Due to its mixture of archeology, art and nature the area around the Lakes of Bracciano and Martignano has become protected under the name of Parco Naturale Regionale.
Thanks to their particular microclimate - gently windy during the summer, warm and sunny during the winter - both lakes have pleasant beaches and offer many sport activities (windsurfing, sailing, swimming, diving, fishing, horse-back riding, biking, hang gliding). The lakes are very clean (Lake Bracciano provides water to one of the main aqueduct of Rome) as motorboats and polluting activities are strictly forbidden (and this makes local fish a delicious meal!) The surrounding hills are covered by chestnuts, beeches, oaks and even birches.
From the Villa you can enjoy nice tours of the whole Tuscia
Etruscan and Medieval area, including villages and towns like Sutri with its
Roman Amphitheater and famous Golf Club, Anguillara and Trevignano with their
lake-front promenades, Bracciano with its famous Castle, Nepi with a well
maintained Roman Aqueduct, Viterbo with the ancient residence of the Pope and
the Thermal Baths and Spa. The center of Rome is only 40 min away
by car (40 kms).
If you wish to drive a little further you can reach many
famous locations in central Italy in less than 2 hours: Orvieto (1 hour), Perugia,
Arezzo, Firenze, Siena (2 hours), the seaside at Santa Marinella (40 min),
Monte Argentario with its spectacular seashores (1.5 hours).
We suggest that you to have a car available to visit the surroundings - if you come by plane you can rent or share a car with other students. Contact us if you need help with it. We can also arrange for airport pickups and for organized day trips.