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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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Rocca di Papa, Italy
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Rocca di Papa, Frascati
