A few kilometers out of the Eternal city, it is possible to visit one of the most beautiful and imposing abodes in Europe, the Odescalchi Castle, which rises above the homonymous lake.
Built under the Orsini Family at the end of the 15th century, it belongs today to the Odescalchi Princess, whom with a pinch of luck, you could be able to encounter strodding about the Castle’s corridors, during any opening day.
Holding quite the relevant strategic standpoint, because of its position, the Bracciano Castle has been subject to several disputes through the centuries, between the most noble families of Rome.
This rock-made giant, perched on the hills overlooking the other lakeside villages, Anguillara Sabazia and Trevignano Romano.
A Renaissance chronicler described the Castle as “Inappropriate”, because of its dimensions which have exceeded in the Papal Residences in the Vatican.
For our pleasure, it has become a Museum, for guests to visit and relive an enchanted atmosphere, climb its towers and take in the breathtaking panorama.
The same towers from which the beautiful Italian Actress Monica Vitti would lower herself, in 1966, during the shooting of one of the comedies of the Golden years for Italian cinema “La Cintura di Castità”. But the Castle hasn’t been estranged to film since then. In fact, it was part of a movie set of a more recent sitcom called “I Medici”, which narrates events of Renaissance Italy, strictly related to the history of the Medici family.
One of the dearest legends connected to the Bracciano Castle, involves in fact Isabella de’ Medici, wife of Paolo Giordano Orsini:
Legend has it, Isabella had many affairs behind the poor husband’s back, in one of her private chambers of the castles, called “la sala rossa” the “the red hall”. And at the end of the brief affairs, in that very room, she would cover her tracks by throwing her lovers into a hidden trapdoor, leaving them to an unfaithful destiny.
Sadly, but only to some extent, this legend is fake. The couple was madly in love, as for the conspicuous correspondence that was later found, as proof of their great love. And the name of the hall was attributed to the scarlet red tapestries of that particular room.
Speaking of weddings, innumerous “I dos” were exchanged between these walls, as the Bracciano Castle continues to be the preferred wedding venue for many privileged and illustrious figures from the international jet set: from Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes to Martin Scorsese and his bride Isabella Rossellini. Just to mention a few.
Visiting this Jewel on the lake, but also the beautiful towns nearby is absolutely worth it.
We highly recommend a walk, maybe while enjoying a gelato on the breathtaking lakeside of Trevignano Romano. What an enchanted experience!
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If you want to do something different, consider a relaxing day out in the country, to explore the Bracciano Lake and Surrounding villages! You will travel to Lake Bracciano, to visit Bracciano, Trevignano Romano, and Anguillara Sabazia. Quaint villages, of Medieval wonder and rustic charm, surrounded by green hills, in a beautiful setting. First off Bracciano! Famous for its outstanding 15th century Orsini-Odescalchi Castle. Visited by important personalities such as John Kennedy and Tina Turner, and of course Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’, who used the castle as their wedding venue. *Upon request, if you’d like to visit the Castle of Bracciano, you can buy your ticket at the booth and as an alternative to the group tours which they usually arrange, a great way to visit the Castle and its museum is to create your personal, fun itinerary to visit the estate on your own. With the delightful help of a video and audio guide, that you can easily download on your phone by scanning a QR code at the entrance. With wonderful explanations, videos and more. Another charming town is Anguillara Sabazia. Hosting an impressive hillside historical city center and amazing panoramic vistas And Finally, Trevignano! This village simply reflects and beauty, the traditions and the eagerness to preserve it’s ancient history. The architecture and rustic features are simply breathtaking. We highly recommend opting for a lunch in one of the many restaurants with an exclusive position overlooking the lake! A chance to taste some local delicacies and enjoy breathtaking views. However, upon request of course, we offer a personalized option to consider: We can arrange, for a small additional cost, a full meal with beverages in a unique location. A beautiful terrace overlooking the lake, with a privileged panoramic scene. Although the menu may change depending on the seasonal specialties, the personalized lunch would typically include: A jubilation of different home-made appetizer, bruschettas, frittatas and so on Homemade “pasta” dish served with delicious sauce or other Local home-made desserts All served with sparkling water and carefully selected local wine If you'd like to take advantage of this option of "Lunch in the Veranda on the lake", you can select this during the booking process, to add directly to the cost of the tour. After lunch, we will continue to Calcata, one of the best preserved medieval rock towns (literally built in a rocky cliff) in Italy. Calcata has a certain Magic to it, the atmosphere is pure and overwhelming. This Medieval destination is mostly lived by poets, writers, artists and solitaires. At the end, your private tour driver will take you back to your requested location in Rome.
price from €87.50
Lake Bracciano Tour, one of our favorite shore excursions! If you want to do something different, while docked, consider a relaxing day in the country, to explore the enchanted Lake Bracciano and its Surrounding villages! If you are docked in Civitavecchia Port, a great alternative to the classic Rome tours, would be this particular tour. Lake Bracciano is just a few miles away from Rome, and yet it is totally immersed in a completely different atmosphere. Fully immersed in the "hilly" countryside, this Volcanic lake is surrounded by 3 tiny villages. Bracciano, Trevignano Romano, and Anguillara Sabazia. Quaint villages, of Medieval wonder and rustic charm, surrounded by green hills, in a beautiful setting. The most famous of these villages would be Bracciano Bracciano is a Medieval town perched on the hillside, overlooking the lake. Famous for its amazing 15th century Orsini-Odescalchi Castle. Visited by important personalities such as John Kennedy and Tina Turner, and of course Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’, as their wedding venue. The old part of town surrounding the Castle is definitely worth a visit. It is exactly what you would expect of a Castle and its village. And inside the Castle, everything is immaculate and preserved completely. With original Tapestries hanging from the ceilings, crystal chandeliers, Halls and Galleries and even an exposition of old armors and weapons. And the views from the gardens are absolutely magical. *Upon request, if you'd like to visit the Castle of Bracciano, you can buy your ticket at the booth and as an alternative to the group tours which they usually arrange, a great way to visit the Castle and its museum is to create your personal, fun itinerary to visit the estate on your own. With the delightful help of a video and audio guide, that you can easily download on your phone by scanning a QR code at the entrance. With wonderful explanations, videos and more. Another charming town is Anguillara, with a beautiful vista This small village hosts a beautiful medieval city center, nestled on a hill overlooking the lake. It's such a charming little town. Famous all over the World, for hosting an episode of the tv show "Everybody loves Raymond". And finally, Trevignano Romano! This gorgeous town, a little smaller than Bracciano or Anguillara, is one of the most frequented towns in the Countryside of Rome. There are cliffs, there are historical buildings, there are ruins of Ancient fortresses, there is a beautiful beach, and lake side promenade. This town has it all! And it's quite old too! In fact there is proof that the presence of people in this territory dates back to the Paleolithic! This village simply reflects and beauty, the traditions and the eagerness to preserve it’s ancient history. The architecture and rustic features are simply breathtaking. We highly recommend opting for a lunch in one of the many restaurants with an exclusive position overlooking the lake! A chance to taste some local delicacies and enjoy breathtaking views. However, upon request of course, we offer a personalized option to consider: We can arrange, for a small additional cost, a full meal with beverages in a unique location. A beautiful terrace overlooking the lake, with a privileged panoramic scene. Although the menu may change depending on the seasonal specialties, the personalized lunch would typically include: A jubilation of different home-made appetizer, bruschettas, frittatas and so on Homemade “pasta” dish served with delicious sauce or other Local home-made desserts All served with sparkling water and carefully selected local wine If you'd like to take advantage of this option of "Lunch in the Veranda on the lake", you can select this during the booking process, to add directly to the cost of the tour. After lunch, your tour driver will make one final stop to Calcata, one of the best preserved medieval hill towns in Italy. Calcata is a magical, medieval destination that’s perfect for art lovers. It is a tiny little village, entirely carved in stone on a cliff that overlooks the forrest below. It is a very fascinating place to see, although its position is not very hospitable to live in permanently. In fact the only few citizens in Calcata today, are often writers, singers, artists, hermits or just people in search of inspiration in this mystical isolation you will encounter first hand. During this tour you can notice how the different towns in the Lake Bracciano area all have their own trait. They are all unique in their own way, history and traditions. You will very much enjoy this private shore excursion. What a great opportunity to explore the more Authentic aspect of life in Italy!
price from €87.50
+39 06.999.77.65
+39 339.159.25.40
info@discoveryguidedtours.com
8 hours
