Hi, We will be travelling to Italy next October for a family reunion. We will be flying into Rome, driving south to Anzio, for 1 night, then to Pofi (near Frosinone), for the reunion. We will spend three nights there, and then head to Sorrento where we plan to spend 5 nights/6 days visitng Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi coast, etc. We have an additional 4 nights prior to flying home from Rome and are looking for ideas on where to go for that time. My thought is to head back toward Rome, and stay either in Liguria or perhaps, Umbria, someplace where we can easily drive back to Rome for our flight home. We've been to Rome, and don't necessarily want to go back to the city, but am not familiar with the countryside. I'd like to find one charming location, and do a couple of day trips from there. We love finding the "off the beaten path" gem. Any suggestions? Also, I've heard of a town called E.U.R., near Rome that was designed by Mussolini. Not much info available here or on other sites, has anyone been there, and is it worth visiting? Is there another town near Rome with a Mussolini connection; one was mentioned on a travel show, and looked very interesting, gorgeous architecture, etc., but I don't recall the name of the town. Thanks for your help!

<Also, I've heard of a town called E.U.R., near Rome that was designed by Mussolini. Not much info available here or on other sites, has anyone been there, and is it worth visiting>

yes i've walked around E.U.R. and it's a most unusual place - a new city, actually part of Rome, created under Mussolini with all then modern Mussolini 'Realism' architecture or whatever they call it - like Rome Termini train station and stations in places like florence and venice.

It's definitely not a place to stay - sterile but worth a look for its uniqueness.

I spent a few hours there and besides the McDonalds didn't see much reason to linger. Short metro ride south of town.

For average tourist not being in Rome much i'd skip it. The Foro Italico in northern Rome is a similarly built Mussolini era place but it's more interesting in that it's also the Olympic Village with stadia, etc.

I must have replied to this under a different heading!

Hi Palenq, thanks for the info. I'll look into Foro Italico, and probably won't bother with EUR.

Regarding a town near Rome to stay for four nights before heading home, I'd strongly suggest Orvieto, about one hour north. It may be my husband's and my favorite town. We found the setting enthralling, the duomo spectacular, the underground caves fascinating, and the evening passagiata just we had hoped to experience on our first trip to Italy. Almost felt like one of the natives.!
And the people were so friendly.

Easy day trips from there that we took included Spoleto, Assisi, Deruta (for gorgeous ceramics in the old center).
We stayed on secondary roads and found it couldn't have been easier to get around.

Another place to consider exploring on your way to or from Sorrento is Caserta. The city is pretty industrial but it has the most magnificent Royal Palace and Gardens; it is said it rivals Versailles.

I think Orvieto or Assisi would be a wonderful option. Both are gorgeous hilltowns in Umbria that offer quite a bit for tourists. I personally prefer Assisi of the two, but both are great. Or, if you are looking for somewhere smaller, Spello is a beautiful hilltown, our favorite in Umbria. Small but with incredible charm and a glorious setting.

Tracy

Why would you want to go as far as Umbria or even Liguria? You'd lose one of your four days going forth and back, and in Italy, EVERY region is more interesting than the whole rest of the world... so I'd suggest staying in Lazio, cause that's where you are (Frosinone), and where you depart from (Rome).
EUR is not near but in Rome, as PalenQ already told you. It's certainly one of the most interesting examples of Fascist architecture (interesting, not pretty, of course, get me right). Another equally interesting example is not far south of Frosinone: the Pontinian plain. These used to be the huge, famous-infamous Pontinian swamps, a very unhealthy region that nobody ever succeeded to drain (ancient Romans tried but failed), till the Fascists. It was one of their most prestigious projects, and they succeeded - making it the fertile Pontinian plain. Since nobody could live there before, all the towns and villages of that plain are pure Fascist architecture; the main town is Pontinia, very run-down nowadays, but still a most interesting testimony of Fascist building; and it has a great restaurant, too, in its one and only hotel: Hotel Ares. The restaurant, called Nané, is by far the best I know in Lazio outside Rome: closed Sunday evening and Monday lunch. Among the best seafood I've ever tasted. Heavenly, highly recommended.
Else, southern Lazio has many interesting sights: the giant "Cyclopic" prehistoric walls of Segni, Alatri and Arpino; important ancient remains in Cori, Terracina, Gaeta, and Sperlonga; the medieval ruins of the town of Ninfa (on the edge of the former swamplands and abandoned due to malaria epidemies), now turned a wonderful botanic garden; the famous Cistercian abbeys of Fossanova and Casamari; the interesting medieval church (full of ancient parts taken from ruins in the vicinity) of Aquino, actually the church where St. Thomas of Aquin was baptized; the medieval cathedral of Anagni with gorgeous (and famous) early Romanesque frescoes in the crypt... enough by far to keep you entertained for just four days, and without seeing many other tourists (except for, perhaps, Sperlonga)!

...and as an addition, have a look to this thread http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35017054 about Ostia Antica and Tivoli, near Rome, so not exactly Southern Lazio, but still within your reach.

Hi there,
Unless there is something specific you really want to see north of Rome, I would recommend staying south of Rome. Actually, the area where your family reunion will be held in Pofi is quite interesting. This is the Ciociaria area of Lazio. Towns unspoiled by tourism. Excellent food. Head towards Frosinone (but skip Frosinone itself) and you will find charming hill towns. You could in under an hour arrive in Pescasseroli, a charming mountain village in Abruzzo. There is a lot to do in this area, and all "off the beaten path" treasures.
Have a wonderful time.
Oh, and skip EUR. It's somewhat interesting for its stark architecture and history, but only worthwhile if you are spending a month in Rome and can spare the time.
Cheers,
Ellen Craig

Hi again, Sorry, I've been very lax in replying to all who have been so helpful with your great responses to my Pofi/Frosinone post. For a while there it seemed likely that we would have to cancel our trip, but, thankfully, our mini-crisis has past and we will definitely be travelling to Italy in October. Soooo - many thanks belatedly to toni_g_b, Tcreath, franco, and ellencraig. Thanks to your encouragement, we will plan on spending some additional time in Lazio, getting to know the land of my "roots" a little better.

mjanie