Lazio Main | Description | Hotels | Map WHY LAZIO? Rome Hadrians Villa (completed in 134 AD) The fountains and gardens of Villa DEste Vineyards of Frascati Tombs of Tarquinia, founded in 12th century BC Easy access to the cruise ship port at Civitavecchia (pictured right: The Spanish Steps, Rome) Lazio, birthplace of two of mankind’s greatest institutions, the Roman Empire and the Catholic Church, is dominated and largely defined by its capital, Rome. Since ancient Roman times the region has been an extension of the city, where noble Roman families created their own towns and the wealthy built their villas in the surrounding countryside. Lazio is a treasure trove of the remains of age old civilizations: bridges, churches, towers, villas, monasteries, aqueducts, arches — the list is endless. To the north of Rome are Etruscan sites and the tombs of Tarquinia, founded in the 12th century BC. The ruins of Ostia Antica, a 4th century BC port city at the mouth of the Tiber are located west of the city, with delightful beaches nearby. East of Rome toward the mountains is Tivoli, a favorite retreat for the wealthy at the height of the Roman Empire. Visit the remains of Hadrian’s Villa, completed in 134 AD, and the beautiful fountains and gardens of the Villa d’Este. Rome, with its sun drenched ruins, its remarkable architecture, and its bounty of religious art, has been delighting visitors for centuries. A city with a millennial history, there is no street or square that does not show traces of events and civilizations long past: Etruscan, imperial, medieval, Renaissance, Baroque. There are medieval churches built over early Christian religious sites which in turn rest atop Roman palaces. Contemporary buildings incorporate parts of Roman columns or fragments of carvings or inscriptions into their structures. Although classical Rome is most visible in the vestiges of its most imposing monuments — the Colosseum, the Forum and the temples and palaces of the Palatine Hill—its influence can also be seen in the layout of the city: streets and piazzas follow the lines of classical amphitheaters and stadiums. For example, the elegant Piazza Navona, one of the gathering points for Romans, is lined with Baroque palaces and showcases Bernini’s masterpiece, the “Fountain of the Rivers;” sit was once the Stadium of Domitian, where sports and chariot races took place! Although the look of the cen-tral city is primarily defined by the Baroque period, one can find Renaissance palaces, medieval churches, Rococo fountains, and modern structures within a few paces of each other. Elegant shops, parks and gardens, restaurants and sidewalk cafes all add to the enjoyment of this vibrant city. The cooking of Lazio reflects the influence of three important groups. The Jews settled in the Trastevere area of Rome two thousand years ago and have contributed a vast number of recipes, including carciofi alla giudea (deep-fried artichokes); mullet with raisin and pine nuts, served cold as a Sabbath dish; and endives with anchovies. The influence of the bordering region of Abruzzo is seen in pasta dishes like bucatini all’amatriciana, thick spaghetti with bacon and tomato sauce; spaghetti alla carbonara, with beaten eggs, Parmesan and cubes of bacon; and in numerous lamb specialties, such as abbacchio, roasted baby lamb with garlic and rosemary. The tradition of the quinto quarto, a legacy of Rome’s slaughterhouse workers, created a wealth of dishes based on organ meats, such as coda alla vaccinara, an oxtail and wine stew, and rigatoni con la pajata, slow cooked lamb meats in a tomato sauce. While stracciatella, an egg drop soup made with chicken broth is the region’s most famous, other specialties include pasta with lentils or broccoli; saltimbocca, veal cutlets topped with sage, prosciutto and mozzarella; and artichokes alla Romana, with mint, parsley and garlic. Pizza rustica, thick crusted with simple toppings, is a popular street food. Sweets include wine-based ciambellette, a ring shaped cookie; sweet fava beans, often served with Pecorino Romano, a slightly salty cheese; and torta di ricotta, a sweet ricotta pie. Lazio’s wines include Frascati, Est! Est!! Est!!!, Fiorano and Aleatico di Gradoli.