South of Rome, the Castelli Romani has lured popes, artists, and weekenders for centuries. Genzano di Roma crowns the ridge between Lake Nemi and Lake Albano, its stone lanes unspooling toward spectacular crater-lake views. The town is famed for the Infiorata, a centuries-old floral carpet festival each June along Via Italo Belardi.

History runs deep here: ancient Roman ports once dotted Lake Nemi, while Baroque masters Bernini and Borromini shaped the neighboring towns. Churches, palaces, and gardens reveal stories of papal summers, noble families, and volcanic landscapes now cloaked in vineyards and chestnut woods. Photographers will love the golden light on water, medieval trim of Nemi, and the monumental Ponte di Ariccia.

Practical notes: spring and fall bring mild weather and fewer crowds; June is lively (and pricier) during the Infiorata. Many town centers have ZTL restricted driving zones—park on the perimeter and walk. Expect hearty Lazio cuisine: porchetta in Ariccia, Frascati DOC wines, strawberry tarts from Nemi, and Roman classics like amatriciana and cacio e pepe.

Genzano di Roma

Genzano is a lived-in hilltown with a photogenic spine, Via Italo Belardi, and a belvedere garden dropping toward Lake Nemi. Don’t miss Palazzo Sforza Cesarini and its landscaped park; on a clear day, you’ll frame both lake and Tyrrhenian glints in one shot.

• Top sights: Palazzo Sforza Cesarini and Parco Sforza-Cesarini, Church of the Santissima Trinità, viewpoints toward Lake Nemi, nearby Nemi village and the Museum of Roman Ships.
• Local flavors: breads from traditional wood-fired ovens, seasonal porcini and chestnuts, porchetta sandwiches, Roman-style pastas, and Frascati wines.
• Fun fact: During the Infiorata, residents craft elaborate religious and artistic “carpets” of petals—one of Italy’s most colorful religious folk traditions.

Where to stay (mid-range to affordable): Browse apartments and agriturismi within walking distance of the historic center or overlooking the lakes.

• VRBO picks in and around Genzano di Roma: See VRBO listings
• Hotels.com options near Genzano/Nemi/Castel Gandolfo: See Hotels.com stays

Getting there & around:

• Flights: If you’re coming from within Europe, compare fares to Rome (FCO/CIA) on Omio Flights. From outside Europe, check Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights.
• Train/bus from Rome: From Roma Termini, take the FL4 train to Albano Laziale (~50 min), then a local COTRAL bus to Genzano (~15–20 min). Plan using Omio Trains and Omio Buses. Total cost typically €5–€10.
• Driving: From FCO to Genzano is ~45–60 min via GRA/SS7; note ZTL in historic centers. Parking is easier on the edges of town.

Day 1: Arrival, First Views, and a Gentle Passeggiata

Afternoon: Arrive in Rome and transfer to Genzano di Roma. By public transport, budget ~1.5 hours Termini→Albano→Genzano; by car or taxi from FCO, ~50 minutes. Check in and decompress with a stroll along Via Italo Belardi, pausing at Parco Sforza-Cesarini for your first panorama over Lake Nemi—golden hour is gorgeous for photography.

Evening: Ease into local flavors with a Roman pasta dinner (amatriciana or carbonara) and seasonal contorni. Pair with a glass of Frascati Superiore or Cesanese. For dessert, look for crostate stuffed with ricotta or cherry jam at a neighborhood pasticceria. Early night to reset.

Day 2: Genzano Essentials—Palazzo, Park, and Church

Morning: Espresso and cornetto at a bar near Piazza (try one on or just off Via Italo Belardi), then tour Palazzo Sforza Cesarini. Its interiors and landscaped park mix aristocratic history with lake-view terraces—bring a wide-angle lens for the garden-to-water perspective. Pop into the Church of the Santissima Trinità to admire Baroque chapels and quiet devotional art—perfect for your requested church visit.

Afternoon: Lunch on pizza al taglio or a porchetta panino; then drift through lanes photographing stone portals, shrines, and Infiorata-themed murals. If you’re into documents and ephemera, ask locally about temporary exhibits often hosted in civic spaces.

Evening: For a relaxed meal, seek a trattoria serving gricia, saltimbocca, and seasonal mushrooms. If you want views, book somewhere overlooking Lake Nemi (short taxi/bus ride). Keep ISO low and tripod ready for blue-hour shots of the town from the park.

Day 3: Nemi and the Museum of Roman Ships (Museo delle Navi Romane)

Morning: Bus or taxi to Nemi (10–15 min). Start at the Belvedere for lake-and-village panoramas. Visit the Museum of Roman Ships, where reconstructions and surviving artifacts tell the story of Emperor Caligula’s extravagant lake barges—excellent for detail photography.

Afternoon: Lunch in Nemi—try Antica Osteria di Nemi for lake fish, porcini when in season, and hearty Roman mains. Don’t skip a slice of the town’s signature crostata di fragoline di bosco (wild strawberry tart). Walk the path down toward the lake edge for reflections and reedbed compositions.

Evening: Return to Genzano. Grab an aperitivo—spritz or local white—then a simple dinner of bruschette, pecorino romano, and cured meats. Night shots along Via Italo Belardi capture the town’s warm glow without big-city crowds.

Day 4: Ariccia and Albano Laziale—Bernini, Porchetta, and Roman Engineering

Morning: Short bus or taxi to Ariccia (5–10 min). Visit Palazzo Chigi (a time-capsule noble residence and museum) and Bernini’s elliptical Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta—a highlight for church architecture lovers. Photograph the monumental Ponte di Ariccia from below and from the viewpoints for grand-scale context.

Afternoon: Lunch like a local at a traditional fraschetta such as Osteria n.1: porchetta sliced to order, coppiette (spicy dried pork), rustic breads, and house wine served simply. Continue to nearby Albano Laziale (5 min) to see the colossal Roman Cisternone (when open on guided visits) and the Cathedral of San Pancrazio. Both offer striking, very different kinds of “monumentality” for your photos.

Evening: Dinner in Albano or back in Genzano. If you want a classic trattoria vibe, look for spots around Albano’s historic center serving cacio e pepe and abbacchio (spring lamb). Return by bus/taxi.

Day 5: Castel Gandolfo—Papal Palace, Barberini Gardens, and Lake Albano

Morning: Head to Castel Gandolfo (~20 min). Visit the Apostolic Palace museum to learn about papal summers and see artifacts tied to centuries of Catholic history. Then enter the Barberini Gardens (book guided entry) for geometric parterres, ancient ruins, and sweeping views over Lake Albano—catnip for photographers.

Afternoon: Step into Chiesa di San Tommaso da Villanova, a Bernini design with a harmonious interior that rewards a careful, tripod-steady composition. Wander down to the lakeside path or rent a pedal boat for mirror-like reflections of the hills.

Evening: Treat yourself at Pagnanelli 1882 (reserve ahead): lake fish, handmade pastas, and a storied wine cellar. Blue hour over Lake Albano is one of Lazio’s great evening scenes—bring a fast lens if you plan handheld shots.

Day 6: Rome Highlights—Churches, Piazzas, and Photo Stops (Day Tour)

Use today for a curated Rome deep dive tailored to your interests—church visits, architecture, and photography. A small private tour is efficient and lets you cover a lot without getting lost in transit.

• Recommended tour: Rome Highlights Private Tour by Golf Cart (great for photography and church stops—think St. Peter’s Square, Pantheon exterior, Piazza Navona, and hidden corners).

  

• Alternative (with Vatican focus): Private Shore Excursion: Best of Rome and the Vatican (includes major basilicas and top landmarks; useful if you want a Vatican Museums/ St. Peter’s emphasis).

  

Logistics: Trains from Albano Laziale to Roma Termini take ~50 minutes; from there, meet your guide or hop a quick metro/taxi to the starting point. For DIY transport compare options on Omio Trains and Omio Buses. For dinner afterward, consider classic addresses like Armando al Pantheon (Roman recipes), Da Enzo al 29 (Trastevere), or Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina (cured meats, pasta), then return to Genzano.

Day 7: Appian Way Morning or Slow Farewell, Then Departure

Morning: Two options. Photography-forward: head into Rome’s Appia Antica early for low-crowd shots of basalt paving, pines, and ruins, and—time permitting—a church and catacomb visit (e.g., San Sebastiano). Alternatively, enjoy a slow Genzano morning, revisiting the park and any overlooked church or bakery. Pick up edible souvenirs (porchetta, biscotti, local wine) if you’re allowed to bring them home.

Afternoon departure: To reach FCO, plan ~50–70 min by car/taxi or ~1.5–2 hours by train/bus. Compare rail/bus legs on Omio Trains and Omio Buses. For flights, check Omio Flights within Europe or Trip.com Flights and Kiwi.com for overseas routes.

Coffee, breakfast, and dining ideas throughout the week:

• Breakfast/Coffee: Italian bars near Piazza and Via Italo Belardi (Genzano) for espresso and cornetti; in Nemi, a café by the Belvedere is ideal for a crostata di fragoline with a view.
• Lunch: Fraschette in Ariccia (e.g., Osteria n.1) for porchetta and rustic plates; in Nemi, Antica Osteria di Nemi for lake specialties; quick Roman pizza al taglio in any town.
• Dinner: Pagnanelli 1882 in Castel Gandolfo for a memorable lake-view meal; classic Roman trattorie in Albano and Genzano for amatriciana, gricia, and saltimbocca; in Rome on Day 6, Armando al Pantheon or Roscioli for a well-earned splurge.

Budget tips (target: mid-range ~50/100): Mix trattorie and fraschette lunches (€12–€22 per person without wine) with one or two splurge dinners (€40–€60 per person). Regional trains and COTRAL buses are inexpensive; taxis for lake-view dinners are worth it after dark. Most small churches are free; palaces/museums are modest (€5–€12).

Photo and church highlights at a glance: Palazzo Sforza Cesarini gardens at golden hour; Belvedere of Nemi; Ponte di Ariccia vantage points; Santa Maria Assunta (Ariccia) and San Tommaso da Villanova (Castel Gandolfo) for Baroque geometry; Appia Antica’s long perspectives; Rome’s basilicas on Day 6.

With lakeside sunsets, Baroque churches, and easy day trips, Genzano di Roma anchors a rewarding week in Lazio’s hill country. You’ll come home with memory cards full of water-and-stone vistas and a palate trained on porchetta, pastas, and bright Frascati wines. Arrivederci—until the next festa or photo chase.