In 5 Days
Last updated: 12 October 2026
Before you set off, always check for yourself. The itineraries are only suggestions: everyone must personally double-check with the official sources that each place can actually be visited on the chosen day and at the chosen time. The SVR Lovers site accepts no responsibility for any inconvenience caused by inaccurate information or by changes to opening days and times.
Adapt the itinerary to your own pace. Feel free to change and cut down the stops of each day: there is no need to get stressed or to go beyond your own physical abilities and habits.
Day 1 (Tuesday): San Vito Romano on foot
A day spent entirely on foot in the town: in the morning the Tre Fontane in Piazza Augusto Baccelli, Theodoli Castle, Piazza San Biagio and the alleys of the old town; in the afternoon the churches, the Sanctuary of Compigliano, Fonte Canale and the chestnut grove of the Macchiarella, ending with an evening stroll in the Villa Comunale.
- 09:30–10:00Piazza Roma
A coffee in the square overlooked by the Villa Comunale to start the day (Places section).
- 10:00–10:30Piazza Augusto Baccelli
The heart of the town, with the "Tre Fontane" fountain and the 1649 inscription dedicated to Cardinal Mario Theodoli (Places section).
- 10:30–11:15Theodoli Castle and the Church of Santa Maria de Arce
The ship-shaped fortress that dominates the town, visible only from outside as it is still lived in, and the town's main church, built against the castle. For background, read "The Colonna and the Theodoli" in the History section.
- 11:15–11:45Piazza San Biagio
The drawing room of the old town, with the church of San Biagio: Trail A (San Biagio) takes you around it in a few minutes (Trails section).
- 11:45–12:45Via dell'Arringo, Vicolo Baciadonne and Piazza Governo Vecchio
The town's most charming alleys, among little stairways, arches and old doorways, following the "Via dell'Arringo and Vicolo Baciadonne" trail (Trails and Places sections).
Go to the Via dell'Arringo page
Go to the Vicolo Baciadonne page
Go to the Piazza Governo Vecchio page
Go to the "Via dell'Arringo and Vicolo Baciadonne" trail page
- 13:00–14:30Lunch in town
- 15:30–16:15Church of San Sebastiano and San Rocco and the Circular Walk
The 17th-century church in Borgo Mario Theodoli and, from there, the one-and-a-half-kilometre loop through the town's streets (Places and Trails sections).
- 16:15–17:30Church of San Vito, Villa Castellini and the Sanctuary of Compigliano
The little streets around the church of San Vito, then the crenellated tower of Villa Castellini (private property, visible from the road) and the nearby Marian sanctuary on the Compigliano hill (Places section).
Go to the Church of San Vito and surroundings page
- 17:30–19:00Fonte Canale and the Macchiarella
The old spring where laundry was once washed, with a view of the town, and the centuries-old chestnut grove of the Macchiarella with the Path of Conscience (Places section).
- 19:00–20:00Villa Comunale and Culture&Tourism
An evening stroll in the town's green heart and, if one is scheduled, a Culture&Tourism activity (Culture&Tourism section).
Day 2 (Wednesday): sanctuaries and villages of the Monti Prenestini
A day by car in the Monti Prenestini: in the morning the Sanctuary of the Mentorella and Monte Guadagnolo, where you stop for lunch; in the afternoon the village of Capranica Prenestina and sunset from Rocca di Cave, before heading back to San Vito.
- 09:00–11:00Sanctuary of the Mentorella
The oldest Marian sanctuary in Italy, perched on a rocky spur and reached on foot for the last stretch, linked to the legend of Saint Eustace (Places section).
- 11:15–12:45Monte Guadagnolo
The highest inhabited village in Lazio (1,218 m), with a short walk along the scenic trails of the Monti Prenestini (Places section).
- 13:00–14:30Lunch in Guadagnolo
- 15:00–16:30Capranica Prenestina
The medieval village listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, with its distinctive "cupolino" (Places section).
- 17:00–18:30Rocca di Cave at sunset
The ruined castle and one of the finest viewpoints over the Monti Prenestini, before heading back to San Vito (Places section).
Day 3 (Thursday): the villas of Tivoli
A day in Tivoli, about 40 minutes by car from San Vito: in the morning Villa d'Este, with its palace and garden of fountains; after lunch in the centre, Villa Gregoriana, the FAI park in the Aniene gorge with the Great Waterfall.
- 08:30–09:30Departure for Tivoli
About 40 minutes by car from San Vito Romano, plus time to park (for example at the Piazza Matteotti car park) and walk to the ticket office at Piazza Trento 5.
- 09:30–12:00Visit to Villa d'Este
The palace and its apartments, the Avenue of the Hundred Fountains, the Oval Fountain, the Neptune Fountain, the Grand Loggia and views over Tivoli (Places section). The garden deserves an unhurried visit: check the opening hours on the official website. Thursday is a good choice: as a weekday it usually has fewer visitors than Saturday and Sunday, so you can take your time in the apartments and above all in the gardens and among the fountains. Aim to arrive between 9:00 and 9:30, which leaves plenty of time to see the villa, walk down into the gardens and stop on the terraces without rushing. The Organ Fountain is switched on every day from 10:30 and then every two hours. Until 18 October 2026 the exhibition "Cosmogonie dell'acqua. Claudia Müller" is also on.
- 12:15–13:30Lunch in Tivoli
A break in the town centre, passing the Rocca Pia, Pope Pius II's 15th-century fortress in Piazza Garibaldi, visible from outside (Places section).
- 14:00–16:30Villa Gregoriana
The FAI park in the Aniene gorge, with the Great Waterfall, the grottoes of Neptune and the Sirens and the temples of Vesta and the Sibyl. The route has plenty of ups and downs: wear comfortable shoes, and check the opening hours on the FAI website (Places section).
- 17:00–18:00Back to San Vito Romano
Day 4 (Friday): the monasteries of Subiaco and Bellegra
A day by car to Subiaco: in the morning the monasteries of San Benedetto (Sacro Speco) and Santa Scolastica, then lunch in Subiaco; in the afternoon, on the way back, the Convent of San Francesco in Bellegra.
- 09:30–11:00Monastery of San Benedetto (Sacro Speco)
The monastery-sanctuary set into the rock, built around the cave where Saint Benedict lived. The monasteries usually close in the middle of the day: check the opening hours before setting off (Places section).
- 11:15–12:30Monastery of Santa Scolastica
A little further down, the Benedictine monastery with its three cloisters, where movable-type printing began in Italy (Places section).
- 13:00–14:30Lunch in Subiaco
- 15:30–17:00Convent of San Francesco in Bellegra
On the way back, the Sacro Ritiro in the woods above Bellegra, where Saint Francis stopped in 1223. Alternatively, by booking, the nearby Arch Caves (Places section).
Day 5 (Saturday): Genazzano, Olevano Romano and farewell
The last day, between two nearby villages: in the morning Genazzano, with the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel and Bramante's Nymphaeum; after lunch, Olevano Romano and the Serpentara wood, then back to San Vito for a last stroll before leaving.
- 09:30–10:45Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano
One of the most venerated Marian sanctuaries in Lazio, home to the image of Our Lady that "miraculously" appeared in 1467 (Places section).
- 11:00–12:15Bramante's Nymphaeum
Just outside the town, the unfinished Renaissance nymphaeum attributed to Donato Bramante, today an evocative ruin surrounded by greenery. Check the opening days and hours beforehand (Places section).
- 12:45–14:15Lunch in Olevano Romano
- 14:30–16:30Olevano Romano and the Serpentara
The town dominated by the Colonna-Barberini castle and the Serpentara woods, the reserve made famous by 19th-century European painters (Places section).
- 17:30–19:00Last stroll and farewell
Back in San Vito for a last walk through the town centre, from the Tre Fontane in Piazza Augusto Baccelli to the Villa Comunale, before leaving.