Oltre ad ospitare Rome, the capital of Italy and regional capital, in Lazio there is also the smallest state in the world: Vatican City. The region consists, besides Rome, also of the provinces of Frosinone, Latina, Rieti and Viterbo, all medium-sized towns.
In Lazio there are well-known volcanic lakes: the Lake Bolsena, the Lake Vico, the Lake Nemi, the Lake Bracciano and the Lake Albano. The latter is nestled in the area of the Castelli Romani, a series of hills southeast of Rome, an area chosen by the Popes as a summer retreat, at the residence of Castel Gandolfo, but also a place for typical gastronomic products, such as the porchetta of Ariccia.
As for the coastal area, Lazio is characterized by low sandy beaches, with the only exceptions of Circeo and Gaeta. Still on the theme of the sea, off the coast of the region is the Pontine Archipelago.
The interior is instead characterized by hilly areas gradually rising to the mountainous part that wedges into Abruzzo and extends towards Umbria; the highest mountain in Lazio is Terminillo with its 2213 meters, while all the other peaks are of modest height. It was said that even the countryside in Lazio offers beautiful views and vacation opportunities, just think of the bucolic landscapes of the Maremma laziale. Thus, there is only the embarrassment of choice to visit Lazio, a region rich in history and natural beauty.
