Don’t be fooled by the name, “Castelli Romani” is the name used for the 13 towns that rise on the Alban Hills, the wreck of a volcano formed 630,000 years ago.
A favorite holiday resort of the Romans since the Empire, today it is still a cool oasis on hot summer days, thanks to its strategic location a few kilometers from the city center.
The tour begins with a visit to the ruins of ancient Tusculum, whose legend has it that Telemachus, son of Ulysses, founded it four centuries before the founding of Rome.
Here, the view encompasses all of Rome, all the way to the sea; the air is cooler and the humidity favors lush vegetation, part of a protected park rich in chestnut groves and butterflies. This park is home to numerous villages with their medieval castles overlooking the lake, or Renaissance villas with panoramic gardens, such as Villa Aldobrandini, built in the 16th century and whose splendid façade dominates Frascati.
Nearby stands the Greek Abbey of San Nilo, founded in 1004 and today it is the last of the numerous Byzantine monasteries that in the Middle Ages were spread throughout southern Italy and in Rome itself.
This abbey is still a Byzantine-Greek place of worship: you can observe the Eastern monastic tradition of the origins but in communion with the Catholic Church because the monastery was founded half a century before the schism.
The tour continues towards Nemi, a medieval village that overlooks the small volcanic lake that takes its name. The city retains a medieval appearance even if its origins date back to the Latins who considered it a sacred place for the Temple of Diana Nemorense that stood there.
Nemi is a magical village where low houses form alleys and hidden labyrinths.
There is an old tradition, that of finding the best delicacies from various local producers and then tasting them in a fraschetta where you only pay for the cover charge and the wine. Among the most sought-after products are the Porchetta di Ariccia, the bread of Genzano with cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, the Roman mortadella, the Pecorino Romano, and of course the Castelli wine!
This tour will show you a true Roman paradise. Relax in the iconic FIAT 500 and capture the most beautiful views with your eyes, enjoy the real Roman cuisine and taste the white wine produced by the local cellars. Our guides will tell you stories and legends related to these places, transforming the tour into a unique experience.
To book, simply send an email to tour@bicibaci.com, you will be contacted by our staff who will organize the service according to your needs.