The arrival of spring brings warm, sunny days, often with a gentle, relaxing breeze. Perfect temperatures for the first day trips with friends, with the family or simply with your other half, ideal for leaving behind the stress of work and the daily routine. Weekends in the open air, all about relaxation and that nature tourism which keeps growing in Italy, above all thanks to the beautiful landscapes our country has to offer.
Parks, nature reserves and lakes: enchanting places to spend the warm spring days.
Among the favourite destinations of tourists during a Roman holiday are the lakes. Lazio has many of them, most of volcanic origin and of considerable size.
What to see near Ostia? Here are some of the most beautiful lakes in Italy.
1. Lake Nemi: Diana’s lake in the Alban Hills.
If you are planning a holiday in Rome, one of the most beautiful places to visit is Lake Nemi, south of the capital, in the area known as the Castelli Romani. The village sits on a rock high above the lake, and what makes it exceptional is its historical and archaeological heritage. The Temple of Diana, Ruspoli Castle, the Villa of Caesar and the Museum of the Roman Ships make it one of the most visited places near Ostia. The small town around this romantic lake enjoys a cool, breezy climate, perfect for day trips in spring and summer. It is also famous for the legend that on certain clear nights you can see “three moons”, reflected in the sea, in the sky and in the lake itself.
2. Lake Bolsena: the lake you could “drink”.
It is known as one of the cleanest lakes in Europe, and for this reason it is ideal for swimming. Crystal-clear water that reflects, at sunset, the enchanting places all around it. The perfect place for water sports or for a romantic walk. The shore also has well-equipped campsites to meet every need of visitors.
Animal lovers can also admire various species of native fish and birds arriving from northern Europe.
All of this is enriched by the lake’s two volcanic islands: Martana and Bisentina.
3. Lake Albano: the “lake of Castel Gandolfo”.
A few kilometres from the centre of Rome, near Castel Gandolfo, lies the deepest volcanic lake in Italy: Lake Albano, one of the best-known and most popular places in the province of Rome. Along the lakeside there are restaurants, beach clubs and places for water sports and rowing. For enthusiasts there is also an electric boat for a sightseeing trip along the shores of the lake.
4. Lake Bracciano: among the cleanest in Italy.
Its clear water makes it one of Rome’s most important reservoirs of drinking water, as well as home to pike, perch, whitefish and eels. Many fish species are watched from above by the osprey.
Its favourable exposure to the wind makes it a favourite with sailors: national and international races are often held here. And there is much more to do around the lake: windsurfing, kitesurfing, canoeing and rowing are the main sports practised on Lake Bracciano.
For those who prefer not to do sport, the area offers places to relax and play: hills, woods and meadows for excursions on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback.
Around the lake, three towns (Bracciano, Trevignano Romano and Anguillara Sabazia) reveal the history and the ancient traditions of Lazio.
5. Lake Vico: the lake born from the club of Hercules.
A picturesque atmosphere surrounds Lake Vico, thanks to the views this area offers. The colours of the sky blend with nature in a magical scene. On the shores of the lake there are stretches of free beach with refreshment points, relaxation and recreation areas, sports areas and large expanses of grass where you can watch and listen to the birds. According to legend, the lake was born from the club of Hercules, which he drove into the ground as a challenge to the local people. No one managed to pull it out, and when Hercules did, a huge jet of water gushed out and filled the valley, forming what became Lake Vico.
6. Lake Martignano: a fairy-tale place.
Lake Martignano is the ideal place for moments of pure relaxation: it can only be reached along a country lane, with the last stretch on foot. In summer the Municipality of Anguillara Sabazia organises parking and a shuttle bus: up-to-date information is on the Municipality’s website. Swimming, horse riding and cycling are some of the activities this enchanting area in the province of Rome has to offer. The woods around the lake keep the landscape unspoilt, together with wide stretches of meadow and sand that make it a fairy-tale place: it is no coincidence that director Luigi Comencini filmed “The Adventures of Pinocchio” here.
In short, if you are in Ostia and staying for a few days, you could visit the ancient city with all its beauty and then immerse yourself in the natural world of the lakes of Lazio.
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