MOTORCYCLE TOUR OF THE 3 VOLCANIC LAKES: BOLSENA, BRACCIANO AND VICO

This week Roadsitalia takes you to discover one of the most beautiful lake areas in central Italy, through a motorcycle tour of the 3 volcanic lakes of Lazio: Bolsena Lake, Bracciano Lake and Vico Lake. We are located in upper Lazio (north of Rome) on the border between Umbria and Tuscany in the area between the volcanic complex of the Volsini Mountains. The inhabited centers that characterize it are mostly of medieval or Romanesque origin, enhancing even more an area already full of history, culture and natural beauty. A great added value for this motorcycle itinerary between the 3 volcanic lakes of Lazio, between the Paglia, Tevere and Fiora rivers, almost reaching the coast along the Tyrrhenian Sea. Let's see it in detail together with our two-wheeled darling.

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MOTORCYCLE TOUR OF THE 3 VOLCANIC LAKES: ROADSITALIA ROUTE

It starts from Bolsena, located along the northern shore of the lake of the same name and almost on the border between Lazio and Umbria. The Bolsena Lake is the largest of the three lakes that we are going to visit and that we will try to circumnavigate. Bolsena rises in a panoramic position on a hill on the slopes of the Volsini Mountains, on the north-eastern side. It is a center that has remained intact and is strongly linked to the Roman past. This is testified by its old village, which has been preserved over the centuries and without a doubt, one of the most evocative and picturesque in Lazio, which emphasizes the dominant aspect of the tufa rock (common to many buildings in the area). The historic center cleverly mixes medieval and Renaissance aspects, it remains pleasant to those who visit it with its characteristic-looking shops, boutiques and restaurants, especially around the fortress. The latter, the Rocca Monaldeschi, is one of the most representative monuments of the country together with the Collegiate Church of Santa Cristina, the gothic Ranieri Palace, the Palace of Drago and the sixteenth-century Cozza Caposavi Palace overlooking San Rocco Square.

We start from Bolsena to reach Marta through the SP114, following the coastal road of Bolsena Lake and passing the fascinating Santa Caterina Church. We stop in Marta for a quick stop and visit its ancient medieval village of the twelfth century: an urban fabric made up of an intrigue of alleys and squares that hide a crenellated Tower. The keep - what today remains of a fortress - dominates the entire ancient village and represents the main monument of the town, as well as a Renaissance residence overlooking the main square. The peaceful atmosphere of the village makes it a perfect location for a quick stop or a coffee break. Put the helmet back on, we follow along the SP8 to Montefiascone, the town with the highest altitude (600 meters) and which, thanks to the dominant Rocca dei Papi (633 meters), boasts a wide and spectacular view of Bolsena Lake and on the plain of Viterbo.

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On clear days it is also possible to glimpse much of the central Apennines and the Tyrrhenian Sea. We continue on SR2, crossing first Viterbo and then Ronciglione. Between these two locations - in a mix of curves and spectacular natural panoramas - we reach the second volcanic lake of our motorcycle tour of the three lakes of Lazio, namely Vico Lake. Smaller than Bolsena Lake but no less attractive, Vico Lake has a very particular biodiversity that has placed it in the areas of particular naturalistic value in Lazio. Surrounded by the peaks of the Cimini mountains, it is very popular by motorcyclists who love high-altitude routes in the saddle.

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Mappa GPX - Clicca per Scaricare

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Ronciglione, another necessary stop on our Lazio tour, is a small town among the most important historical and tourist centers of Tuscia. Erected on a tuffaceous spur of Fogliano Mountain, it has kept its original appearance almost unchanged. Walking through the streets of its historic center, you can see the medieval houses built with the typical tuff bricks. Among the most important monuments, we mention the Cathedral, the Renaissance Comunale Palace and the Palace of Virgili, located in the most characteristic corner of Piazza degli Angeli. Also famous for its food and wine delicacies, it is the ideal culinary stop before leaving for the last kilometers of our tour of the three lakes of Lazio. The Bracciano-Martignano Regional Natural Park is a truly extraordinary protected natural area, which deserves to be visited at least once in a lifetime. In the background, the views that range between the shores of Lake Bracciano and the Sabatini Mountains meet at every bend. Passing first through Anguillara Sabazia and then through Bracciano, our motorcycle tour of the 3 volcanic lakes of Lazio ends in front of the imposing and medieval Orsini Odescalchi Castle.

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MOTORCYCLE TOUR OF THE 3 VOLCANIC LAKES: ROADSITALIA ADVICE

A scenic and pleasant route without major hitches and particular difficulties. The Lazio roads are pleasant and also well passable in the winter months: obviously nature gives its best during the warmer months. If you like hiking, bring adequate equipment and comfortable shoes. And you? Have you ever traveled around the three volcanic lakes of Lazio by motorbike? Write it to us in the comments below.