Lake Bracciano is one of the major lakes of Italy in the region of Lazio, and a relatively unknown gem. The old volcanic crater is now a freshwater lake, that also serves as a drinking water reservoir for the centre of Rome. We think it is the best place on earth, and hope you will agree in July. Plan your trip with our tips on each town and the surrounding Lazio region below. We will add an Eat & Drink section in May.

Bracciano, as the lake's namesake, is the main town where most people who live and work on the lake were born.

Castello Odescalchi, a medieval castle, is the main attraction in town and where we will be getting married on the Sunday evening. It originally doubled-up as a military defence structure and the residence of two papal families, Orsini and Borgia. It was most famously the residence of Paolo Giordano I Orsini (you will notice a few bears - Orsini  - around the castle) and Isabella de Medici from the famous Tuscan family. If you are staying longer than the weekend, it is worth visiting separately for a full tour of the inside.

Other highlights of the town are the main square where you can sit and enjoy a coffee or Spritz, and the Italian Airforce Museum down by the lake hosting famous planes including the Supermarine Spitfire and F-104 Starfighter.

As the larger town and the most difficult to enjoy by foot, with a basic beachfront far below the town, we recommend that all guests stay in the towns of Anguillara Sabazia and Trevignano Romano where bus transport will be provided to events. See our Accommodation page for more info. Of course, should you wish to do your own thing and stay in Bracciano, the Lazio countryside, or the centre of Rome (tips below on this too), simple let us know when you RSVP.

Anguillara is characterised by an old-chocolate box town built up on a hill. Below it stretches a promenade on the water. The beauty of the town is its size; you can walk from the church at the top to the end of the promenade in less than 15 minutes (although this is the downhill version of the trip!) You can see a map of Anguillara in our Accommodation information.

We love sipping coffee or Spritz in the old town square looking at the beautiful commune building, and enjoying takeaway pizza on the promenade or a terrace or balcony. You will also notice a number of eel symbols across fountains and arches; 'anguilla' means eel, which you can find both in the lake or on your plate in restaurants.

ENJOY: a wide variety of restaurants all within walking distance, the best sunset views, and whatever impromptu concert or market is taking place along the promenade.

NOTA BENE: the steep climbs around the cobbled old town, and the inability to park close to most of the accommodation options we have listed - use the paid parking area shown on our map of Anguillara.

Find out where to stay in Anguillara here.

Trevignano Romano has everything a short (and flat!) walk away. The town is characterised by its Etruscan history, which gets Charlotte pretty excited.

The Etruscans were the ancient civilisation across Northern Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany before the Roman-Etruscan Wars of late 4th Century BC and have a varying degree of credit for founding Ancient Rome depending on which Italian you talk to. Within the town you will find the ancient Etruscan castle (pictured above) and Etruscan tombs in the hills above it, as well as the Museo Civico Etrusco Romano in the main square.

ENJOY: the lake's longest promenade (perfect for runners), an older Italian generation playing boules on the promenade, beaches with the softest sand, kayaking and sunbathing

NOTA BENE: the one way driving system around the town, and slightly longer walks between things (the bus pick up point and our Lake Lunch venue) as Trevignano is larger than Anguillara.

Find out where to stay in Trevignano here.

We have spent over a week each summer in the region and it is fair to say we have fallen in love with Lazio. Below are some of the highlights from our trips over the last 4 years...

ROME: Enough said. Whether it's the Vatican and the Spanish Steps, or the Great Synagogue and Arch of Titus - there is plenty to see in the centre. We would advise that July beats down on the city and makes it very hot between 11am and 3pm, but we will definitely include some top tips for eating and drinking your way through the city in our Eat & Drink section (coming soon). Our top tip for Rome is, when driving, park up at Parcheggio SABA Villa Borghese (Viale del Galappatoio, 33 Roma 00197) which is a 10 minute tunnel walk that emerges right by the Spanish steps. Alternatively you can drive to the train station in Anguillara, Cesano di Roma or Bracciano and get the FL3 line into Roma San Pietro (the Vatican), which takes about 50 minutes.

TOWNS: Our favouite town in the vicinity to the lake is SUTRI. It's a perfect stop off if you're headed to the Papal Baths of Viterbo (see below) but makes a nice morning working up an appetite for one of the best meals you will eat in its old town. Etruscans spent even more time in Sutri than Trevignano: there are tombs (pictured above), a mausoleum and an amphitheatre to see! To avoid disappointment, check the opening times here.

Another favourite stop-off for us is CALCATA. It's hard to believe a town built on such a tall cliff face of volcanic rock hasn't toppled down. Residents were in fact evacuated by the Italian government in the 1930s for that very reason and were relocated to Calcata Nuova 'New Calcata' (don't put that in your sat nav). In the 1960s the hippies 'moved in' to Calcata, the government reversed its evacuation order, sold the hippies the homes and it has been a wacky community ever since! Paintings of cats in clothes, trance music over your cappucino and stunning views of the valley of the river Treja are just some of the reasons to visit.

Further afield is CASPERIA, atop a hill in the registered trademark region for Sabina Olive Oil. There you will find the man and legend Johnny Madge, an Englishman who settled there and now runs expert Olive Oil tours including a visit to the oldest olive tree in the region and a tasting in the sunshine. We also stayed in the only B&B La Torretta run by Maureen and ate in the only restaurant in town - run by Johnny and a Star Wars enthusiast. Your evening will finish singing along to Johnny and friends on guitar, anything from Bob Dylan to Radiohead. Enjoy!

Not technically in Lazio but still close enough to drive to and enjoy is ORVIETO. It's white wine country, home of Orvieto Classico the Italian's table wine, and has a particularly impressive cathedral in the old town. We had a wonderful stay nearby at boutique hotel La Locanda Palazzone, and would also recommend a tour of how Italians make Spumante - their champagne or ahem, Italian sparkling wine - at Decugnano dei Barbi vineyard.

BATHS: July will be hot - but the naturally hot sulphuric springs and baths in Lazio are not to be missed. Both the Etruscans and later Popes were crazy about them, and their therapeutic properties. Our favourite is Terme dei Papi - The Pope's Thermal Baths - in Viterbo. It is particularly nice to go at night as the sun sets, and these baths are open until 1am on Saturday night for a relax under the stars.

The less-luxe version is to find the springs themselves, there are some signposted near Bracciano and the small hamlet called Vicarello by Trevignano. We may gather the courage to try one of these over the next few months, and will report back!

LAKES: Do try to spend time at LAGO DI MARTIGNANO, the baby brother of Bracciano. Accessed by foot down into the dusty white volcanic crater - it is the most untouched lake in the region. If you do go, pack a picnic and anything else you will need for the day, as there are very few amenities - except for pedalos, kayaks and ice cream. And send us a picture, Charlotte went every Wednesday in summer with her sisters and school friends.

If you are doing a tour of the lakes in the Lazio region, there is also LAGO DI VICO and LAGO DI BOLSENA. The latter is the largest lake in the region with plenty of towns to stay in just like Lake Bracciano. Both lakes will feature on our Eat & Drink section and could be visited for the day from Lake Bracciano.

BEACH: If you land in the morning at Rome Fiumicino (FCO) airport, how about hitting the beach in 15 minutes? The stretch of beach you need to follow signs for is FREGENE. Where Romans go to top up their tan all-year round, it's not the most beautiful sea you can swim in, but you can have lunch at La Spiaggetta, which we only include ahead of the Food & Drink section as a tourist attraction itself; The Fourfits played there almost 20 years ago. If you do visit ask Alessandro or Paola to show you the picture of 'Le Sorrelle Moss' playing there that still hangs in the restaurant.

One more cheat as not technically in Lazio but if you fancy a beach holiday put SPERLONGA on your list. Known to classicists as the site of Tiberius' orgy cave, the town is built up on a rock face with a 30-minute therepeutic walk down to the white sand beach each morning. Beware - you have to pick a side - the North with 'Gli Americani', flash hotels and swanky restaurants, or the South side with 'Gli Italiani' chilling with a panino next to Tiberius' cave. Both sides have Lettini con Tettini (Beds with Head Shades). The Moss family have been staying with Elio and his family at Hotel Corallo for years, and hitting the South side at Valle Corsari. Again, send pictures if you do go!