Kelsey Roche is a student at Le Moyne College and an ISA Featured Photo Blogger. She is studying abroad with ISA in Rome, Italy.
If you are (or are planning on) studying abroad in Rome, there are some day trips you should consider taking over the weekend…perhaps when you don’t have plans to travel to another country! Towns outside of Rome are steeped in history and natural beauty.
1. Bracciano
Bracciano is a small, medieval town about an hour train ride away from Rome. Transportation is easy and cheap– two words study abroad students like myself love to hear. One highlight includes the well-preserved medieval castle of Bracciano, which you can explore on your own by doing a self-guided tour. The castle is set on a beautiful lake and has been the setting for many celebrations, including the wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes!
2. Civita di Bagnoregio
Civita di Bagnoregio, also called the “dying city”, is about a two hour drive away from Rome. This scenic visit can easily be completed in a day. “Small town” would be an understatement for this stop. Only seven people live here! This is because hundreds of years of erosion have diminished Civita to a very small diameter, as you can see in the picture above. Despite this, Civita has become a very popular tourist destination. It is extremely authentic and has been preserved to retain its medieval scenery. There is a museum to visit, a few unique shops, and two restaurants. The best part of Civita though are the views!
3. Bolsena
Bolsena is a town very close to Civita, so the good news is you can visit both in the same day. It sits on a massive lake, the largest in Europe, that was formed from a volcanic crater. There are many restaurants on the shore of the lake to stop at if you get hungry. Bolsena is home to St. Cristina, as well as an Eucharistic miracle. There are a lot of interesting legends behind the Christian history of the town. The Basilica of Saint Cristina is worth a visit.
The world awaits…discover it.