In the 16th and 17th centuries many aristocratic roman families built their luxurious summer residences in the Castelli Romani’s area.
They are the famous “Ville Tuscolane” we know today and they were the Renaissance Roman nobility and the Senior clergy’s status symbol at that time.
All the most valued artists and architects were involved for the “creation” of those villas.
Ville Tuscolane
These Villas are twelve and they are in the municipalities of Frascati, Monte Porzio Catone and Grottaferrata.
VILLA ALDOBRANDINI
Villa Aldobrandini is an artistic italian jewel of the 16th century that offers a wonderful view across Rome and Frascati, in-fact this villa is also known as “Villa Belvedere”.
Inside, you can admire Cavalier d’Arpino’s frescoes. ( He is the Caravaggio’s master)
It is surrounded by a gorgeous italian style garden and Teatro delle Acque make this villa unique: it is a 2500 square meters of a magnificent nymphaeum with wonderful fountains and terraces.
In the “Stanza del Parnaso” there is a Water Organ : a one of a kind major work.
Adress: Via Cardinale G. Massaia, 18 Frascati (RM)
Info 069420331
VILLA TORLONIA
The Frascati Municipal Park holds this wonderful Villa and it is open all the time to the public. In the 17th century Giovanni Fontana, Carlo Maderno and Flaminio Ponzio created a spectacular composition of fountains that made water shows which were so usefull for the Park’s beauty.
Today there are just the fountain of the upper side and “Il Teatro delle Acque” because sadly the original residence was destroyed by bombardments during World War II.
Adress: Via Annibal Caro, Frascati
VILLA MONDRAGONE
This Villa was named after a dragon shown on the coat of arms of its earliest resident : Pope Gregorio XIII. Here again, the external part is its flagship: Jan Van Santen, a Flemish architect, designed the “Giardino Grande” and the “Teatro delle Acque” with the “ Fontana dei draghi e della Grande Corte Quadrangolare” in the center (He was inspired by Versailles)
Adress: Via Frascati 51, Monte Porzio Catone Visit-by-booking
Info: 06945400
VILLA GRAZIOLI
Villa Grazioli is a magnificent villa, dating back to 1580, where we can admire its history through a cicle of picturesque works dated between the 16th and the 18th centuries.
Here again, its well-preserved Italian style garden is the most suggesting attraction of this residence.
Today Villa Grazioli hosts the Park Hotel Villa Grazioli. Visit-by-booking
Adress: Via Umberto Pavoni 19, Grottaferrata (RM)
Info: 06945400
The other villas (Ville Tuscolane) are closed to the public and of course they deserve a mention: Villa Falconieri (Via del Tuscolo km 1,5), Villa Lancellotti (Viale Catone), Villa Sora (Via Tuscolana 5), Villa Sciarra (Via di Fontana Vecchia 2, Frascati), Villa Vecchia (Via Frascati 49) and Villa Parisi (Via Consalvi, Monte Porzio Catone).
Getting to the Villas
These villas are all around 25 km from Casale di Tormaggiore.
You can go there by car, if you prefer we can contact our car rental partners.
We can also organize a guided tour of “Ville Tuscolane” with chauffeured cars.
