Four Type-A Weeks in Upper Lazio

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Day 1
Arrive and get settled in the house.

Day 2
Get to know the nearby villages: food shops, local trattorie, etc.

Day 3
The Etruscan ruins at Cerveteri and the seaside resorts of Santa Marinella and Santa Severa

Day 4
Three gorgeous Umbrian hilltowns, quite unvisited by Americans: Lugnano, Narni, and Amelia, the last being a great place for antiquing.

Day 5
The monster park at Bomarzo, great fun for adults and children alike, plus the delightful little town of Sant’Oreste.

Day 6
Daytrip to Rome by train. Concentrate on the area around Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, the Pantheon, and the turtle fountain.

Day 7
Recover at home.

Day 8
The medieval city of Viterbo and, nearby, one of Italy's most famous gardens, the Villa Lante.

Day 9
The town of Tuscania, including two of the most evocative Romanesque churches in Italy. This town also has one of the few Michelin-starred restaurants in this part of Italy, Al Gallo.

Day 10
The garden of the Palazzo Farnese at Caprarola, followed by lunch at the other Michelin-starred restaurant in this area, this one at Civita Castellana.

Day 11
Climb up to the top of the unspoiled hilltown of Civita di Bagnoregio, featured on Rick Steves' PBS "Travels in Europe" series. Have lunch there, followed by an afternoon at Lake Bolsena.

Day 12
Take the backroads to visit two of Umbria's most famous hilltowns: Spoleto and Todi.

Day 13
The castle and town of Bracciano, followed by a circuit of Lake Bracciano. Lunch at the Casina del Lago, a charming family-owned restaurant on the lake.

Day 14
Another day in Rome, concentrating on the Colosseum, Roman Forum, San Clemente, and Santi Quattro Coronati.

Day 15
Recover at home.

Day 16
Monte Argentario, the villages of Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano. Be sure to stop at Capalbio on the way; be sure to call ahead and schedule a visit to the Giardino dei Tarocchi, Niki di St. Phalle's delightful garden based on the tarot deck.

Day 17
A day in Montefalco, Bevagna, Spello, and Trevi, four particularly evocative hilltowns grouped together in central Umbria.

Day 18
Ostia Antica and the beach at Fregene.

Day 19
Long daytrip up the Via Cassia (SS2) to Siena, being to stop at either of the abbeys of Sant'Antimo and/or Monte Oliveto Maggiore on the way.

Day 20
Some charming nearby hilltowns: Sutri, Nepi, Civita Castellana, Ronciglione, Tolfa.

Day 21
Day at the beach.

Day 22
Recover at home.

Day 23
Three more charming hilltowns in southernmost Tuscany: Pitigliano, Sorano, and Sovana, all well worth a visit.

Day 24
Rome by train, this time concentrating on Castel Sant'Angelo and the Vatican.

Day 25
The Etruscan tombs at Tarquinia - hire a local guide for an in-depth look.

Day 26
Day exploring Orvieto, one of the most attractive hilltowns in Umbria.

Day 27
Revisit one of your favorite places.

Day 28
Relax at home before departure.