5 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Rome, Italy

One of the region's most famous residences, this patrician villa halfway between Frascati and Grottaferrata is now a first-class hotel with frescoed halls and salons---though the guest rooms are admittedly less ornate and standard-issue. Modeled after Rome's Villa Farnesina, the house, built in 1580, was owned over the centuries by the regal Borghese and Odelscalchi families and was nearly destroyed by bombs in World War II. Luckily, the vast reception rooms on the main floor—covered with frescoes of landscapes, mythological figures, and garden scenes by eminent 17th-century painters—survived mostly unscathed. The showpiece remains the South Gallery, frescoed by Giovanni Paolo Pannini in a swirl of trompe-l'oeil scenes, a masterpiece of Baroque decorative art. By contrast, the guest rooms tend to be plain, with white walls and traditional furniture; but you can opt to stay in the less formal Garden Rooms in the former Limonaia, which is just a short distance across the lawn. The elegant Acquaviva restaurant garners rave reviews and transforms into an alfresco dining venue in summer, with tables laid out on the terrace overlooking the Roman countryside, and the pool is a welcome treat on sunny days. The hotel can also provide a shuttle to and from the Frascati train station.

Overlooking the volcanic crater of Lake Albano and a minute's walk from the Apostolic Palace, this intimate hotel in the heart of Castel Gandolfo is a romantic retreat. Rooms are basic, bright, uncluttered, and soundproofed, and they're equipped with air-conditioning, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, and minibars. Bathrooms have either a whirlpool tub or hydromassage showers.  Ask for a room with a view of the lake and the Castelli hills beyond.

Across the historic center of town, this albergo diffuso (scattered hotel) offers several private apartments, many in buildings that date back to the 16th century. The suites and rooms can accommodate up to four guests. While only some of the rooms have lake views, all offer a taste of village life.   Pick up the keys at the restaurant of the same name and stay for a strawberry spritz at one of the outdoor tables with spectacular lake views.

Set in a historic building on the edge of Viterbo’s medieval district, Palazzo Ubertini has converted the stately space into 10 bright, modern rooms with small kitchenettes. The city sights are all within walking distance, and the hotel can arrange transfers to and from the nearby thermal spas if you are visiting without a car.

Set inside a tower that dates from the 1300s, this small but cozy hotel offers two private rooms on the edge of the historic center. Each room takes up an entire floor of the medieval building and has been outfitted with an irresistible mix of antique furniture and modern fixtures, all curated by the husband-and-wife owners who happen to be former students of architecture.