GTL 16 Lazio From Santa Severa to Bracciano

 SANTA SEVERA / BRACCIANO

In its sixteenth stage, the GTL once again leaves the sea to go inland, in the last stretch towards Rome, one of the most scenic: the Tolfa Mountains, the Sabatini Mountains and the area of the volcanic lakes north of Rome. Leaving Santa Severa and its castle, we take secondary roads in the countryside close to the Aurelia through the Macchiatonda Regional Nature Reserve, up to Cerveteri. Here it is certainly worth stopping for a visit to the splendid Etruscan necropolis of Banditaccia. From here we return to the coast to pass the seaside resorts of Ladispoli and Marina di San Nicola, connected to each other by a cycle path obtained from the route of the old railway line, near the imposing Odescalchi Castle. After San Nicola, the maritime landscape gradually gives way to barren hills first, and then to lush pine forests, until it climbs into the woods in the direction of Castel Giuliano, a few steps from the waterfalls of the same name and its ancient fortress. A little more climb near the Caldare di Manziana and its woods, and the vegetation becomes even thicker: we have reached what was the edge of the volcano, and we can look into the blue of its original crater, Lake Bracciano. The destination of this stage welcomes us in a spectacular way, with its tuff houses piled up and gathered around the imposing Odescalchi Castle.