Castelli Romani

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Formal Garden and Lake Nemi south of Rome, Lazio Italy

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Overview

A pretty pocket of verdant hills and volcanic lakes 20km southeast of Rome, the Colli Albani (Alban Hills) and their 13 towns are collectively known as the Castelli Romani. Since ancient times they've provided a green refuge from the city and still today Romans flock to the area on hot summer weekends. Highlights include the famous wine town of Frascati, hilltop Castel Gandolfo and the scenic Lago Albano.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

View of Lake Albano from the town of Castel Gandolfo in the Albano Hills.

Lago Albano

Castelli Romani

The larger and more developed of the Castelli's two volcanic lakes – the other is Lago di Nemi – Lago Albano is set in a steeply banked wooded crater. It…

The church, the bell tower, and the liturgical fountain "the Paradise" in the Exarchic Monastery of Saint Mary in Grottaferrata, Greek Abbey of Saint Nilus, the last Byzantine-Greek monastery in Italy.

Abbazia Greca di San Nilo

Castelli Romani

Grottaferrata's fortified monastery, the last of the Byzantine-Greek abbeys that once dotted medieval Italy, was founded in 1004. The walls and…

Apostolic palace (official residence of reigning pope) in Vatican
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Palazzo Apostolico

Castelli Romani

Dominating Castel Gandolfo's skyline, the 17th-century Palazzo Apostolico was the pope's traditional summer residence. However, since 2016 it has been…

Palazzo Chigi

Castelli Romani

Lording it over the small town of Ariccia, this 17th-century palazzo was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini for the Chigi family. Its interior, used by…

Giardini di Villa Barberini

Castelli Romani

For centuries a closed world, the papal gardens at Castel Gandolfo can now be visited, albeit accompanied and in groups. The regular one-hour tour…

Museo delle Navi Romane

Castelli Romani

This museum on the shores of Lago di Nemi was built by Mussolini to house two Roman boats salvaged from the lake in 1932. These dated from Caligula’s time…

Nemi

Castelli Romani

The small town of Nemi is perched high above Lago di Nemi, the smaller of the two volcanic lakes in the Castelli Romani. This area was the centre of a…

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