Northern Lazio - Visiting the Countryside north of Rome

Northern Lazio, the region just north of Rome, is an interesting region that sees fewer tourists than neighboring Tuscany. Northern Lazio has a wealth of Etruscan sites as well as pretty medieval villages, lakes, wine, and Bomarzo Monster Park, an unusual park with statues of mythical creatures. See the Northern Lazio Travel Map for more about the region.

Mary Jane Cryan, of Elegant Etruria, sent me information about an art exhibit, La Tuscia seen by English painters and writers of today and yesterday, that will be on display August 11-18 at Rocca Farnese, Valentano on Lake Bolsena. There will be an illustrated conference at 6pm on opening night. Mary Jane will present an illustrated conference (in Italian) - Vetralla: Stories of Popes, Kings, and Common Folk - at the Vetralla City Hall, August 17 at 10:30am. You can still catch the final performances of the Tuscia Opera festival in Viterbo next week, too.

A great place to stay in northern Lazio is the Fontana del Papa bed and breakfast. They offer cooking classes and a glimpse at Italian life in a beautiful country setting. They have one-day cooking programs available, too, for those with a day in port or as a day trip from Rome. They'll pick you up at the train station if you're coming from Rome or at the port in Civitivecchia. Read my review of Fontana del Papa.

Northern Lazio: Etruscan Tombs at Tarquina | Bomarzo Monster Park Pictures | Northern Lazio Travel Directory | Etruscan Painted Tomb Pictures from Europe for Visitors

_{Photo of ogre in Bomarzo Monster Park © 2006 by Martha Bakerjian, licensed to about.com}