If you’re looking for a tranquil town to escape the hustle and bustle of Rome, this is for you. Set on the shimmering blue Lake Bracciano, Anguillara Sabazia is a little slice of heaven. It was the beautiful Everybody Loves Raymond Italy location and with good reason – it’s seriously picturesque. Luckily for us our good friend is a fan of said US sitcom (I’ve never seen an episode!) and let us in on the secret. Keep reading to find out more about why you should visit Anguillara Sabazia on your next trip to Rome!
In the short time we were there, I kid you not, we even saw an entire family of baby ducklings swimming in the lake amidst the soundtrack of happy children running around and asking for gelato! And who could forget- the cutest dog on a motorbike you’ve ever seen. Yes, I’m not joking. You can’t make this stuff up- and it says a lot about the quality of the water, to which we can attest to the fact that the lake fish was seriously delicious.
How to get there?
It’s really easy to get to Anguillara from Rome which makes it such a compelling day trip. From Termini Station it’s an easy hour and 20 minute train ride and trains come quite regularly. Alternatively, if you’ve got wheels it’s just a 40 minute car ride from Rome!
Things to do in Anguillara Sabazia
There are lots of things to do in this small town, but my favourite is a long walk around the lake – it’s just so peaceful. Here are some more ideas:
- Go swimming
- Visit The Collegiata Church
- Take a gelato
- Photo opp at the Fountain of The Eels
- See the Medieval Tower home to the Farmer’s Market
- Explore more of Lazio
Where to eat in Anguillara Sabazia?
We set out with one destination in mind thanks to my friend who had visited a few weeks prior – La Terrazza Sul Lago. Whilst not the most original name, it’s true to its word and offers a very stunning terrace overlooking Lake Bracciano. The terrace itself is quite small, so try to book in advance to make sure you get a spot outdoors as it’s really the best seat in the house. The owners are from Sardinia, although lived in Rome for 20 years or so before making a ‘lake change’ to Anguillara. Lining the walls are dozens of photos of the chef with VIPs including Sylvester Stallone to Giorgio Napolitano, and it’s easy to see why! The food is simply delicious.
We enjoyed Catalan-style octopus, tagliolini with lake fish sauce, whitefish fillets, and fried lake fish and everything was cooked to perfection. The meal was complete with incredible homemade desserts from the Chef’s wife and the tiramisu is a real standout!
Inspired to visit this lakeside town? Whether you’re hoping for some tranquility for a few hours away from Rome, or are looking for a place to stop for lunch on a roadtrip through Lazio up into Umbria, I can’t recommend Anguillara Sabazia enough.
Looking for more things to do in Lazio? Watch my Rome Virtual Tour now, or take a read of my guide to Ponza if you have a few days to spare.