Great Things to Do Near La Casa di Bianca
Narni Sotterranea
This underground excavation lies directly under the Church of San Domenico, and was discovered in 1979. You can take a tour lasting one and a half hours, in Italian or English, that guides you through the local history with a look into Roman plumbing and even an underground Roman church with surviving frescoes.
Walk among the monsters!
In the beautiful medieval town of Bomarzo, just to the west, lies one of the most fascinating gardens in the world. The Garden of Monsters, as it is called, was created by the soldier-poet-dreamer, Vicino Orsini, who built his park of wonders in the 1550s, breaking all the rules of art of his time. He purposefully created a bizarre and unusual attraction to stun his guests and to give vent to his heart”. The gardens are filled with many bizarre mythical creatures made out of stone. Enormous sculptures depicting an elephant tearing his enemy in half, a nymph with butterfly wings, a gigantic fish-head with a gaping mouth, horse with wings, and many more are scattered over several acres of land. When Vicino Orsini died the garden fell into neglect until it was rediscovered in 1938 by the Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dali who then based one of his most famous paintings on the Bomarzo Monster Park.
Lake Bolsena
The Lago di Bolsena is the fifth largest lake in Italy and also the one with the cleanest water so it is perfect for swimming. It sits on the ancient Via Cassia road which leads up to Montefiascone, a village renowned for its good restaurants and from where there are marvellous views of the lake.
The Gardens of Villa Lante
Near to Viterbo is the 16th century Villa Lante, famous for its beautiful gardens. It was built for Cardinal Francesco De Gambara and is set in a park covering 20 hectares. Keen gardeners will delight in the grounds, which are truly spectacular. Fountains, grottos, stone terraces and staircases, sculptures, wooded areas, outdoor dining areas, parkland, all of this can be found here in what has been described as a fine example of the best period in the history of garden design: the Mannerist phase of the Italian renaissance.
Orvieto
A towering and dramatic black and white striped Gothic cathedral dominates the town, and its medieval streets are a delight to wander. Further back in history, this was an important settlement for Etruscans, and you can take a guided tour of the underground tunnels and rooms they built into the tufa rock. Back on the surface, there are plenty of restaurants and cafes in which to pause for refreshment.
Day Trip to the Eternal City
It is only a short drive to a local railway station where regular, direct trains will take you for a great day out in Rome in under an hour. The city which has captured the imagination of visitors for millennia needs no introduction but suffice to say, a day's sightseeing will only afford a tantalising glimpse of what it has to offer. A truly awe-inspiring city, there seems to be some new marvel around every corner. The many highlights include: The Forum and Palantine Hill, St Peter's Square, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and much more!
Taste Umbrian specialities
Umbria has a rich culinary heritage, with regional delicacies including pork from Norcia, umbricelli noodes, and caciotta cheese. Other ingredients you will see in many dishes on restaurant menus are lentils from the Castelliccio valley, and truffles (in season). Why not wash your meal down with a bottle of the local wine, Orvieto Classico.
For days out in nature...
the Parco Fluviale del Nera and the Lago di Piediluco are wonderful places to explore. Centred around the river Nera and the lake respectively there are plenty of water activities to enjoy, or just walking, picnics and wildlife spotting - golden eagles are known to soar overhead! A drive along the river valley will take you past small fortified towns - Arrone, Ferentillo, Montefranco, monasteries and watch towers.
Amelia - possibly one of the most ancient towns in Italy
One of the most ancient Umbrian towns, Amelia is enveloped by impressive polygonal walls dating from the 4th century and, underground, the network of wells built by the Romans can still be visited today. Among the town's cultural offerings are the local archaeological museum and picture gallery which are in the same building in Piazza Vera. The former has some excellent finds whilst the latter makes a morning here well worth the visit. The rest of the sights are predominantly medieval, several striking Palazzi and the heavily reconstructed cathedral which has frescoes by Luigi Fontana.
Far reaching views across the valley
Head into the nearby village of Porchiano del Monte. It is a tiny hilltop village with no amenities but park by the walls, take a stroll and enjoy the views over the valley and far beyond. Best enjoyed at sunset!
Take the train through Tuscany
Attigliano-Bomarzo station is 15 minutes drive from the house. From here you can get direct trains to Cortona in 1 hr 15 mins and Florence in 2 hrs 40 mins. Enjoy the beautiful Tuscan countryside en-route and no need to worry about parking when you arrive.
Head to the Beach
From the villa, it's a picturesque drive of about 1hr 20mins to reach Lido di Tarquinia on the coast. Here you will find long sandy beaches, backed by a promenade and some restaurants. In certain sections of the beach, there are beach clubs where you pay a fee for sunloungers and umbrellas, along with facilities such as toilets and a bar/cafe. You can also hire sea kayaks and SUP boards. Other sections of the beach are free.
Civita di Bagnoregio
This gorgeous Italian hill town (about 50 mins drive from Giove) teeters on a pinnacle rising high above a vast canyon ruled by wind and erosion. The area of land that once connected Civita to its bigger and busier sister town, Bagnoregio, has worn away. Photographs around town show the old mule path that once linked the hamlets. Today, the only way in or out is by a footbridge and supplies are brought to the town via mopeds! The main entrance is a huge stone passageway, cut by the Etruscans 2,500 years ago and decorated in the 12th century with a Romanesque arch. The beautiful cobbled streets transport you right back to the middle ages. There are no tours or lists of attractions, it is a place to wander, drink in the atmosphere, do some sketching perhaps if you are an artist. The ground beneath Civita is honeycombed with ancient cellars, perfect for storing wine, and cisterns for collecting rainwater. Many date from Etruscan times. A pre-Roman tunnel below the town doubled as a bomb shelter in World War II.
Sant' Angelo - the village of fairy tales
Sant'Angelo di Roccalvecce is a tiny village over the border in Lazio (30 minute drive) and is known as the village of fairy tales. Scattered along its streets, there are over 50 murals on the buildings dedicated to the world of fairy tales. Spot Cinderella (Cenerentola), Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, The Jungle Book, Thumbelina (Pollicina), Ali Baba, Peter Pan...
Thermal Baths & Hot Springs
Head towards Viterbo, where you will find a number of thermal baths / hot springs open to the public. Italians have been enjoying the thermal waters in the area since the Etruscan era, with the Romans placing more of an emphasis on the benefits. In the area, there are some thermal pools which are run by volunteers and are free to use. Others are part of spa complexes with facilities.
