Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SIGHTS
FRASCATI
A villa perches over the town above ornamental gardens, its flat-fronted facade like an ex-
pensive stage set. This is the 16th- century
Villa Aldobrandini
, designed by Giacomo della
Porta and built by Carlo Maderno; it's closed to the public, but you can visit the impressive
garden
(Via Cardinal Massai 18; 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri)
F
. A fine example of early Italian baroque
design, the palace is the focal point, set dramatically into the wooded hill. Water features in
the garden were designed by Orazio Olivieri, though many of the fountains no longer func-
tion.
Also worth a visit in Frascati, sharing the stable building with the tourist office, is the
Museo Tuscolano
( 06 941 71 95; admission €7; 10am-6pm Tue-Fri, to 7pm Sat & Sun)
with artfully lit
republican and imperial artefacts and interesting models of Tuscolo villas.
However, villas and views are all very well, but most people come to Frascati for the
food and fresh white wine. You can pick up a
porchetta panini
(sandwich made of pork
roasted with herbs) from one of the stands that do a brisk weekend trade around Piazza del
Mercato, or head to the cantinas that dot the town, which sell jugs of wine and snacks.
TOWN
TUSCULUM
F
If you have a car, head up to the ruins of ancient
Tusculum
. All that remains of this once-
imposing 4th-century-BC town is a small amphitheatre, a crumbling villa and a small
stretch of road leading up to the city, but it's a lovely spot for a walk and the views are stu-
pendous.
RUIN
GROTTAFERRATA ABBEY
(Abbazia; 06 945 93 09;
www.abbaziagreca.it
; Viale San Nilo; 7am-12.30pm & 3.30pm to one hour before sun-
set)
Another trip that requires you to have your own transport is
Grottaferrata
, where there's a
15th-century
abbey
, founded in 1004. It's the last remaining example of the Byzantine-
Greek monasteries that once dotted medieval Italy. The church interior resembles an
incense-perfumed jewellery box and Mass is very atmospheric. The congregation of Greek
monks wear distinctive flat-topped black caps.
CHURCH
CASTEL GANDOLFO
Continuing southwest brings you to
Castel Gandolfo
, an impressive, dome-capped hilltop
borgo
(small village) overlooking Lago di Albano. This is the pope's summer residence,
which, although closed to the public, still attracts hordes of tourists to the impressive town
TOWN
