Alban Hills

(Local Name: Colli Albani) In the past many Roman noble families and Popes built castles in these hills, and the region is therefore also known as the Castelli Romani ("Roman Castles"). Today Roman citizens have made their homes here, attracted by purer air and quieter surroundings of an area which lies considerably higher than Rome. These volcanic hills rise to a height of 949m/3,114ft in Monte Cavo. The craters of the volcanoes have formed two lakes, the Lago Di Albano (Alban Lake) and the Lago di Nemi (Lake Nemi). Around the old castles a series of little towns have grown up, including Frascati, Grottaferrata, the picturesque Marino, Castle Gandolfo, Albano, Ariccia, Genzano, Nemi, with its small ship museum,