Villa Rossi Danielli

Viterbo itself is a fabulous city to have on your doorstep. Its delightful and well-preserved old town centre includes mediaeval walls, the 13th-century Palazzo dei Papi (a papal residence), a handsome Romanesque cathedral with Gothic belltower, numerous churches, and plenty of fine aristocratic palazzi. The city is also home to a great selection of restaurants, cafés, bars and shops.

Tuscia's Etruscan origins are in evidence wherever you look, and some of the best archaeological sites are to be found at nearby Tuscania (30 minutes) and Tarquinia (45 minutes).

To the north and south of Villa Rossi Danielli are two of Italy's loveliest lakes, Bolsena and Bracciano. Apart from their great natural beauty, they are also home to some lovely towns and villages, including the two from which they take their names.

There are dozens of superb villages to explore close by. Perhaps the most remarkable is the precariously positioned hill-top jewel of Civita di Bagnoreggio, which stands at some 430m above sea level and is accessed by a pedestrian bridge. Seemingly untouched by modernity, it offers sublime 360-degree panoramas of the Tuscia region.

A trip southeast to the village of Caprarola (25mins) is also recommended, for it is here that you find the fabulous Palazzo Farnese, a pentagonal Mannerist-style architectural masterpiece dating back to the 16th century. The interiors and gardens are quite something and a visit is highly recommended.

The Tyrrhenian coast is easily reachable from Villa Rossi Danielli in about 50 minutes, and there are long stretches of sand running up to Orbetello and Monte Argentario to the northwest, both of which are well worth a visit.

For a little pampering, you could head to the historic and luxurious thermal baths and spa of the Terme dei Papi just to the west of Viterbo. The name derives from the fact that mediaeval Popes would retreat there for some down time.

Rome is not far away, and Villa Rossi Danielli is well placed for day trips. The train from Viterbo to Rome Ostiense station takes about two hours, and then it's just two stops from Piramide metro station to the Colosseum.