Castelli Romani

Rome to Castelli Romani Day Trip with Santa Benedetta Winery

Leave your Rome hotel and head to the hills of Castelli Romani, the Lazio region’s easy-on-the-eye winemaking area. While its name hints at an abundance of Roman castles, Castelli Romani is actually a collection of 13 extremely scenic villages in the Alban Hills, punctuated by volcanic lakes and secluded valleys. Head on to the hamlet of Monte Porzio Catone, and visit Santa Benedetta – the oldest winery in Castelli Romani. On a tour of the rustic estate, hear how it was once a convent, and learn about the winemaking traditions that have been passed down by generations of the Benedetti family. At this secluded little spot, sit down for your wine-tasting session, sampling three important Santa Benedetta wines – complexus, gigi and tre vecchie. Soak up the wine with a plate of local delicacies, including the winery’s extra virgin olive oil, bruschetta (pane di Lariano, an aromatic, crusty white bread), cheeses and cured meats.After relaxing at the estate, enjoying the fine wine, food and great company, your guide will drive you back to your Rome hotel.

Italian Countryside Village Visit with Typical Food and Wine Tasting

Spend half a day an hour’s drive beyond Italy’s hectic capital city and visit the Castelli Romani, a group of communes in the Roman province located at a very short distance from the Eternal City, right at the base of the Alban Hills. Ariccia is one of these quaint villages. It offers many wonderful sightseeing and cultural opportunities. Among them are the Bernini-designed Palazzo Chigi, the church of Santa Maria Assunta (created by the designer of St. Peter's Square in Rome), and the monumental Ariccia bridge. This bridge is especially well known not only because of its architectural history, but also for its notorious sad past as a site frequently chosen by unfortunate souls to commit suicide. However, what Ariccia and the other towns of the area are really famous for is the chance to eat the best roast pork (porchetta) ever. Fraschette are casual osteria-type dining places whose name is derived from the old habit of nailing a vine twig on the cellar’s entrance with the purpose to advertise a new vintage. Frasca (and the diminutive fraschetta) means slender twig. Until not long ago, these establishments were so informal that people could carry their own food at the table and just pay for wine and beverages. Even today this won't bother a fraschetta owner.The region is also to some of the oldest wine-producing vineyards in the world. Etruscans and Greek settlers produced wine in the country long before the Romans started developing their own vineyards in the 2nd-century BC. Now - 2,000 years later - Italy is one of the world's foremost producers, accounting for approximately one-fifth of the world’s wine production. One such wine takes its name from a Castelli Romani village and is known as the Frascati white wine, whose grapes have been cultivated in this zone since the 5th century B.C.Slices of fresh roasted pork, pecorino cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, and artichoke hearts with plenty of extra oil will be yours to taste accompanied by this favored beverage. This tour is designed for food, wine and nature lovers, but also for those willing to do as the Romans do.

Castelli Romani Vespa tour from Rome: Half Day Private Tour - Lunch included

Your private tour will start with a Vespa driving training (to join the tour is required previous scooter driving experience). After with your guide, you will ride the famous Via Appia Antica and the first stop is the Aqueducts park, where you will admire a fabulous landscape. Riding a Vespa we will get to the Castelli Romani area, famous for its little cities and its landscapes. We will stop to Castel Gandolfo, where the pope historically retreats in the summer to escape the heat of Rome. From a terrace you will admire the famous Albano lake. Later we will lead up to Ariccia, where you will have an autenthic lunch with local food and wine tasting. We will ride up to Nemi, a small town famous for its strawberries, from wich you will admire a panoramic view of the Nemi lake. Our mission is to make your experience more interactive and exciting, to get an overview of Roman countrysides. Get your family or friends involved and have a lot of fun together!

Vatican Museums & Castel Gandolfo Pope's Summer Residence Day Trip

Skip the Line Vatican TourYour day begins early in the morning, as you meet your guide in front of the Vatican Museums. After you make introductions with your small group, skip the line and enter the Vatican Museums forty-five minutes before the general public is allowed inside. When we say "skip the line", we mean it. On our tours, you enter the museum without any hassle, and jump right into the art inside. On this Vatican tour, we visit the Gallery of Candelabras, the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries, the Raphael Rooms and the magnificent Sistine Chapel. Visit the Incredible Sistine Chapel Since it is part of the Vatican Tour, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is included in your tickets. It is here that Michelangelo toiled for four years on his back painting these world-famous and inspiring frescoes. Only when you enter the Sistine Chapel is it clear how high the ceiling is and how many paintings are up there. Important! Since the Sistine Chapel is considered sacred, we ask both men and women to their cover knees and shoulders. Otherwise, you may be refused entry and miss out on a portion of your tour. We understand the summers in Rome can be hot, so a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way, you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary. Vatican City to Castel Gandolfo Train After touring the Vatican Gardens, climb aboard the train that departs straight from Vatican City for a relaxing and scenic ride through the green Castelli Romani hills. After a busy morning, this is an excellent opportunity to rest and recharge for the second portion of the day's activities. After an hour, your train arrives at the Castel Gandolfo Train Station. Barberini Gardens at Castel GandolfoNow it's time to experience the enchanting Barberini Gardens from a bus and by foot. Built over the ruins of Emperor Domitian’s Villa, the gardens are now open to the public as a gesture of goodwill by Pope Francis. These unbelievable gardens are filled with carefully tended hedges, fountains, flowers and ancient Roman ruins. A Feast Fit for the Pope HimselfAre you hungry yet? It's time for a buffet lunch comprised of cheeses, meats, bruschetta with olive oil and fresh tomatoes and pasta locally-sourced from the surrounding land.  Lunch is included in the tour price. Explore the Pope's Summer ResidenceWith a full belly, you are now free to explore the picturesque town of Castel Gandolfo, situated at the top of hill that overlooks the pristine Lake Albano. There are shops, restaurants, art galleries, bars and cafes to shop and relax in. This is also your opportunity to take a self-guided tour of the Pope's summer residence, which is now a museum.