Dave_Ohio

A good friend is celebrating a significant birthday next June, 2013. We're looking into renting a larger property (villa?) in which to house his partners-in-crime and their spouses, and/or grown children, as we celebrate. Our group size may be anywhere from six to twelve adults. We will probably rent at least two cars.

Accessibility to major airports and cities, yet with a dramatic setting and affordability, are key considerations. Some properties in the vicinity of Lake Bracciano seem to qualify. Rome, Fiumicino, and Viterbo are each an hour or so away by train. The websites also mention private beaches and show beautiful lakeside vistas. A couple of these properties are in or near Trevignano Romano, in Lazio.

Not being familiar at all with this region, I wonder about the actual nature of the lake and beaches, the towns in and around, and the ease of connecting to Rome by train for daytrips or overnight excursions. If anyone knows the area, especially the desirability of Lake Bracciano and its nearby towns as rental and touring destinations, will you please share your knowledge with me (us)? Are there any especially desirable spots around here where we should look more closely? Always grateful for any help and suggestions from you.

A_Brit_In_Ischia

A while ago now, before the new rail arrangements were completed, we spent a very pleasant day in that area during a very warm August trip to Rome...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/ostia_bracc

(Sadly though, the magic woven for that famous couple by the Castle seems to have come undone?)

We found the young volunteers at the tourist office amazingly helpful - contact details:

http://www.comune.bracciano.rm.it/fl...T/IDPagina/112

And there's also lots of good stuff, although only in Italian, in the "Turismo" section of the Comune's website...

http://www.comune.bracciano.rm.it/fl...T/IDPagina/461

... for instance, "places to stay" - many with web address - under "Dove Alloggiare"...

http://www.comune.bracciano.rm.it/fl...T/IDPagina/174

.........................

If fans of the TV series 'Everybody Loves Raymond', you're perhaps already loosely acquainted with the area - even if you don't realise it?

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...es-raymond.cfm

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...e_Georgia.html

.... etc!

Here's the website for the ProLoco (sort of a local, bottom-up, tourist authority) for that little lakeside town/village:

http://www.prolocoanguillarasabazia.org/index.php

...........................................

We've never found very much about the area in English, and have ended up struggling with Italian guidebooks, but these - old as they are now - may be of some interest for background reading:

Where history meets the sea - "Guide to the archeological treasures of the coast of Lazio"
http://www.italiantouristoffice.se/sv/docs/81.pdf

Walking through time - Lazio's Parks, castles, monasteries etc
http://www.italiantouristoffice.se/sv/docs/82.pdf

Hope that's a start...
Peter

Dave_Ohio

Thank you, Peter!
Since posting this, I looked through the Fodor's vaults and found several other links on the region:
http://www.elegantetruria.com
http://www.lakebracciano.com/lakebra.../paesi_en.html
http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/lazio/bracciano.html
http://www.trevignanoromano.it/inside.asp
http://www.camping-inter-lagodibracc...m/index-en.htm
They cover many highlights of the area. (Although I personally wouldn't consider TomKat to be one of them.)

I still wonder if anyone on this Forum has made an extended stay near Lake Bracciano, and what they thought of that. Also, any recommendations for car hire at either Bracciano or Anguillara upon arrival by train?

Grazie!
Dave

Dave_Ohio

ttt

crazyfamilyof4

Thanks for sharing