Today we escape the hubbub of the city and drive the short distance out to the hills surrounding Rome. We head east with our guide to hill-side Tivoli, and the beautiful Villa D’Este. With entrance, we get chance to explore its renowned Renaissance terraced gardens and fountains.
Then it’s a short drive to the town of Frascati, in the heart of another of Italy’s famous wine growing areas. We will have lunch in a classic ‘fraschetta’, or local osteria-tavern, in the centre of Frascati, with local food selections. These are characteristic restaurants, full of atmosphere, in the hills around Rome, where people can eat to their heart’s content, drink as much as they like, sing a little maybe, but mostly have lots of fun! Amongst the fayre offered to guests, are various types of locally produced cured ham, salami, cheeses, and several pasta dishes. But the ‘queen’ of the table is undoubtedly the porchetta – a delicious spicy pork roast. And if you’re a vegetarian, don’t worry, there’s lots of non-meat choices. And, as we can’t visit a wine region without a tasting, we’ll stop at a winery in the Alban Hills for a visit.
We continue ever upwards to our last stop at the lofty Castel Gandolfo, which overlooks the extinct volcano that is Lake Albano, and where the Pope has his summer residence.
We return to Rome via charming town of Marino and along the Via Appia, the historic Roman road. Dinner is at leisure
Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Rome