Castelli Romani (Roman Castles)
|
Latest page update: 6 March 2025
|
By Dion Protani
|
|
The Castelli Romani (Roman Castles), is not quite as the name suggests. You'd be more than forgiven for expecting to find, well, castles, and with the area being just a short distance from the Italian capital, the "Roman" bit was presumably accounted for.
Any slight disappointment over the lack of fortresses is more than made up for by what you find in their place. Around 20 kilometres south east of Rome, we find a clutch of towns gathered around the undulating Alban Hills which are punctuated by two beautiful lakes and full of history. |
Related Links
There are around 16 comuni (municipalities) that consider themselves part of the Castelli Romani and at the very top of the list we find at least a couple of names that are known internationally. The most famous of those is the town of Frascati, whose wines can be found in supermarkets and on restaurant tables around the world.
Slightly less famous but with a more famous part-time resident, is the town of Castel Gandolfo where the Pope has for many years had a summer residence. The town itself provides a full-pronged set of tourist attractions which are hard to withstand: a charming medieval hill town, a large lower town that's a favourite summer lake resort on Lake Albano, and one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy: the Papal gardens of Giardini Barberini.
The Castelli Romani were for many years the haunt of Rome's most noble families such as the Orsini and Colonna, who between them can name an impressive number of former pontiffs (six to be precise). They chose to come here when the summer heat of Rome became too unbearable and the gentle breezes drifting off the lakes much more to their liking.
In an area known for its volcanic activity, a former crater gradually split into two lakes: the aforementioned Lake Albano and the slightly smaller Lake Nemi. One of the prettiest towns in the area can be found around the latter, the town of Nemi bearing the same name as the lake it gracefully overlooks. Other towns such as Marino or Albano Laziale don't have the proximity of a lake in their favour but each does have a certain charm, while the town of Ariccia is known by every Roman, not for its sights or historic architecture, but for its porchetta. At weekends the town is invaded (thankfully no longer by soldiers with plumed helmets carrying shields) by Romans who come in search of the finest roast pork the region can offer.
Slightly less famous but with a more famous part-time resident, is the town of Castel Gandolfo where the Pope has for many years had a summer residence. The town itself provides a full-pronged set of tourist attractions which are hard to withstand: a charming medieval hill town, a large lower town that's a favourite summer lake resort on Lake Albano, and one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy: the Papal gardens of Giardini Barberini.
The Castelli Romani were for many years the haunt of Rome's most noble families such as the Orsini and Colonna, who between them can name an impressive number of former pontiffs (six to be precise). They chose to come here when the summer heat of Rome became too unbearable and the gentle breezes drifting off the lakes much more to their liking.
In an area known for its volcanic activity, a former crater gradually split into two lakes: the aforementioned Lake Albano and the slightly smaller Lake Nemi. One of the prettiest towns in the area can be found around the latter, the town of Nemi bearing the same name as the lake it gracefully overlooks. Other towns such as Marino or Albano Laziale don't have the proximity of a lake in their favour but each does have a certain charm, while the town of Ariccia is known by every Roman, not for its sights or historic architecture, but for its porchetta. At weekends the town is invaded (thankfully no longer by soldiers with plumed helmets carrying shields) by Romans who come in search of the finest roast pork the region can offer.
Nemi
Nemi, Lazio
|
Castel Gandolfo
Castel Gandolfo, Lazio
|
Frascati
Frascati, Lazio
|
Albano Laziale
Albano Laziale, Lazio
|
Genzano di Roma
Genzano di Roma, Lazio
|
