"Rome is yet the capital
of the world. It is a city of palaces and temples, more glorious than those
which any other city contains, and of ruins more glorious than they." Percy Bysshe Shelley to Thomas Love Peacock, Rome, March
23 1819.
The beauty of nature and landscape, the historical and cultural
heritage with its archaeological and artistic richness: these are
the ingredients having made Lake Bracciano a desired destination
appreciated by tourists from different parts of the world. Three
towns have been built on the lake's shores: Bracciano, Trevignano
Romano and Anguillara Sabazia. Also the territories of Manziana,
with a magnificent view of the lake from its main square, Oriolo, Monterosi and Sutri face the basin of the lake.
With a surface of 22 square miles it is the second lake by extension
in the Lazio Region (second only to Bolsena) and one of the mayor
lakes of Italy; as a lake of volcanic origin it has a circular
perimeter of approximately 20 miles. The lake being a drinking water
reservoir for Rome, its surface is 541 feet above the sea level,
with its deepest point deeper at 541 feet.
The lake is surrounded by forests, olive groves and gardens. Its
outlet is the Arrone river, starting next to Anguillara and ending
in the Tyrrhenian sea near Fregene. A sluice constructed by the end
of the 1700's is still working perfectly after having undergone
restorations, to maintain water at a constant level. It feeds the
Acquedotto Paulo, constructed at the time of Pope Paul V in the
beginning of the 1600's in order to supply the Vatican with fresh
water.
Bracciano rises on a hill inhabited since Etruscan ages, as
testified by the necropolis next "Colonnette"; it has been of great
importance during Renaissance period when it was a fief of the
Orsini; in 1696 the town passed to the Odescalchi family.
The history of Bracciano is all determined by the magnificent Castle
whose sizes dominate all over the settlement. Due to its structural
and architectonic characteristics and the excellent state of
conservation it is considered one of the most important castles of
Italy. It was built by Napoleone Orsini and work after having been
started in 1470, was finished in 1485; among its most famous guest
have been the king of France Charles VIII, Pope Sixtus IV,
Marcantonio Colonna and in more recent times John John Kennedy, Tina
Turner and James Rubin.
In the halls of the castle paintings and frescoes of great masters
can be admired (frescoes by Antoniazzo Romano and Taddeo Zuccari) as
well as marble and bronze sculptures, fireplaces, wooden ceilings,
ceramic sculptures, arms, armors and archaeological findings of
Cerveteri and Palo in the showcases of the Etruscan hall.
Among the religious buildings of Bracciano the two baroque churches
of Santa Maria Novella (with annexed Augustinian cloister) and St.
Stephen's with a bell tower from the 16th century. The town center
preserves its medieval character with narrow streets. In the
renaissance part buildings, with shops and laboratories from 15th to
16th century.
The hamlet of Castel Giuliano represents an interesting example of
an agricultural settlement of the 17th century. Three parallel lines
of two storied buildings are built all in the same style. The hamlet
is dominated by the castle, once a property of Rome's Santo Spirito
Hospital and later the fief of the Patrizi family.
The neighborhood of Bagni di Vicarello signs of Roman heritage can
be found: the name of Vicarello derives from Latin Vicus Aurelii and
"Bagni" means spa, the ancient Roman "Acquae Apollinares"; there are
numerous ruins of the old spa and Roma Villas in this area with
still active hot springs, where famous silver glasses have been
excavated which are now exposed in the National Museum in Rome.
The charming town of Trevignano, dominated by the ruins of
the Orsini castle is situated in an area which has been inhabited
since Etruscan times, know under the name Sabatia, the Latin name of
the lake (Sabatinus lacus). The necropolis of Sabatia is situated
near a place called Olivetello; finds of particular beauty have been
recovered in these tombs, now exposed together with other most
interesting objects in the "Antiquarium" in the Municipality of
Trevignano.
Passing through the gate under the clock you will enter the
historical nucleus of the town with its charming old houses and the
church of Santa Maria Assunta. Inside, a magnificent fresco of 1517
"Transit and crowning of Maria" by an unknown artist. The third town on the shore is Anguillara Sabazia,
situated on a promontory of the lake; it was a fief of the
Anguillara and then of the Orsini. A monumental gate from the 16th
century with a clock marks the entrance to a the main square of with
the town hall inside the Palazzo Baronale which is decorated by
valuable frescoes; the 16th century church Collegiata dell'Assunta has interesting paintings, too. The town is dominated by the
beautiful castle of the Orsini of the 15th century.
Around Anguillara the ruins of a huge construction from Roman times:
a villa of the 1st century a.C. with a wide esedra and a decorated
nympheum. Next to this place the ruins of a villa of the 2nd century
a.C. transformed during the century VIII into the convent of
S.Stefano, called the Wall of S. Stefano or "Muracci".
Remarkable, from a historical point of view, the ruins of
the ancient town of Monterano with the rests of some buildings and
the medieval castle on the top of a hill. The place was abandoned at
the beginning of the 19th century because of malaria and the lack of
tip water, when the inhabitants migrated to today's Canale Monterano.
Museums and historical dwellings, archaeological sites, ruins and
fountains. A historical heritage from the antiquity until our days.
See the Historical Italian Air Force Museum at Vigna di Valle, a must not only for aircraft aficionados.
Botanical gardens, beautiful forests, natural monuments
linked to the volcanic activity: the surroundings of the lake are
rich of attractions, protect and well preserved by the natural
reserve of the regional Park of Bracciano and Martignano. A place to
discover with a genuine landscape.
Lake Bracciano is a water reservoir for the capital. Therefore water
is limpid and quality is guaranteed. The lake is best for a number
of sport activities: swim, sail, windsurf, canoe, dragon boat, sub.
The gastronomic specialties of this area are fish and
dishes based on vegetables. Eels and persh fillet, broccoli,
mushrooms, game and white wine are most appetizing, prepared in the
numerous restaurants around to the lake.
The beauty of nature and landscape, the historical and cultural
heritage with its archaeological and artistic richness: these are
the ingredients having made Lake Bracciano a desired destination
appreciated by tourists from different parts of the world. Three
towns have been built on the lake's shores: Bracciano, Trevignano
Romano and Anguillara Sabazia. Also the territories of Manziana,
with a magnificent view of the lake from its main square, Oriolo, Monterosi and Sutri face the basin of the lake.
With a surface of 22 square miles it is the second lake by extension
in the Lazio Region (second only to Bolsena) and one of the mayor
lakes of Italy; as a lake of volcanic origin it has a circular
perimeter of approximately 20 miles. The lake being a drinking water
reservoir for Rome, its surface is 541 feet above the sea level,
with its deepest point deeper at 541 feet. 
The lake is surrounded by forests, olive groves and gardens. Its
outlet is the Arrone river, starting next to Anguillara and ending
in the Tyrrhenian sea near Fregene. A sluice constructed by the end
of the 1700's is still working perfectly after having undergone
restorations, to maintain water at a constant level. It feeds the
Acquedotto Paulo, constructed at the time of Pope Paul V in the
beginning of the 1600's in order to supply the Vatican with fresh
water. 
Bracciano rises on a hill inhabited since Etruscan ages, as
testified by the necropolis next "Colonnette"; it has been of great
importance during Renaissance period when it was a fief of the
Orsini; in 1696 the town passed to the Odescalchi family.
The history of Bracciano is all determined by the magnificent Castle
whose sizes dominate all over the settlement. Due to its structural
and architectonic characteristics and the excellent state of
conservation it is considered one of the most important castles of
Italy. It was built by Napoleone Orsini and work after having been
started in 1470, was finished in 1485; among its most famous guest
have been the king of France Charles VIII, Pope Sixtus IV,
Marcantonio Colonna and in more recent times John John Kennedy, Tina
Turner and James Rubin. 
In the halls of the castle paintings and frescoes of great masters
can be admired (frescoes by Antoniazzo Romano and Taddeo Zuccari) as
well as marble and bronze sculptures, fireplaces, wooden ceilings,
ceramic sculptures, arms, armors and archaeological findings of
Cerveteri and Palo in the showcases of the Etruscan hall.
Among the religious buildings of Bracciano the two baroque churches
of Santa Maria Novella (with annexed Augustinian cloister) and St.
Stephen's with a bell tower from the 16th century. The town center
preserves its medieval character with narrow streets. In the
renaissance part buildings, with shops and laboratories from 15th to
16th century. 
The hamlet of Castel Giuliano represents an interesting example of
an agricultural settlement of the 17th century. Three parallel lines
of two storied buildings are built all in the same style. The hamlet
is dominated by the castle, once a property of Rome's Santo Spirito
Hospital and later the fief of the Patrizi family.
The neighborhood of Bagni di Vicarello signs of Roman heritage can
be found: the name of Vicarello derives from Latin Vicus Aurelii and
"Bagni" means spa, the ancient Roman "Acquae Apollinares"; there are
numerous ruins of the old spa and Roma Villas in this area with
still active hot springs, where famous silver glasses have been
excavated which are now exposed in the National Museum in Rome.
The charming town of Trevignano, dominated by the ruins of
the Orsini castle is situated in an area which has been inhabited
since Etruscan times, know under the name Sabatia, the Latin name of
the lake (Sabatinus lacus). The necropolis of Sabatia is situated
near a place called Olivetello; finds of particular beauty have been
recovered in these tombs, now exposed together with other most
interesting objects in the "Antiquarium" in the Municipality of
Trevignano. 
Passing through the gate under the clock you will enter the
historical nucleus of the town with its charming old houses and the
church of Santa Maria Assunta. Inside, a magnificent fresco of 1517
"Transit and crowning of Maria" by an unknown artist. 
The third town on the shore is Anguillara Sabazia,
situated on a promontory of the lake; it was a fief of the
Anguillara and then of the Orsini. A monumental gate from the 16th
century with a clock marks the entrance to a the main square of with
the town hall inside the Palazzo Baronale which is decorated by
valuable frescoes; the 16th century church Collegiata dell'Assunta has interesting paintings, too. The town is dominated by the
beautiful castle of the Orsini of the 15th century. 
Around Anguillara the ruins of a huge construction from Roman times:
a villa of the 1st century a.C. with a wide esedra and a decorated
nympheum. Next to this place the ruins of a villa of the 2nd century
a.C. transformed during the century VIII into the convent of
S.Stefano, called the Wall of S. Stefano or "Muracci".
Remarkable, from a historical point of view, the ruins of
the ancient town of Monterano with the rests of some buildings and
the medieval castle on the top of a hill. The place was abandoned at
the beginning of the 19th century because of malaria and the lack of
tip water, when the inhabitants migrated to today's Canale Monterano. 
Museums and historical dwellings, archaeological sites, ruins and
fountains. A historical heritage from the antiquity until our days.
See the Historical Italian Air Force Museum at Vigna di Valle, a must not only for aircraft aficionados. 
Botanical gardens, beautiful forests, natural monuments
linked to the volcanic activity: the surroundings of the lake are
rich of attractions, protect and well preserved by the natural
reserve of the regional Park of Bracciano and Martignano. A place to
discover with a genuine landscape. 
Lake Bracciano is a water reservoir for the capital. Therefore water
is limpid and quality is guaranteed. The lake is best for a number
of sport activities: swim, sail, windsurf, canoe, dragon boat, sub. 
The gastronomic specialties of this area are fish and
dishes based on vegetables. Eels and persh fillet, broccoli,
mushrooms, game and white wine are most appetizing, prepared in the
numerous restaurants around to the lake.