Roman Castles

The first explanation about this itinerary is that it is not a visit to castles, as the name suggests. Roman Castles is an area made up of 17 medieval villages, which emerged from 1309 onwards, when the French king, Philip IV, of France, “The Beautiful”, transferred the Papal State from Rome to France. Rome was the target of numerous invasions and became a dangerous place to live. The nobles of this period began to build small sophisticated villas around Rome and moved there. This tour is a dive into the natural, artistic and culinary riches of some of these small medieval villages, leaving behind the rumors and hustle and bustle of metropolitan Rome. Part of the route is along the Via Appia Antica, one of the oldest roads on the planet, built at the height of the Roman Empire. We will have a panoramic view of the Baths of Caracalla, one of the most complex Roman public baths and the “Domine Quo Vadis” chapel, the place where legend says that the apostle Peter met Jesus, when he was fleeing the persecution of Christians, in Pomegranate. Breathtaking on this day is the view provided by the “Colli Albani”, which are hills and lakes formed by volcanic eruptions. The small towns, developed on these hills and Lake Albano, form a simply cinematic landscape. Our first stop will be in Castelgandolfo, the village that is the official residence of the Pope in the summer. We will take a beautiful walk in the historic center, in the square of the Pope's residence and then we will set off to enjoy Lake Albano, one of the most beautiful panoramic views on the outskirts of Rome. In summer, on its banks, we have numerous bars with sun loungers, where we invite you to try a “delicious, artisanal Italian gelato”. In each village of the “Roman Castles” we are invited to try the local cuisine. The “frasquettas”, which are small taverns of medieval tradition, where originally the customer brought wine and only consumed the dish produced there. You usually eat in open areas, sharing tables with other customers. On the way to Frascati, we also pass through Grottaferrata, and in a panoramic view, we will see its historic center. Worthy of mention is the San Nilo Abbey there. In Frascatti, an important tourist and wine production center, we will do wine tasting and try typical local products, in a typical tavern of the region. The cantina, a building from the Middle Ages, is full of stories and its basements were used, during the Second World War, to hide the wine produced in the region.

Points visited; Ariccia, Castel Gandolfo, Lake Albano, Grottaferrata Frascati