Lazio is an incredibly popular region of Italy. The capital is the main attraction and draws millions, but focusing solely on the city is a mistake.
I’m not very much into famous places; I’m more interested in doing non-touristy things, and in my opinion Lazio deserves much more attention than just Rome. It has everything: landscapes, the sea, food (of course), the so-called Italian experience, and real hidden gems (not the Instagram ones) such as Trevi nel Lazio, so why stick only to Rome?
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What Is Trevi nel Lazio? Mountain Vibes 800 Meters Up
Trevi nel Lazio is one of these medieval towns in Italy which almost no one visits (I mean foreigners). Trevi is located in the Simbruini Mountains at an altitude of 800 meters – not so high, but you feel the mountain vibes there.
Tiny, with a population of 1,700, it’s a place where everyone knows everyone, and gossips about everyone. For such a small town, Trevi nel Lazio is quite well-equipped for life: there are four or five cafes, a restaurant, a school, two or three grocery shops, an ATM (but not a bank), a mobile post office, and, of course, a castle.
Getting to Trevi nel Lazio: Day Trip from Rome by Car
We wanted to stay two nights there, but it ended up being one and a half. Our return flight was delayed; driving from the Rome airport, we used GPS as always. This time, it completely lost its mind, and decide to pump up our adrenaline.
It showed us shortcuts through dark mountains, and then suggested a “super-shortcut”—a path barely a meter wide, just absolutely perfect for a car. And it treated us to all these funny things in the middle of the night.
Mauro finally checked the map and stopped relying on the GPS. So instead of arriving around 10 p.m., we got there after 1 a.m. Luckily, our host was waiting for us.
Trevi nel Lazio: Why It Works as a Mountain Base for Exploring Lazio
Trevi nel Lazio is a great option for a day trip from Rome by car. You can visit and explore it in a few hours, but for me it’s a good base for exploring Lazio off the beaten path.
And in between, Trevi is still this authentic Italy, which is slowly disappearing under mass tourism and globalization. A cliché? Probably. Still true though.
In the morning, we were woken up by neighbours chatting and gossiping, the bells of a nearby church, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the air. We were the local attraction there, having breakfast with some local old boys discussing life. And I’m sure – chitchatting about us when we left.
Hike to Cascata di Trevi nel Lazio
We decided to see the Cascata di Trevi waterfall. With memories of beautiful waterfalls in Bosnia fresh in my mind, I was a bit sceptical. I wasn’t expecting anything, especially since it hadn’t rained for a while. I’ve seen almost dried up waterfalls in Italy and it’s not the best sight.
The waterfall is easy to reach; just enter the name into your GPS—this time, it behaved properly. The path to the waterfall is just behind (or before, depending on the direction) the restaurant located at the bend. It’s short and easy, though a bit slippery at times, so watch your step.
To my surprise, the surroundings and Cascata di Trevi turned out to be beautiful, so we spent over an hour there. Not because there’s so much to do, but simply because there were no people there at all, and we enjoyed the place.
On the left of the waterfall, there are ruins, and a path leading uphill. Climb if you can – it’s worth seeing the cascade from a different perspective. But be careful, because it’s much easier to go up than descend.
Refreshing in the Cold Mountain River
You can have a bath in the river and believe me, there’s nothing better than jumping into cold mountain water on a hot day.
By the way, emerging from the bushes at the top of the waterfall can be quite a surprise for people on the river. Those we met had very interesting expressions on their faces.
After visiting the waterfall, we had lunch at Punto di Ristoro la Cascata – the restaurant which is just on the corner. On the first day of our long weekend, we finished visiting Anagni and then looking for nymphs. Did we find them? You car read it here.
If this post made you laugh, annoyed you, or just reminded you of your own trip, tell me in the comments or drop me an email. I actually want to hear about your experiences—the good and the frustrating.
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