The region surrounding Rome, Lazio, is under loved in comparison to its neighbor, Tuscany. There is a plethora of great spots to visit near Rome that represent various characteristics of Italian culture, north, south and central. With a car, these places are easy to reach and frankly, it’s shocking how quickly the micro climates and cultures change. Closet to Rome and located in the central part of Lazio, lie Tivoli, Frascati and Braccaino. Tivoli is a town rich in culture. There are two popular bourgeois villas famous for their art and architecture. Villa d'Este has hundreds of fountains and a water powered organ! Villa Adriana is a 2nd century AD imperial home to the Roman emperor Adriano. The town is also full of cute shops and restaurants. Frascati is Lazio's famous town for wine. The light bodied white wine is perfect for tasty fried treats and snacks. There are tons of little tasting shops around town but even better, stop to have a wine tasting at one of the many lovely vineyards.
Lastly, for nature lovers and sun soakers, Lake Bracciano is about an hour by train from Rome's Termini Station. The lake is beautiful and enormous surrounded by little medieval towns and woods. The town of Bracciano itself is also well-known for its famous celebrity style weddings at the Bracciano castle. A lovely lunch can also be had at the town.
In northern Lazio, the city of popes, Viterbo, is a stunning example of medieval architecture. This city has always had a special relationship with the Catholic Church and pilgrims, as the Via Francigena pilgrimage passes through the city. The surrounding agriculture is primarily based off hazelnuts, chestnuts and walnuts, so the cuisine like soups with chestnut and beans or the chocolate sweets with hazelnuts, is not to be missed.
Gaeta is at the very tip of Lazio, practically in Campania, and you can feel the difference in climate compared to Viterbo. The seaside city overlooks the Tyrrhenian sea and has an amazing medieval tower and baroque church. Its historic origins are linked to commerce, such a productive port city that Dante Algieri put it on par with Naples in his Divine Comedy. Today, Italians know it for its seafood and black olives.