by the provinces of Latina (556,934 inhabitants), Frosinone (498,204 inhabitants), Viterbo (321,008), Rieti (160,570).

More than half of the population is concentrated in Rome alone - 2 million 768 thousand people. Other most populated cities Lazio are Latina (120 thousand), Giudonia-Montecelio (84 thousand), Fiumicino (72 thousand), Aprilia (71 thousand), Viterbo (64 thousand).

As of December 31, 2010, Lazio had a population of 542,688 foreign citizens. Among them, the largest is the Romanian diaspora (196,410 people), followed in number by immigrants from the Philippines (32,126), Poland (24,392), Albania (23,337), Ukraine (18,922).

Tourism

It is no coincidence that Lazio ranks first among the regions of Italy in terms of the number of tourist visits, because this ancient land With rich traditions, it is considered the cradle of civilization. Largest quantity attracts tourists, about 20 million tourists, Italian and foreign, visit it every year.

Rome (Roma), a city on the Tiber River, the capital of Italy and the bishopric of the Pope, the heart of the Roman Empire. There are several legends about its origin on the seven hills. According to one of them, twin brothers Romulus (who allegedly gave the city its name) and Remus, suckled by a she-wolf, settled on Palatine Hill in 753 BC. This date is confirmed by archaeological excavations. Remains of the Etruscan culture during the reign of the Tarquinians (about 650-500 BC) have been discovered. With the expansion of the borders of the republic, and then the empire, Rome grew richer. It is believed that under Augustus the city was decorated with buildings made of marble, and subsequent emperors erected palaces, arches, columns and temples. Nero burned much of this, hoping, as they say, to rebuild the city and call it after himself. With the weakening of the empire, Rome was often sacked by the Goths and Vandals. By this time, Rome's political influence had weakened; Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, came to the fore. During the Middle Ages, Rome became the seat of the pope and the center of Western Christianity. The Renaissance was born here. The city was sacked in 1527 and 1798.

Ready for year-round visits from tourists from all over the world, Rome offers its guests many hotels of any level, designed for any level of spending. Developed transport network (two airports Fiumicino and Ciampino, two railway stations Termini and Tiburtina) make arriving in the city convenient.

Desirable for travelers are also resort places on the coast and zones archaeological excavations, such as the habitats of the ancient Etruscans - Cerveteri and. Don’t forget about other pearls of the region: in Lazio you can find many ancient castles and small fortified towns that have preserved not only their medieval appearance, but also ancient traditions. Many parks, lakes, and areas of virgin nature attract the attention of lovers have a relaxing holiday. Lazio has many national and regional protected parks.

Near Rome there is the so-called zone of Roman castles (Castelli Romani), which includes 16 fortified cities. Other interesting directions on a trip to Lazio - Fiuggi in the province of Frosinone, famous for its thermal waters, which Michelangelo Buonarroti visited; Ostia Antica and Ostia Lido are popular balneological places among modern Romans. Viterbo is the city of the “Roman popes”, perfectly preserved the appearance of the 12th-13th centuries, not far from which in the town of Bomarzo there is a one-of-a-kind “Sacred Forest” or “Garden of Monsters” (Parco dei Mostri) - magnificent park ensemble, a monument of the Italian Renaissance.

"Gates of Hell" in "Garden of Monsters". Photo: bonjuritalie.it

Civita di Bagnoreggio - ancient city, founded by the Etruscans 2500 years ago. Now almost no one lives in it, but there are hotels and trattorias for tourists, who can only get here via a long pedestrian bridge.

Dead city of Civita di Bagnoregio. Photoinviaggionellatuscia.it

The city of Tivoli after Rome is perhaps one of the most interesting and beloved by tourists, where you can see the ancient Roman Villa of Hadrian, Villa d'Este (XVI century), Gregorian Villa, Temple of Vesta and many other attractions.

Villa Adriana. Photo differenziati.com

Celebrities

Such famous actors and directors come from Lazio as Vittorio de Sica (1901 - 1974), born in the city of Sora in the province of Frosinone; Aldo Fabrizi (1905 - 1990), Anna Magnani (1908 - 1973), Alberto Sordi (1920 - 2003), Lucio Fulci (1927 - 1996), Monica Vitti (1931), Sofia Loren (1934), Claudia Mori (1944), Carlo Verdone (1950), Christian de Sica (1951), Ornella Muti (1955), Raul Bova (1971), born in Rome; Marcello Mastroianni (1924 - 1996), born in the town of Fontana Liri in the province of Frosinone; Gina Lollobrigida (1927, Subiaco, province of Frosinone).

Alberto Sordi in the film An American in Rome, 1954. Phototurismomania.it

Singers: Lucio Battisti (1943-1998, province of Rieti), Renato Zero (1950, Rome), Claudio Baglioni (1951, Rome), Eros Ramazzotti (1963, Rome), Tiziano Ferro (1980, Latina);

Athletes: football player Francesco Graziani (1952, Frosinone), motorcycle racer Max Biaggi (1971, Rome), Formula 1 racing driver Giancarlo Fisichella (1973, Rome), football player Francesco Totti (1976, Rome).

Writers Alberto Moravia (1907 - 1990, Rome) and Niccolo Ammanniti (1966, Rome).

Physicists, Nobel laureates Enrico Fermi (1901 - 1954, Rome) and Emilio Gino Segre (1905 - 1989, Tivoli).

Elsa Schiaparelli (1890 - 1973, Rome), Roberto Capucci (1930, Rome), Laura Biagiotti (1943, Rome), Guy Mattiolo (1968, Rome).