Easy Day Trips from Rome

While there are endless marvels to discover in Rome, my peers and I have made frequent journeys outside the city. In such a well-connected urban center with reliable regional trains, it's easy to explore the surrounding areas of Italy, if even just for the day. In this blog post, I'll detail some easy trips that I highly recommend. 

The first trip that my friends and I attempted was to Tivoli. However, we ran into some complications. It's a right of passage for any international traveler, but we arrived at the wrong station with plenty of time, only to have to rush to the correct one, only to find out that our "train" was actually a bus ride requiring a tedious transfer. Not feeling up to the challenge, we referenced the departure board and, on a whim and with the recommendation of the kind man behind the customer service desk, decided to go to Bracciano instead. And what a great choice! 

Bracciano is a small town about an hour north of Rome, positioned on beautiful Lake Bracciano. We spent our time marveling at the waterfront views, enjoying a pizza (of course), and visiting the town's main attraction: Castello Orsini-Odescalchi. This beautiful, well-preserved medieval castle was remarkable. We got tickets at the entrance and could explore the building at our own pace. We saw room after room of medieval art, architecture, furniture, and history. Imagining ourselves as papal princesses, we observed our land from the lookout points at the top of the castle. It felt like going back in time and was a perfect escape from the city for the day. On the way home, we were able to conveniently disembark at San Pietro, close to both Camplus and my apartment. I highly recommend this convenient and exciting little journey!

For even more lake-side vibes, check out Castel Gandolfo. My peers and I were lucky enough to have an orientation meeting there in a beautiful villa, along with a refreshing swim. In the early days of September, this relaxing day by the water was exactly what we needed. About an hour south of Rome, it's easily accessible by regional train.

Another day trip I embarked on recently was to Formia and Gaeta. These two towns are located between Rome and Naples on Italy's west coast. Once again, I took a convenient Trenitalia regional line, and after about an hour and a half, I arrived at a beautiful seaside station. I did this trip solo on a random Saturday with nothing to do, so I spent most of my time walking/wandering aimlessly. I ended up walking about five miles from the train station to the main center of Gaeta. I stopped along the way to sit by the water, surrounded by the beautiful views of my destination in the distance and the mountains from which I came. Tiny crabs on the rocky shore and cats slinking through the streets gave me plenty to observe. Once I arrived in the center, I found a bite to eat and enjoyed the architecture, a mix of periods. The medieval quarter of the town is charming. I didn't bring a swimsuit, but the beach was so enticing that I was tempted to buy one. If you're a beach lover, this is a perfect getaway. Once my energy was sapped, I took the bus back to the train station and got the next train back to Rome. Easy peasy, a lovely solo day trip.

The third trip I took outside of Rome was part of an IES Abroad-subsidized weekend trip. Our journey began in Pompei, then to Sorrento, and ended on the island of Capri. Pompei is reachable by train from Rome in about two hours, including a transfer at Napoli Centrale. I highly recommend touring the ruins of this ancient city; it has been one of my favorite parts of my study abroad experience so far. With the help of our knowledgeable tour guide, we learned so much about these people's lives while walking through the remarkably well-preserved ruins of the town. Making your way down the main street, you will find the remains of houses, stores, restaurants, and even a brothel. The House of Vettii, with its beautifully preserved frescoes and architecture, transported me to the prime of Pompei. And on the stone streets, grooves created by the wear of carts made the city feel eerily alive. Much like in Bracciano, it was easy to imagine myself as a resident of this town, going about my business, unaware of the tragedy about to strike. It's a heavy place to visit, synonymous with destruction and death, but also an extremely impressive work of excavation and preservation. I recommend this trip to archeology nerds and curious travelers alike.

Here are some other day trips that I have researched or that my friends have taken:

• Tivoli: I hope to get there this semester, although construction thwarts my efforts. 
• Ostia Antica: another excellent option for archeology nerds. 
• Florence: ideal for art lovers. 
• Santa Marinella: another beach day option.

Make the most of your time in Rome and take advantage of its convenient rail system. Or, when the city becomes overwhelming, take a day to explore something new. I hope these trips enrich your experience as they have mine. 

Ciao ciao!

-Ellie