The Roman Castles, "invisible castles", are famous since the antiquity for their natural and gastronomical attractions but, shadowed by the overwhelming comparison with the artistical richness of the near Rome, have stopped showing to visitors their own monuments, either small or big, their own treasures, details that recall of remote and recent times. For this reason "invisible", as to discover and enliven them we should sharpen our sight and follow the paths of memory. At few kilometres from Rome, and linked to the eternal town by an historical continuity, the area is famous with the name "Roman Castles". The same origins of Rome are strictly linked to the historical events of Alba Longa, presumably the nowaday Castel Gandolfo, founded by Ascanio, the son of Enea and Creusa, in 1230 B.C.

In the Roman Age, in the entire area, crossed by the consular roads Latina and Appian Way, spread out gorgeous villas, where rich Romans used to practice the noble art of “otium” (idleness). So rose the villas of Domitian in Albano, of Cicero, Vitellius and Pompeus Magnum and many others. In more ancient times the Latins used to meet in in the Ferentino forest, near Marino, to worship Jupiter Laziale in his temple on the crest of Mt. Cavo; from archaic times, a primordial and cruel ritual was celebrated in the woods sacred to Diana, goddes of the hunting and of the moon, and from the I cent. B.C. mithraic rites took place in secret caves. Along the consular roads rose tumbs, barrows among which, still visible, the famous one called “of the Orazi and Curiazi” in Albano. In the Christian Age catacombs were dug like those in the Ad Decimum area or in Albano.