The triangle of beauty

On the lakefront everything is dozing: the geese are huddled in the sun on the sand, one next to the other, perfectly aligned, indifferent to the surrounding world and unaware of the intrusive looks. The swan walks on the water, leaving behind it a light trail of white foam. It stretches and extends itself as if it were doing exercises, opening and closing its wings with each photograph. It seems as if it is striking a pose.

Even the sound of a drill coming from a distant construction site is muffled, almost as if to induce sleep. Two explorers enjoy the almost still waters of the lake on a sup, on a warm and windless day. Some solitary walkers walk slowly leaving footprints on the damp sand, but then the call of the horizon is too strong not to stop and look at it.

Trevignano Romano, Bracciano, Anguillara Sabazia: the lakefront is home to some of the most beautiful places in Lazio, each with its own soul and identity.

With its 15th century castle, which is often used for social events and famous weddings, Bracciano keeps an eye on the lake from above, day and night. Trevignano Romano caresses it with its fragrant gardens scattered around the perimeter. Anguillara Sabazia lets itself be lulled by its waters, which on the windiest days go so far as to splash the stone walk characteristic of the town, where it is not uncommon to meet hungry gulls and sly nutria in search of food.

These three towns occupy the imaginary vertices of an equilateral triangle made of deep blue water going down 165 metres, one which is so rich in history and naturalistic beauty that in 1999 it became the protected area of Bracciano-Martignano.

For the Romans, Bracciano was Lacus Sabatinus: a large depression created 300,000 years ago from a volcano-tectonic collapse that encompassed the lake and its lively life. It is home to grey herons, black-winged stilts, sandpipers and black kites, and peregrine falcons and coots, with their white faces, nest here.

Each walk of the vast network of paths developed in the park reveals some surprises and evokes emotions in the most curious spirits. When you go to Lazio, it is worth not letting yourself be held captive exclusively by the undisputed fame of Rome, which at times risks obscuring the many beauties of this region!