Holiday apartment in Frascati: Villas, Wine and Tuscolo

Frascati combines a wine-making tradition with villas, churches and traces of Roman history. As a wine town, it produces Frascati Superiore and Cannellino, both DOCG wines, as well as Frascati DOP. A holiday apartment in Frascati therefore offers various focal points for your holiday: art and architecture, ancient history, wine or archaeological themes around Tuscolo.

Villas, Collections and Sacred Art

The Museo tuscolano in the Scuderie Aldobrandini displays ten wooden models of the Ville Tuscolane. The archaeological collection of the Scuderie Aldobrandini comprises finds from the Republican and Imperial periods through to the Middle Ages. You will therefore encounter both the prestigious villa culture and evidence of epochs reaching far back into history.

Villa Lancellotti is one of the six Ville Tuscolane in the area of Frascati. Its garden contains a “teatro delle acque” built by Roberto Primi and inspired by the one at Mondragone.

Villa Sora is also one of Frascati’s six Ville Tuscolane. It stands on the ancient Roman road that is now called Via Tuscolana. The piano nobile contains frescoes with allegorical scenes of the nine Muses, depictions of famous figures and landscape scenes.

Villa Falconieri, also known as “La Rufina”, was the first villa built in Frascati; it was constructed between 1540 and 1550. It was built on the remains of a rectangular Roman villa, bringing together different historical layers at this site.

Frascati’s sacred heritage includes the Cattedrale di San Pietro and the Chiesa del Gesù. The Cattedrale di San Pietro became the cathedral of Frascati at the end of the 16th century, replacing the old S. Maria in Vivario in this role. The Chiesa del Gesù preserves numerous Baroque frescoes, including Sant’Ignazio, San Sebastiano and the Presentation in the Temple, created by the school of Andrea Pozzo.

Tuscolo between Archaeology and Landscape

The Parco Archeologico e Culturale di Tuscolo can be reached via signposted paths that begin near Frascati. The visitor route runs mainly through the monumental area of the Forum and the square. Visitors can then independently follow the partly still visible course of the ancient Via dei Sepolcri. The Roman theatre of Tuscolo is another part of the archaeological experience: it was built in the 1st century BC. After extensive renovations in the first half of the 1st century AD, its cavea could accommodate around 2,000 spectators.

The elevated Villa Aldobrandini offers a broad impression of the landscape, with extensive views over Frascati and towards Rome. Villa Torlonia is just a few steps from Frascati’s historic centre and is located in the present-day municipal park.

Wine, Getting There and Practical Planning

The wine tradition can also be experienced beyond the city’s history: DOCG wine tastings are offered at the De Sanctis organic farm in the green hills of Frascati. For connections with Rome, the railway provides a clear point of reference: Roma-Termini can be reached from Frascati by train in 25 minutes.

When choosing your holiday apartment, you can set the focus of your stay between Frascati’s villas and churches, wine offerings, and Tuscolo’s ancient paths and structures. Free, scheduled guided tours of Villa Falconieri were offered on Sundays at 10 a.m. and noon in Italian, with reservations required. For visits to the Chiesa del Gesù, opening hours should be requested by telephone at 069420238 and appointments arranged.

More Destinations in the Region

For further regional orientation: Canterano, Tor San Lorenzo, Subiaco, Cerveteri, Tragliata, Morlupo, Colleferro and Pisoniano.

For the higher-level travel overview: Rome.