DAILY EXCURSIONS:
the Roman Castles (Castelli Romani)
- Introduction
- Roman Castles: tour A:
Hadrian's Villa, Tivoli's Villa d'Este, Rocca Priora and Monteporzio.
- Roman Castles: tour B:
Ancient Appian Way, Castelgandolfo, Lakes of Albano and Nemi, Grottaferrata, Frascati and
Rocca Priora.
- Roman Castles: tour C: like tour
A with the addition of the Ancient Appian Way.
- Roman Castles: tour D: the
lakes of Albano and Nemi, Castelgandolfo, Rocca di Papa, Monte Cavo and the Campi
d'Annibale (Hannibal fields).
- Roman Castles: Grand Tour.
It includes the visit to the highlights of all tours. A one day tour.
We prepare FIVE excursions:
- TOUR A includes the visit to the
magnificent Villa d'Este gardens with the hundreds fountains, and Emperor Hadrian's
outstanding Villa.
Tivoli seen from the Villa d'Este |
Tivoli
offers a villa unique in its own kind, as its amazing Italian garden actually hosts what
looks like a magical kingdom of water more than just a mere although big collection of
fountains. Water is visible everywhere, it comes out of the hundred fountains gushing,
splashing, roaring all over. You cannot help being stunned, and mesmerised. |
Villa D'Este: the three central
pools |
The Villa was built over a Benedictine monastery in 1550 for Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, son
of Lucrezia Borgia. The villa itself was designed by architect Pirro Ligorio, and includes
frescoes and paintings by Correggio, da Volterrra and Perrin del Vaga. However the main
attraction, the gardens, eclypse the villa with their hundreds fountains, elaborate,
ingenious, built and designed state-of-the-art according to neo-classical patterns. They
form an atmosphere of continuity with the ancient Greek-Roman world, in its quintessial
element, water, which always attracted the people and the thinkers of the ancient world.
The "Fontana dell'Organo Idraulico" used water to compress air and play tunes
like an organ, another imitated the owl's song. Unfortunately they are not working
anymore, while most fountains, and the three central pools, are well maintained. There is
also the "Rometta", a miniature model of the Tiber Island in Rome, with the
She-Wolf and several other buildings in the background. Finally, there are views of Rome,
and also of the Sabini Mounts, from everywhere. |
The walk of the 100 fountains
|
| The excursion possibly includes a
visit to Rocca Priora, the highest Roman Castle (768 Mts, app. 2,580 Ft.), passing through
Monteporzio, and through impressive chestnut forests. |
Monteporzio
|
Rocca Priora
|
The tour possibly ends with a lunch
in a characteristic restaurant in Rocca Priora, were the owners will prepare home-made
specialities of the Roman Castles.
The tour begins at 8:30 am, you will be picked up and brought back to your apartment, and
it lasts 4 / 5 hours. |
PRICES:
- for groups up to 4 persons 250 Euros app. 269 US$. The car will be a Mercedes Deluxe
sedan.
- for groups up to 6 person 285 Euros app. 306 US$. The car will be a Mercedes Van or
Chrysler Van.
- for groups up to 8 persons 340 Euros app. 366 US$. The car is a Mercedes Minibus.
The price does not include the cost of
the lunch at the restaurant, which is though very convenient (app. 15-20 Euros //20-23 US$
per person), and the food is of high quality. You should also consider though also the
time for the car service, billed 25-35 (appr. 27 Euros - 38 Euros) per hour, depending on
the car you use.
- TOUR B includes the visit to the Ancient Appian Way, the original
ancient road (built by consul Appio in 312 BC). It is now part of an archeological park
(its map is shown to the right). The road was called by the ancient Romans Regina Viarum,
Queen of the Roads, as it was by far the best built, and with the best environment. It was
flanked by monuments, graves, villas, aqueducts, which can still be seen with the original
Roman cobblestone.
[Map areas: Brown: Rome's historical centre. Pink: the round area within the ring,
including modern Rome. Green: the park]. |
Map of park |
Appian way
|
The tour includes also a visit to
Castelgandolfo, which is the summer residence of the Pope, and also a visit to the
beautiful Lakes of Albano and Nemi, moreover to Rocca di Papa, Grottaferrata and Frascati,
two famous residential resorts surrounded by a beautiful green environment.
Finally, the tour ends just like Tour A, in a very characteristic restaurant in
Rocca Priora (please read above). |
The lake of Albano and
Castelgandolfo |
The residence of the Pope in
Castelgandolfo |
Villa Aldobrandini
in Frascati |
St. Nile's Abbey in Grottaferrata |
The organization, the time to be
picked up, the price is the same of Tour A, please read above.
The lake of Albano with
Castelgandolfo, seen from the Villa of Cardinale Colonna (built 1629), on the road to
Rocca di Papa. Beyond the lake you can see Rome and the Tirrenian sea coast. On this site
there is also an Abbey (of Palazzolo), and an ancient Roman aqueduct conveying water to
Albano, probably the first town founded by the Latins. Notice the colours of the water:
one can see all shades of green, emerald and blue, depending on the lake bed, the
surrounding environment, the drifts, and sunlight. |
Close-up of Castel Gandolfo, and of
the Pope residence. Beyond the lake you can see Rome, and after it the Tirrenean sea |
One can clearly see the volcanic
origin of the lake.
There are countless beautiful views.
From the hills, there are also panoramic views of Rome, and of the Tirrenean sea beyond
it. |
Part of the lake with the beach
resorts. The 1960 Olympics rowing competitions were held here |
Left: Rocca di Papa, nested on the Monte Cavo, seen from the Tuscolo
archeological area.
To the left of the little town, in the former crater of a large prehistoric volcanic area,
one finds the fields and forests where Hannibal camped with his troups (Campi di
Annibale).
Right: Close-up of Monte Cavo (954 Mt.
above s.l.). It is an inactive crater, also on the edge of another larger inactive crater
transformed into beautiful fields (Campi di Annibale). On top of the mount there stood the
famous ancient Temple of Latium Jupiter (Tempio di Giove Laziale). |
 |
|
TOUR C: It is
the same of tour A, but it includes also the visit to the Ancient Appian Way and to the
acqueduct Claudius while returning to Rome. The price is the same of Tour A, with a
supplement of 40 Euros (app. 43 US$).
Acqueduct Claudius (37-58 AD) at its
arrival in Rome
TOUR D of the lakes, of the
volcanoes, and of their scenic villages. It explores the lakes of Albano and Nemi, the
villages of Castelgandolfo and Rocca di Papa, the panoramic volcanic area of Monte Cavo,
and the Campi d'Annibale (Hannibal's fields). Price as above.
GRAND TOUR: It includes
the visit to the highlights of all tours. A one day tour. The price is double.
The excursion includes the tranport
only. |