Itineraries

> Montecompatri -Monte Porzio Catone-Colonna - Rocca Priora

> Frascati - Grottaferrata - Rocca di Papa - Nemi - Lariano

> Velletri-Lanuvio-Genzano-Ariccia-Albano - Castel Gandolfo - Marino

Back on the main road we reach the lively Velletri the most inhabited village of the Roman Castles, the ancient Velitrae; rich in squares, churches and buildings.

We continue then to Lanuvio, whose origins are linked to the myth of Diomede. It was also centre of cult to Giunone Sospita and birthplace of emperor Antonino Pio.

Little cottages and buildings flank the road that leads to Genzano, renowned for the ancient tradition of the Infiorata (unique festival during which the main streets of the town are covered by extraordinary decorations made exclusively with flower petals) and for homemade bread.

In Ariccia the urban set becomes more complete in Piazza di Corte designed by the genius of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The famous, straight and narrow viaduct, built by wishes of Pope Pius IX , dominates the Vallericcia allowing us to see up to the sea. It leads to the main square with Palazzo Chigi on one side, and on the other the Church of Assunta whose façade widens with two wings of columns creating a unitary architectural space. Behind the square the narrow streets of the village are lined with artisans’ shops and little wine cellars, where you can taste the famous porchetta (slices of pork carved off the flank of a whole roast pig stuffed with aromatic herbs).

Passing Ariccia a scenic drive leads to Albano: from the main road scramble up on the left a series of small alleys that sometimes end in woody squares facing churches or houses. Albano is a city of ancient memories, of ruins still visible, as those of the magnificent amphitheater of Castra Albani. Still in use to irrigate the town’s parks and gardens is the famous cisternone (water tank). We are in the area around the monastry of the Cappuccini monks; a little further the square of Saint Paul: a small masterpiece constituted by the facade of San Gaspare church which opens itself in two side wings that link together the buildings creating an unitary and large space that goes down to the city. In Albano it is worth a visit the Civic Museum housed in the Ferraioli Villa, situated along a beautiful avenue lined with magnolias.

Albano leaves the place to the still Castel Gandolfo. High walls surpassed by cypresses, surround villa Barberini, residence of the Popes, that hides, in its splendid garden, the ruins of the villa built for emperor Domitian. The main square of the small town, dominated by villa Barberini, is decorated by a fountain and by the church of San Tommaso, both works by Bernini. Along the main road some openings in the long row of buildings offer impressive views of the lake of Albano or Castel Gandolfo, reached passing through an enchanting natural environment.The still waters of the lake, whose level is maintained constant by an affluent, masterpiece of the Roman civil engineering, are collected in a secondary crater of an ancient Volcano and create small beaches and a flourishing vegetation. Following for a while the lakeside of Albano we reach Marino, lively centre, domain of the Colonna family until 1814, year of the Napoleonic occupation. Famous is the Fountain of the 4 Moores, which reminds of the victory over the Turks in Lepanto. In Marino ends our itinerary: the noble Appian Way will take us back to Rome.