MOTORCYCLE TOUR IN LAZIO: BRACCIANO, CALCATA AND VILLA D'ESTE IN TIVOLI

This Lazio motorcycle tour winds halfway between Viterbo and Rome, passing through the famous artists' village of Calcata and ending in Tivoli, at the gates of Villa d'Este. An itinerary on two wheels immersed in the fascinating Lazio countryside, full of history and traditions and where it is easy to meet lakes and peaks of the Preappennino of volcanic origin. In the midst of this vast and heterogeneous territory, our motorbike route will cross Calcata - one of the most beautiful villages in Italy - and the unmissable Monte Gelato Waterfalls, in the heart of the Treja Valley. Calcata is a place of ancient charm and unmistakable beauty, located between the Via Cassia and the Autostrada del Sole.

A magical place with a unique history. Abandoned in the 30s of the last century, and then slowly repopulated in the 60s by artists and Hippes from all over the world, today it relives an era of rebirth. The Monte Gelato waterfalls, inserted within the Treja Valley Park, constitute another important tourist attraction for the entire surrounding area. Are you ready to discover the beauties of this Roadsitalia motorcycle itinerary in Lazio between Viterbo and Rome? Let's go and find out together.

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MOTORCYCLE TOUR IN LAZIO: ROADSITALIA ROUTE

We start from Bracciano, already known for being the arrival stop of our journey on two wheels of the three Lazio lakes. We follow the SP4 which circumnavigates the shores of Bracciano Lake to get to Trevignano Romano. Among the villages that surround Bracciano Lake, Trevignano Romano certainly offers one of the widest and most evocative views of the lake and is also very pleasant to discover on foot. Located on the heights of the Sabatini Mountains, it stands on an inlet at almost 200 meters on the slopes of Rocca Romana Mountain and collects much of its historical interest around the Rocca dei Vico (or Orsini Castle), whose surrounding landscape will take us straight to intense atmospheres medieval.

Once back on the saddle, we resume SP4 and then SP37 to arrive in about ten kilometers at the Gelato Mountain Waterfalls, one of the most famous and popular in the whole of Lazio. Located in the heart of the Treja Valley Regional Park, they create one of the most fascinating and unspoiled natural contexts of the region, so much so that they have been used several times as a film set. By parking the motorbike and taking a short path, you will arrive at the scenographic landscape of the waterfalls. Many small waterfalls joined together, form a small basin with clear and calm waters, surrounded by the dense vegetation of the reserve.

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Mappa GPX - Clicca per Scaricare

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We retrace the missing asphalt of the SP37 to reach Calcata. The entrance to the old village is accessed via a pedestrian path in tuff, which leads to the suggestive arch-shaped double door, dominated by the crenellated walls of the palace of the Anguillara barons. This leads to Via degli Anguillari (dug into the tuff like the vie cave) of irregular shape that opens directly onto the large square of Piazza Umberto I. From this city hub many alleys branch off that lead both to the houses and to the discovery of the shops of artisans and artists of Calcata. The history of the village of Calcata has its roots since Roman times (even if today's appearance is medieval).

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Abandoned in 1935 - the year in which the decree was issued to safeguard the inhabited centers at risk of collapse in the event of an earthquake - it slowly repopulated in the 1960s, when artists from various parts of the world chose to live in Calcata precisely for its tranquility and economy. To these were also added the hippies who bought the houses at low prices by choosing to live away from modern consumerism and its frenzy. Today Calcata (thanks also to Social Networks and the Slow Travel phenomenon), relives a period of glory: travelers and visitors are more and more frequent. A fact that communicates how tourism is growing is the amount of catering activities opened in a few years: as many as 14 restaurants for 60 inhabitants.

Back in the saddle for the second time, we face the last 2 stages of our Lazio tour on two wheels: Fiano Romano and Tivoli. Fiano can be reached via the SP79 and SP21 and is one of the largest historical centers in the area. Of medieval origin, it is surrounded by the ancient fortified walls that adorn the city's symbol: the fortress. The Orsini Ducal Castle is in fact the undisputed symbol of the city that dominates from above, together with the fifteenth-century church of Santo Stefano Nuovo. Also not to be missed are the ruins of the local Roman villas and the Roman archaeological site with the attached museum.

Finally, Tivoli is a lovely center on the outskirts of Rome (about 60 km) where you cannot miss a stop and visit the Villa d'Este. Considered one of the symbols of the Italian Renaissance, Villa d’Este is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks also to its splendid fountains with valuable and evocative water features. Commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este, the villa is a complex of 4 hectares - enchanting and unique in its kind - which boasts of being considered the most beautiful "Italian garden" in Europe. Tree-lined avenues and hedges, numerous fountains (real water theaters) such as the Rometta and the imposing Fontana dell'Ovato, are worth the entire ticket alone.

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MOTORCYCLE TOUR IN LAZIO: ROADSITALIA ADVICE

Lazio is famous for always offering to the motorcyclists panoramic, cultural and pleasant routes from the driving point of view. The roads of this trip are mostly state and provincial, so no particular problems or difficulties. Although feasible in the winter months, we recommend that you opt for a more fluid experience during the warmer months. And you? Have you ever done this Lazio motorcycle route ? Write it to us in the comments below.