Lazio

For centuries, visitors have flocked from all over the world to visit Rome and admire the ancient monuments, galleries and museums. Every corner of this enthralling city has something of interest to offer from famous sights such as the Coliseum and the Vatican to more unusual activities such as a trip along the Tiber.

Top of the sightseeing trail is the Coliseum. After recent renovation work, it is once again hosting performances, although not gladiatorial, you could spend a romantic evening enjoying a musical or theatrical group. The Pantheon, built by Hadrian as a temple to the 12 classical deities, is another one of ancient Rome's best-preserved remains and has a key location in the heart of the historic centre between the lively Piazza Navona and Via del Corso.

For true romantics, a trip to Rome is not complete without making a wish at the Trevi fountain. You may know Nicolò Salvi’s wonderful, Rococo creation from the scene of Anita Ekberg's late-night dip in Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita. For a shady break from sightseeing, Villa Borghese is a must. This huge park (complete with a boating lake) once belonged to the Borghese family and houses two art treasures: the Galleria Borghese, with its Bernini sculptures and Caravaggio paintings, and Italy's national collection of modern art at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna with works by Cezanne.

To the east of the park are two of the most famous squares in Rome, the Piazza di Spagna and the Piazza del Popolo. Piazza di Spagna is famous for its impressive flight of steps, always buzzing with young locals and tourists. It was here that Keats and Shelley spent several years - Keats died in the house at the foot of the steps in 1821, now preserved as the Keats-Shelley Memorial House. For art lovers, the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, situated in Piazza del Popolo, built in 1472, is noted for works by Raphael, Caravaggio and Pinturicchio.

But for a really significant collection of art, you should head to the Vatican. Founded in AD 90 the Vatican City has acted as an independent state since 1929 and leads a separate existence from the rest of Rome. First stop is the imposing colonnade of St Peter's Square, which forms an elliptical shape, symbolising the Church's embrace of all mankind, with no less than 284 columns arranged in four rows. Next you should go into St Peter's Basilica with its huge dome, completed in 1590 to Michelangelo's detailed specifications. It was the largest brick construction ever built, giving you some idea of the importance and magnitude of this project. Inside, the proportions are so vast that huge marble sculptures, frescoes and coloured marble stretch up as far as the eye can see. Under the chapels are the tombs of recent popes, including John Paul II.

To visit Michelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel you need to head to the Vatican museum. Frescoes of the Creation and the Last judgement cover the chapel along with Renaissance works by Botticelli, Rosselli and Signorelli.

Most tourists stay in Rome itself, but the team at Luna Rosa has discovered a charming area outside the city called Castelli Romani. Made up of thirteen medieval towns, Castelli Romani has long been a retreat from the summer heat of the city. It is also a wine growing area, producing the famous Frascati wine. In the Castelli Romani hills, our privately-owned villa, La Tenuta, has fabulous lawned terraces overlooking Rome in the distance. It is a dreamy location for a honeymoon and the most perfect setting for a wedding.

Other towns in Castelli Romani include Grottaferrata. Known for its wine, the town has a particularly excellent example of an 11th-century Greek Orthodox Abbey with a Byzantine-style interior and mosaics. From here visit the Lago di Albano, overlooked by Castel Gandolfo, the summer retreat of the Pope. At 400 metres above the lake, the town offers a refreshing escape from the midday sun.

With direct flights from UK airports into Rome, most properties in this area can be reached in less than 1 hour from Rome airport.