Lago di Bracciano

Villa Nova occupies a peaceful and almost remote setting with a magnificent view of Lake Bracciano

Welcome to our hidden pearl! We are situated 35 km Northwest of Rome in rolling green countryside, with breathtaking views of Lake Bracciano. Here you can come to a complete rest and enjoy the many attractions in the surrounding area. Enjoy a day in Rome, at the beach on the lake or go to the Mediterranean sea. It is also an ideal starting point for trips to Rome, Lazio, Tuscany and Umbria.

The beauty of nature and landscape, the historical and cultural heritage, its archaeological and artistic richness makes the area unique. The lake is a popular location for Romans at weekends with its beauty and plenty of very good restaurants. Mass tourism has not yet discovered Lake Bracciano. It serves as a drinking water reservoir for Rome and the use of motorboats is forbidden. This makes Bracciano one of the cleanest lakes of Italy. Lots of water sports and beaches are available.

Explore this fantastic area on foot, by bike, on horseback or by car. Stop for a picnic along the lake or eat in a trattoria in one of the towns. Try the regional cuisine in one of the many excellent restaurants in the area. Enjoy a espresso or ice-cream in one of the many typical small squares or piers.

Three towns border the lake, Bracciano, Anguillara Sabazia and Trevignano Romano. Bracciano is a small town mainly famous for a well-preserved 15th Century castle (Castello Odescalchi). Anguillara Sabazia is built on a small cape that sticks out into the lake. Three kilometres east of the town lies the small Lake Martignano. Trevignano Romano is on the north side of the lake. It has some pleasant lakeside walks and is the lake’s main sailing centre.

Every half hour there’s a train service from Anguillara to Rome. Direct line to St Peter’s and Trastevere, with bus and metro links to all major sites.

There are several beautiful and interesting places nearby that is a must. The Etruscan tombs of Cerveteri 20 minutes away, on the coast, you can enjoy an unforgettable walk through the vast necropolis beneath umbrella pines, visiting the famous burial tombs which represent the interiors of wealthy Etruscan homes. If you want to swim or relax on the beach, the sea is just down the road from Cerveteri.

Well worth a visit is the historical important town Sutri which has an interesting Roman amphitheatre carved out of rock and an Etruscan necropolis. Some others are the tiny medieval stronghold of Calcata high on a tufa outcrop, Bagnoregio, Viterbo a medieval town with many hot springs and Bomarzo with the Monster Park

The Etruscans left unique masterpieces of architecture, painting, carved ivory, pottery, inlay and, notably, gold jewellery. You will find traces on display in the municipal museum in Trevignano.

The area of Lake Bracciano is also full with traces of the Roman civilization. You will find ancient Roman villas, roads and the aqueducts which still carry water from the lake down to Rome. The ancient Romans built thermal baths where soldiers returning from missions abroad would come to bathe in the mud and hot sulphurous springs. See the Roman baths at Vicarello, the natural springs of the Caldara in the Manziana Woods (Macchia Grande di Manziana) and Canale Monterano, preserved in a natural park.

There are modern hot springs spas at Terme di Stigliano in Canale Monterano and Terme dei Papi in Viterbo.

The peaceful and magic Lake Bracciano with it’s surrounding parks is wonderful in every season. Many Romans comes here all year around. Late March to the end of October is the popular time for tourists to visit. Lake Bracciano is a good base for visiting Rome in the hot summer because the weather is cooler than in Rome and on those really hot days you can skip Rome and head to the lake.