Tuscia: monsters, villas and Etruscan tombs north of Rome
Renaissance gardens and a park of stone monsters around Viterbo, volcanic Lake Bolsena and the painted Etruscan tombs of Tarquinia.
- Distance
- 196 km (122 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 42 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 9
- Countries
- Italy
- Updated
- August 9, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 196 km (122 mi) with 9 stops, from Rome to Tarquinia. About 2 h 42 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Italy · More road trips from Rome
Route description
Leave Rome north on the SS2 Via Cassia and turn off after Sutri, where an amphitheatre is cut into the tuff, towards the Cimini hills. Caprarola climbs to the Palazzo Farnese, a pentagonal palace by Vignola with painted rooms and gardens. Nearby, the wooded crater Lake Vico is a nature reserve. The road over the hills to Viterbo is narrow but easy.
Viterbo was a papal city in the 13th century, and its San Pellegrino quarter is one of the best-preserved medieval districts in Italy. Park outside the walls. Just east of the city, Villa Lante in Bagnaia has one of the finest water gardens of the Renaissance. From there it is about 20 minutes to Bomarzo and its Sacred Grove, a wood of huge, strange sculptures carved in the rock.
Drive north to Lake Bolsena, the largest volcanic lake in Europe, and the town of Bolsena, with a castle above and a lakeside promenade below; there are beaches and plenty of space for motorhomes along the shore in the quieter months. Turn south-west through farmland to Tuscania, whose Romanesque churches of San Pietro and Santa Maria Maggiore stand just outside the town.
Continue to Tarquinia, near the coast. On the hill of Monterozzi, the Etruscans dug hundreds of tombs and painted them with feasts, dancers and games; about 20 are open, seen through glass. The ticket usually includes the National Etruscan Museum in the town’s palazzo. From Tarquinia the SS1 Aurelia and the A12 return you to Rome in about 90 minutes.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Rome
Italy - 265 km
Palazzo Farnese, Caprarola
HistoryCaprarola, ItalyA five-sided Renaissance palace by Vignola at the top of Caprarola’s main street, with frescoed halls, a spiral staircase and terraced gardens behind. Park lower down in the village; the street is steep and narrow.
- 319 km
Viterbo
Italy - 45 km
Villa Lante
HistoryBagnaia, ItalyA 16th-century garden of terraces, fountains and a water chain running down the hill to a square parterre, next to the village of Bagnaia just outside Viterbo. The garden is the attraction; allow an hour.
- 513 km
Sacred Grove of Bomarzo (Park of the Monsters)
OdditiesBomarzo, ItalyA 16th-century wood filled with giant stone sculptures carved from the bedrock: an ogre’s open mouth, a war elephant, a dragon and a tilted house. Paid entry with a large car park; children love it.
- 634 km
Bolsena
Italy - 734 km
Tuscania
Italy - 825 km
Necropolis of Tarquinia
HistoryTarquinia, ItalyAn Etruscan cemetery of underground tombs whose walls are painted with banquets, dancers and hunting scenes, some from the sixth century BC. About 20 tombs are open, seen through glass; the ticket can include the museum in town.
- 92 km
Tarquinia
Italy
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Rome → Palazzo Farnese, Caprarola · 65 km · 0 h 54 minOvernight nearby, for example: Camping Natura (3 km); Lacastellina15 (18 km).
- Day 2: Palazzo Farnese, Caprarola → Bolsena · 71 km · 0 h 59 minOn the way: Viterbo, Villa Lante, Sacred Grove of Bomarzo (Park of the Monsters).Overnight nearby, for example: Camping il Lago (< 1 km); Blu International Camping (2 km).
- Day 3: Bolsena → Tarquinia · 60 km · 0 h 50 minOn the way: Tuscania, Necropolis of Tarquinia.Overnight nearby, for example: Camping Village Riva dei Tarquini (10 km); Camping Village Europing (11 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June and November. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- Italy: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autostrade; pay at the barrier by card or cash. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
- Rome: Limited traffic zone (ZTL). Cameras fine unauthorised vehicles in the historic centre, including hire cars. Park outside and walk or take transit; hotels inside may register your plate.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Tuscia: monsters, villas and Etruscan tombs north of Rome?
3-day road trip of about 196 km (122 mi) with 9 stops, from Rome to Tarquinia. About 2 h 42 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Tuscia: monsters, villas and Etruscan tombs north of Rome?
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 42 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Tuscia: monsters, villas and Etruscan tombs north of Rome start and end?
It starts in Rome and ends in Tarquinia.
Which countries does Tuscia: monsters, villas and Etruscan tombs north of Rome pass through?
Italy.
Where can you camp along Tuscia: monsters, villas and Etruscan tombs north of Rome?
OpenStreetMap lists 63 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Area Sosta Camper Romae, LGP and Village Flaminio.
When is the best time for Tuscia: monsters, villas and Etruscan tombs north of Rome?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
