Bracciano Travel Guide

Bracciano is a small town in the Italian region of Lazio 30 km northwest of Rome. The town is famous for its volcanic lake (Lago di Bracciano or "Sabatino", the eighth largest lake in Italy) and for a particularly well-preserved medieval castle. The lake is widely used for sailing and is popular with tourists; the castle has hosted a number of events, especially weddings of actors and singers. The town is served by an urban railway (Line FR3) which connects it with Rome (stations of Ostiense and Valle Aurelia) in about 45 minutes. Close to it lie the two medieval towns of Anguillara Sabazia and Trevignano Romano Main sight. The main monument of Bracciano is its castle, Castello Orsini Odescalchi, one of the most noteworthy examples of Renaissance military architecture in Italy. 3 km outside the city, alongside the road leading to Trevignano Romano is the ancient church of San Liberato (ninth century). It occupies what was once the Roman settlement of Forum Clodii, now surrounded by an herb garden, part of the complex of English-style gardens at the adjoining Villa San Librato, designed by Russel Page in 1965 for the art historian conte Donato Sanminatelli and his contessa, Maria Odescalchi, and carried out over the following decade. On the same road are the ruins of the Aquae Apollinaris, a complex of baths famous in the Roman age. At Vigna di Valle, facing the lake, an ancient hydroplane base houses today the museum of theAeronautica Militare Italiana. The museum's four hangars include most of the historical Italian military aircraft, including famous planes . The museum stages an annual 'Giornata Azzura' airshow at  pratica di Mare airport.

It pays to drop the vehicle and walk a bit through bracciano. It's really a cool medieval town with steep paths and rock walls everywhere. The lake is wonderful, so if you're in the area, spend the time to go there for lunch.

To enjoy at best the town, go sailing on the lake