Frascati Tourist Attractions

Situation

The little town of Frascati lies some 20km/12mi southeast of Rome on the northwest slopes of the Alban Hills. Frascati, the most important of the so-called "Castelli Romani", is a town famous for its healthy climate, which makes it a favorite summer resort with the people of Rome. It is notable also for the many fine villas, belonging to old noble families, mostly dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, set in magnificent parks and gardens.

Villa Torlonia

The focal point of Frascati is the Piazza Roma, with the adjoining Piazza Marconi. To the south is the beautiful park of the Villa Torlonia (destroyed in the World War II).

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Villa Aldobrandini

Above the southeast side of the Piazza Marconi stands the Villa Aldobrandini or Belvedere (1598-1604), in a magnificent park (terrace with extensive views; grottoes, fountains, cascade).

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Piazza San Pietro

A little way north of the Piazza Roma is the Piazza San Pietro, the main square of the old town of Frascati, with a beautiful fountain and the cathedral of San Pietro (16th-17th centuries). Inside, note the Madonna, Baroque altar and tomb of Charles Edward Stuart (1788) near the main door.

Surroundings

Villa Falconieri

About 1km/0.75mi east of Frascati we find the entrance to the picturesque park of the Villa Falconieri, built by Borromini in 1545-48 (frescoes).

Tusculum

From Frascati a recently constructed panoramic road winds its way uphill through beautiful scenery and areas of forest to the remains of ancient Tusculum, 5km/3mi southeast. This was the birthplace of Cato the Elder and a favorite resort of Cicero. Held during the early Middle Ages by warlike counts, it was destroyed by Rome in 1191. There are remains, much overgrown, of an amphitheater, a theater, the forum, a well-house and a stretch of the old town walls. It is a 15-minute walk up the hill above the site to a ruined castle (670m/2,211ft), which commands extensive views.

Villa Rufinella

Outside Frascati, to the southeast, is the splendid Villa Rufinella or Tuscolana, built by cardinal Rufini in accordance with a plan by Luigi Vanvitelli. The villa and park are not open to the public.

Rocca di Papa

There is a very attractive trip from Frascati to the little town of Rocca di Papa, with numerous summer residences (620-720m/2,046-2,376ft; pop. 9,000), picturesquely perched on a rock on the outer margin of a large extinct crater known as the Campo di Annibale, and surrounded by beautiful woods.

Monte Cavo

From Campo di Annibale it is possible either to walk (45 minutes) or drive (6.5km/4mi) to the summit of Monte Cavo (949m/3,132ft; television transmitter), the second highest of the Alban Hills, from which there are far-reaching views (particularly clear after rain) of most of Latium. Here there stood in antiquity a temple of Jupiter, the shrine of the Latin League.