| Lazio has so much to offer the tourist with an | | | | 3) For those of us accustomed to hurrying to the |
| abundance of things to see and do that are too | | | | supermarket before it closes after a long day at |
| numerous to cover all of them here. In this first | | | | work, it is a refreshing change to go directly to a |
| of a series of articles we look at the area | | | | producer and buy high quality fresh produce. |
| surrounding the picturesque and historic town of | | | | Instead of checking labels for expiry dates and |
| Tarquinia in northern Lazio. Tarquinia, just one hour | | | | "unwanted additives" with who knows what |
| from Rome by train with excellent road and public | | | | adverse affects, visiting a farm, chatting with the |
| transport connections is perfect as a relaxing | | | | producer and seeing food cultivated naturally is |
| base from which to explore Lazio and Tuscany . | | | | the best measure of quality available. Agriculture is |
| Here we will start with 5 things to see and do in | | | | as important to Tarquinia as tourism and many |
| Tarquinia. | | | | local producers welcome visitors who wish to |
| 1) Relax by the sea and revitalize your body and | | | | sample and/or purchase their produce. Olive oil, |
| soul. Just five kilometres from the town, the | | | | local cheeses and of course wine are all to be |
| unspoilt beach at Tarquinia Lido is ideal for a | | | | sampled. One such producer is Sant Isidoro. |
| relaxing walk and taking in the sea air. There are | | | | 4) Tarquinia has long been a home to artists, a |
| plenty of leisure resorts and facilities many | | | | tradition which continues to thrive today. Almost |
| offering entertainment for children in the summer | | | | every street in the old town has a workshop or |
| months as well as a variety of beach and water | | | | artist studio. Visitors are often welcome so if you |
| sports. There are also some excellent restaurants | | | | would like to see an artist at work, pick up a few |
| with great views looking onto the waterfront | | | | pointers or share experiences look out for these |
| where one can enjoy a mouth-watering dish of | | | | studio with the sign 'ingresso libero'. Of the many |
| freshly caught seafood. The food, wine, | | | | artists with studios in the historic centre, the |
| comfortable surroundings and excellent service at | | | | English born Brian Mobbs is one of the best |
| Il Tirreno make it one of the many restaurants | | | | known. His studio is on Via di Porta Castello. |
| worth visiting. | | | | 5) For nature lovers the wildlife reserve at |
| 2) Explore the world of the mysterious Etruscans | | | | Tarquinia Le Saline offers a rare opportunity to |
| by visiting the necropolis and museum. Tarquinia | | | | view several species of migratory birds not often |
| was one of the principal cities of ancient Etruria, | | | | seen in Europe. Just as interesting and varied is |
| home to the Etruscan civilization that occupied this | | | | the long history of this area from busy port to |
| part of Italy from around 900 BC. Today an air | | | | the Greeks, Etruscans and Romans to salt |
| of mystery surrounds the Etruscans. While we | | | | extraction. The 170 hectares is today a peaceful |
| know they were highly advanced both technically | | | | paradise, protected by the National Forestry and |
| and culturally, there are many gaps in our | | | | whose winding pathways are ideal for a relaxing |
| knowledge as to their origins and the language | | | | walk or bicycle ride. |
| they spoke. The cemetery just outside the town | | | | Tarquinia, at just over one hour from Rome with |
| of Tarquinia with its 6000 graves some 200 of | | | | good rail and road connections, is a great base |
| which contain remarkable wall paintings and the | | | | from which to explore Lazio. Low cost flights are |
| museum in the town centre house some of the | | | | available to Ciampino airport which is around 90 |
| finest examples of Etruscan art in the world | | | | minutes drive from Tarquinia. A regular train |
| today and present a unique insight into the | | | | service connects Tarquinia to Rome and the city |
| fascinating world of this people. | | | | of Pisa. |