Lazio Travel Guide: Beyond Rome – Hidden Villages, Lakes & Authentic Italy
Lazio is often defined by Rome, yet the region extends far beyond the capital’s monumental landmarks. While Rome offers world-famous history, art, and architecture, the wider Lazio region reveals a quieter, more intimate side of central Italy—one shaped by medieval villages, volcanic landscapes, and deeply rooted traditions.
Beyond the historic centre explored in your Rome guide, Lazio unfolds into a landscape of hilltop borghi, Etruscan heritage sites, volcanic lakes, and spiritual sanctuaries—destinations that reward travelers willing to slow down.
For Gigia, this wasn’t just a region to visit—it was a territory to carefully inspect, one cobblestone at a time.
📍 Where Is Lazio?
Lazio is located in central Italy, bordered by Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Molise, and Campania, with the Tyrrhenian Sea forming its western edge.
This strategic position has made Lazio a crossroads of civilizations for thousands of years—from the ancient Etruscans to the Roman Empire—leaving behind a layered cultural landscape that extends far beyond Rome itself.
For travelers seeking authentic Italy beyond the main tourist routes, Lazio offers remarkable diversity within a relatively compact area.
🏛️ Medieval Villages & Etruscan Roots
Across Lazio, many historic towns were built on elevated ground for defense, visibility, and access to water. Some date back to the Middle Ages, while others preserve traces of earlier Etruscan settlements.
In Civita di Bagnoregio, Gigia explored one of Italy’s most dramatic landscapes—a village suspended above a fragile valley of eroding tuff rock, connected to the outside world by a single pedestrian bridge. She crossed it with measured confidence, pausing only to assess the wind conditions and admire her audience.
Nearby, Celleno—often referred to as a borgo fantasma—offered a completely different atmosphere. Silent streets, crumbling stone, and a sense of suspended time made it one of the most hauntingly beautiful places in the region. Naturally, Gigia proceeded with caution… and curiosity.
🌄 The Sabine Hills & Slower Living
In Rieti and the surrounding Sabine hills, the pace of life shifts noticeably. This is a Lazio far removed from Rome’s intensity—a place where daily rhythms follow tradition rather than tourism.
Gigia wandered through quiet streets and sunlit piazzas with ease, encountering locals who greeted her not as a novelty, but as a welcome guest.
In the mountain towns of Greccio and Contigliano, she found elevated viewpoints, peaceful surroundings, and the kind of stillness that turns a short visit into a memorable experience.
🌊 Lakes, Countryside & Natural Landscapes
Lazio’s identity is also shaped by its natural environments, particularly its volcanic lakes and green countryside.
Lake Bracciano offers a tranquil alternative to coastal destinations, with calm waters, historic lakeside towns, and a slower pace of life.
In Tivoli, Renaissance villas and gardens overlook sweeping valleys, blending architecture and landscape in a way that feels both grand and serene.
These destinations share a key characteristic: human scale. Walkable centres, manageable crowds, and a welcoming atmosphere make them ideal for travelers—and particularly suited to those exploring Italy with a cat.
Gigia approved. Quiet corners, warm stone, and minimal chaos remain her preferred travel conditions.
🐾 Traveling Lazio with a Cat
Lazio is one of the more cat-friendly regions in Italy, particularly outside major urban centers.
Smaller towns tend to offer:
- Pedestrian historic centres
- Lower traffic levels
- Relaxed hospitality
- Outdoor cafés and terraces
These elements create an environment that is easier to navigate with a feline companion.
Gigia’s travels through Lazio confirmed a simple truth: slower destinations are not only more enjoyable for humans—they are significantly more manageable for cats.
🧭 Planning Your Stay in Lazio
If you are planning to base yourself in Rome while exploring the region, strategic accommodation choices are essential.
Our Rome travel guide and cat-friendly accommodation in Rome can help you find genuinely welcoming properties. For broader planning, see our guide to Italy travel with a cat.
Using platforms like Booking and Airbnb, it is possible to find genuinely welcoming properties—but knowing what to look for makes all the difference.
For a structured route combining major landmarks with quieter destinations, our Rome & Lazio itinerary guide can help balance iconic highlights with hidden regional gems.
📍 Explore Lazio
This region is best discovered gradually, through its towns and landscapes.
🌟 Why Visit Lazio?
While Rome remains Lazio’s gravitational center, the surrounding region reveals a completely different side of central Italy.
Here you’ll find:
- Fewer crowds
- Deep historical layers beyond the obvious
- Authentic daily life
- Landscapes that invite slow exploration
For Gigia, Lazio offered something rare:
A region where every path led to a new discovery, every village held a quiet story, and every sunlit terrace provided the perfect place to pause.
Discover More of Italy
Continue your journey through Italy’s diverse regions with these guides:
Celleno (VT)
Known as the ‘Ghost Town,’ Celleno is a medieval village that was largely abandoned after an earthquake. Its crumbling stone houses and eerie atmosphere add a layer of mystery, as if the village itself is whispering tales of its past. Apart from the ubiquitous olive oil, the area is also known for its honey production, a sweet reminder of life persisting among the ruins.
Gigia, ever the adventurer, seemed right at home examining the ancient walls with the focus of a miniature Indiana Jones, as if she were uncovering secrets hidden for centuries. At one point, she even looked set to steal a fancy motorcycle on display in the village square, her eyes gleaming with mischief as if she were plotting her great escape. (Move over, Easy Rider—there’s a new rebel in town, and she’s got whiskers.)
But the highlight of her visit was the walk on the wooden rails outside the village, where the eerie yet calming surroundings seemed to captivate her completely. Celleno’s haunting beauty and timeless charm provided the perfect backdrop for Gigia’s antics, proving that even a ghost town can come alive with a curious feline explorer on the prowl.
Explore
Civita Di Bagnoregio (VT)
A VIP Table in a Dying City:
Our Journey to Civita di Bagnoregio.
Often called the ‘Dying Town,’ Civita di Bagnoregio is a stunning hilltop village accessible only by a pedestrian bridge. The town is famous for its breathtaking views and its slow erosion, which gives it a unique, otherworldly charm. My stomach did somersaults as Gigia strutted along the walls, peering down at the steep valley below with the fearless curiosity of a cat who’s clearly decided that gravity is just a suggestion.
At the heart of the village lies the Chiesa di San Donato, the main church of Civita di Bagnoregio. Located in the central square, it features a Romanesque facade with Renaissance elements, and inside, it houses a wooden crucifix attributed to the school of Donatello. The church has been a significant landmark in Civita for centuries, standing as a testament to the town’s rich history and resilience. Gigia admired all of this from the comfort of the cool church floor, her tail flicking lazily as if she were a tiny art critic taking it all in—though she might have been more interested in the acoustics for her next meow performance. (Move over, Pavarotti—there’s a new diva in town.)
But the real surprise came when she somehow managed to secure us a table at a busy restaurant for lunch, proving that even in a crowded eatery, a determined cat can work miracles. Whether she charmed the maître d’ with her whiskers or simply stared them into submission, we’ll never know. Civita di Bagnoregio’s haunting beauty and timeless allure created an unforgettable setting for Gigia’s adventures, showing that even a ‘dying town’ can feel alive with a curious feline in charge.
Explore
Rieti (RI)
Officially recognized as Italy’s geographical heart, Rieti has been a crossroads of civilization since ancient Sabine times. Its medieval center, encircled by 13th-century walls, tells stories of pilgrims and popes – but today’s magic unfolds at places like Le Tre Porte, where literature and la dolce vita intertwine.
We came for two reasons: to reunite with old friends, and for Gigia’s book presentation in their atmospheric event space. The evening was quintessential Rieti – book lovers and cat enthusiasts sipping Cesanese wine beneath shelves of well-thumbed novels, while plates of divine polpette (reimagined with surprising local twists) made the rounds.
Gigia, ever the gracious author-cat, indulged her fans – though her high-fives came with conditions. Approach too eagerly and she’d retreat; extend a patient hand, however, and she might deign to touch it with her velvet paw before returning to more important matters (namely, monitoring the polpette situation). This is Rieti’s charm: a place where Roman bridges stand minutes from vibrant cultural hubs, where a cat’s literary debut draws crowds as reliably as the town’s annual festivals, and where every gathering – whether discussing books or simply sharing food – becomes a celebration of community.
Rome
Rome: Where Gigia Met the Eternal City
Rome requires little introduction, yet every city reveals a different character when experienced from ground level.
Gigia’s connection with Rome extends beyond sightseeing. The city has served both as a cultural backdrop and as a professional stage — including her book presentation at Rome’s iconic COIN Department Store, where readers, media, and curious shoppers gathered to meet Italy’s most well-traveled cat.
While visitors explored landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and the Colosseum, Gigia’s experience of Rome focused on atmosphere, hospitality, and how a historic metropolis accommodates feline presence. From boutique hotels to carefully selected eateries, Rome proved that even a dense and ancient capital can adapt to modern travel with animals — when approached strategically.
The COIN event marked a turning point in visibility. Set among designer boutiques and contemporary retail spaces, it demonstrated how the Gigia narrative bridges literature, travel culture, and urban life. Rome was not simply a setting — it was a proving ground.
Beyond the monuments, Rome offers layered neighborhoods where calmer streets and residential corners create a more manageable base for extended stays. Choosing the right district is essential, particularly when traveling with a cat. Our Rome booking guide explains how we evaluate neighborhoods, buildings, and accommodation platforms to find properties that offer both central access and livable quiet.
For those planning to explore beyond the capital, our Rome & Lazio itinerary outlines how to combine major landmarks with hilltop villages such as Civita di Bagnoregio and the Sabine towns visited by Gigia.
Rome may be eternal, but it continues to evolve. Through events, travel, and careful neighborhood selection, it has become not only a historic icon, but an operational base for exploring central Italy with intention.
