While there are a multitude of amazing sights to see within Rome, few venture outside of the city to some of the more underrated spots. A train from Rome's central station, Termini, will take you 45 minutes away to Castel Gandolfo. This town sits on the edge of a volcanic lake and it is most famous for being the home of the Pope's summer residence.
After exploring the town and stopping for a cappuccino, we followed a trail outside of the town along the edge of the cliffs. Stunning views of the lake and surrounding area surrounded us. We continued the trail for several miles to reach a viewpoint on nearby Monte Cavo. We looked out to see Castel Gandolfo on one side, and on the other side, Nemi and the eponymous lake. A few more miles back down the mountainside and we eventually reached Nemi in time for lunch. The town is beautifully perched on a cliffside overlooking the smaller volcanic lake. Lake Nemi is famous as the place where Emperor Caligula built Roman ships which remained at the bottom of the lake until mysteriously being destroyed in the 20th century.
Having enjoyed a long hike and several stops for food and coffee it was time to walk back to the train station and return to Rome after a successful day trip.
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Dominick Cura
<p>I've always been fascinated by adventure. It started with hiking in the mountains as a kid, and my wanderlust only grew when I decided to take a gap year after high school to backpack Europe and Asia. I learned so many incredible lessons that I would not have gotten by just staying at home.<br><br>Aside from adventures I am also extremely passionate about storytelling through videos and photos. As a film student, I'm learning to share my own experiences through film and make other people connect to the stories I tell.</p>
