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Published: October 27th 2005
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Che bella e Frascati!
When in Rome do as the Romans do and spend the weekend in Frascati away from the city centre.
Frascati is a great little city in the Castelli Romani area renown for its vino bianco (white wine) that can be sampled at the many Fraschetta’s in the centre where you bring the food and buy the wine by carafe. Usually about 1-2 euro a litre may also get half, or quarter litres. You will want to pick up a couple of bottles for the road.
Other main attractions to Frascati are Villa Aldobrandini and Falconeri, the cathedral in Pz. San Pietro, and the tower Pz. San Rocco. Over all the city centre is full of life outside pranzo time which is from 13,00 until 16,30 , the cafes are open as are some restaurants.
So if you find yourself with time on your hands you may enjoy a walk into the countryside. Specifically the trail up to the Tuscolo ruins where you can see Castel Gondolfo (Popes’ summer residence) and Rocca di Papa/Monte Cavo. Getting to the trail initially can be difficult if you don’t know where you’re going to here are
some helpful tips on getting there.
First, make sure you have on walking or hiking shoes. Second, the trail is uphill and may prove a bit difficult if you aren’t used to walking up hill but don’t let that keep you from the great views at the top of the hill!
The trail is sheltered by the tree branches most of the way, remember to take water with you. Let’s begin facing the Cathedral take the road on the left side up to the end where you’ll see stairs on your right. Take the steps at the top you need to carefully cross the road and follow the walk path (very short) you then walk on the road straight ahead be aware of traffic. Eventually, the roads curves up but you want to keep straight follow the cobble stone road up to Villa Falconeri. This road isn’t as busy as the main road but there is some traffic - once you reach the arch of the villa you’ll see a gate to the right (pictured above)this is the beginning of the trail! You follow the wall of the villa until you reach a fork in the road here
Cathedral
piazza San Pietro you can divert towards Monte Porzio or remain on target for Tuscolo ruins. Proceed to the right along a gravel road until you reach a small cluster of apartments, stay to the left and continue up the paved road that intersects with the main road. From here you want to safely cross the road and take the drive way towards the Monastery on the left. Once you are facing the monastery turn round and the trail recommences. From this point you can’t miss Tuscolo you will end up in either of two places near the BBQ/parking lot or best near the excavation dig of the ruins. At one point in the trail switches left or you can go straight - I recommend switching left to end up in the ruins. Also there is a final trail marker where you may change course toward Monte Compatri the choice is yours my friend.
I prefer travel by train, from Stazione Termini you can catch a FRASCATI train departing from as early as 6,52 am all trains depart at 8 minutes to the hour and there is no service at 10,52 am travel takes about 20-30 minutes. It is highly recommended you arrive at Termini on the half hour because the platform may be at least 400 meters away from the station which is a sprint if you’re cutting it close on time.
If you miss the train, you can either wait it out until the next departure or catch the metro A line to the end of the line Agnanina then hoping on a local bus at platform 5 heading to Frascati this takes twice as long and is a locals service you may be hard pressed finding someone who speaks your language?
Frascati is the end of the line and returning to Rome is just as easy trains depart regularly at 28 minutes after the hour. Last train returning to Rome is at 22,28pm again be at the station about 10 minutes early or you might just miss it. Alternatively, you may want to spend the night in town and there are several hotels to choose from hotel flora, the colonna and panorama are a few places that may have availability.
Note: Sunday services are less frequest (7,52am; 9,52am; 11,52am etc.) hours are every other hour with the last train returning to Rome at 20,28pm
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Thanks ! Yolanda..
Hopefully, in the new year we will finally meet one another! Tell Mati we say hi ... It isn´t so dangerous as people in the states think - it´s very cheap to travel South into the Americas. How old is your son?