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EXCURSIONS
Alban Hills and Lakes 6 days/5 nights US$1450 per person* Highlights Terrain: massive double ring of volcanic hills rising out of the coastal plain, renowned as a sacred region from earliest times. Clear blue lakes, shady woods, panoramic views of the Apennines and the Mediterranean. Of interest: well-kept towns famous for wines, food and grandiose villas. Roman roads and ruins galore. Vast regional park with a labyrinth of woodland paths. History On the slopes of Monte Cavo legend has it that Ascanius, son of Aeneas of Troy, founded the town of Alba Longa, cradle of Latin culture and mother of Rome itself. The early Latin tribes founded several major religious precincts: temples of Juno and Jupiter, and the sanctuary of Diana at Lake Nemi, whose presiding priest had to be a runaway slave who had killed his predecessor in single combat. This chilling ritual was made famous by Sir James Frazer in The Golden Bough. Lake Nemi came to serve as a focal point for Latin resistance to Roman expansion. Alba Longa was destroyed around 650 BC; later the Alban Hills became prime real estate for Roman patricians – and remain so, dotted with elegant villas and castles from every period.
 “… intriguing places, people, and history…we hope to walk many more miles with you!” Susan Dormanen and Mark Welch
Villa Aldobrandini, Frascati
 * includes lodging (double occupancy), all meals, daily baggage shuttle, and transportation from Rome (air fare to Rome not included). 25% supplement for single occupancy. 10% reduction for parties of 4 or more. Please note: there are options for reducing cost, or tailoring the excursions to your preferences in a variety of other ways: see design your own excursion. The Route We begin in Frascati, a lively town known for wine, baroque villas and a scenic position facing Rome. As we wind our way up through the woods, a panorama of the Apennines to the east begins to open. At the top of the hill is Tusculum, where many wealthy Romans including Cicero had villas. The view is unobstructed, and we can see our next objective: Rocca di Papa, a village of cascading terraces huddled on the upper slopes of Monte Cavo. At its summit stood the temple of Jupiter; here a well-preserved Roman road offers stunning vistas of the lakes below and the coastal plain beyond. We descend to a beautiful old monastery overlooking Lake Albano; a wooded path winds around the lake, past gushing springs and ancient ruins, to the bustling town of Albano on the Via Appia. A plethora of Roman remains are here: army camp, baths, amphitheatre, temples, villas, and a magnificent cistern, the last of its kind still functioning. Another path through the woods leads to Lake Nemi, “mirror of Diana”: a small gem of a lake, with the colorful town of Nemi perched on a cliff above. Optional jaunts: around Lake Albano to Marino and Castelgandolfo (where the Pope spends his summers); around Lake Nemi to Genzano. All offer excellent lake views and historical attractions. |
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