Latium

Latium, or Lazio, is one of the 20 regions of Italy and home to the country's capital, Rome. This widely unexplored and unspoilt area consists of a varied landscape of coastline, beaches, mountains and lakes, and towns offering an abundance of art, history, architecture and archeology.  
Below is a list of some of the most recommended areas to visit:

Tivoli:

This attractive town is situated to the east of the city of Rome and is a popular option for a day trip from the city thanks to it's two most famous attractions, the beautiful gardens of Villa d'Este and the ancient remains of Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana). Villa d'Este is a Renaissance palace built in the 1550s for Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, the son of Lucretia Borgia. The villa was built for entertaining and, designed to impress, the Villa d'Este's gardens are composed almost exclusively of water featureswhich were built to dazzle and amaze. Villa Adriana was conceived as a summer dwelling in the country for Emperor Hadrian and the sprawling, elaborate result was almost the size of a whole town, complete with lakes, fountains, libraries, bath house, temples and gardens. Although now mostly  in ruins, it is a treasure trove for those interested in antiquities. 

Tarquinia and Cerveteri:

These two towns, in the northwest of the region are famous for their Etruscan links. Cerveteri, one of Italy's great Etruscan cities, has origins from around the 9th century BC. Due to its the large number of Etruscan tombs it is often known as a 'city of the dead' and its most famous attraction is the Necropolis of Banditacca. Tarquinia is a pretty town with medieval turrets and fortifications atop rocky cliffs overlooking the sea and has an Etruscan Necropolis where one can visit a selection of recently excavated tombs, often decorated with beautiful paintings which have helped historians to reconstruct the lifestyle of the Etruscans.

Ostia Antica:

Known as Latium's answer to Pompei, this is a great day trip for those wishing to know more about the daily life of the ancient Romans. Located towards the coast and the mouth of the Tiber river, Ostia was Rome's major port town for a large part of its history. Nowadays you can visit this archeological site and see the 2,000 year old remains of the docks, warehouses, apartment flats, mansions, shopping arcades, and baths that served a once-thriving port of 60,000 people. Particularly beautiful are the mosaics, frescoes and bas-reliefs, and the museum is worth a visit for the statues and sarcophagi found on the site.  

Castelli Romani:

The 'Roman Castles' is a group of hill towns situated southeast of Rome and surrounding the lakes of Albano and Nemi. In ancient times many noblemen of Rome frequented the area due to its fresher climate in the summer and this tradition passed to the Popes whose summer residence is still situated in the town of Castel Gandolfo. The towns are steeped in history and tradition, mainly culinary, and there is something for everyone from the succulent roast pork of Arricia to the fresh sweet strawberries grown in Nemi. This is also a prominant wine-growing area and the fresh, white wine of Frascati is well-known. Every October the town of Marino hosts a festival where its fountains are switched from water to wine and everybody drinks for free!