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DAILY EXCURSIONS:
the Roman Castles (Castelli Romani) |
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We
prepare FIVE excursions:
TOUR A includes the visit to the magnificent
Villa d'Este gardens with the hundreds fountains,
and Emperor Hadrian's outstanding Villa.
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Tivoli seen from Villa d'Este |
Villa D'Este: the three central pools |
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The
Villa was built over a Benedictine monastery in
1550 for Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, son of
Lucrezia Borgia. The villa itself was designed
by architect Pirro Ligorio, and includes
frescoes and paintings by Correggio, da
Volterrra and Perrin del Vaga. However the main
attraction, the gardens, eclipse the villa with
their hundreds fountains, elaborate, ingenious,
built and designed state-of-the-art according to
neo-classical patterns. They form an atmosphere
of continuity with the ancient Greek-Roman
world, in its quintessential element, water, which
always attracted the people and the thinkers of
the ancient world. The "Fontana dell'Organo
Idraulico" used water to compress air and play
tunes like an organ, another imitated the owl's
song. Unfortunately they are not working anymore,
while most fountains, and the three central
pools, are well maintained. There is also the
"Rometta", a miniature model of the Tiber Island
in Rome, with the She-Wolf and several other
buildings in the background. Finally, there are
views of Rome, and also of the Sabini Mounts,
from everywhere. |
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The
excursion possibly includes a visit
to Rocca Priora, the highest Roman
Castle (768 Mt., app. 2,580 Ft.),
passing through Monteporzio, and
through impressive chestnut forests.
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Monteporzio |
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Rocca Priora |
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The
tour possibly ends with a lunch in a
characteristic restaurant in Rocca
Priora, were the owners will prepare
home-made specialties of the Roman
Castles.
The tour begins at 8:30 am, you will
be picked up and brought back to
your apartment, and it lasts 4 / 5
hours.
The
tours are prepared only for the
clients of Roman Homes, renting fine
vacation rentals. Please do not
inquire if your are not a Roman
Homes client. |
PRICES:
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for groups up to 4 persons 250 Euro app. 269
US$. The car will be a Mercedes Deluxe sedan.
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for groups up to 6 person 285 Euro app. 306 US$.
The car will be a Mercedes Van or Chrysler Van.
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for groups up to 8 persons 340 Euro app. 366
US$. The car is a Mercedes Minibus.
The price does
not include the cost of the lunch at the
restaurant, which is though very convenient
(app. 15-20 Euro //20-23 US$ per person), and
the food is of high quality. You should also
consider though also the time for the car
service, billed 25-35 (app. 27 Euros - 38 Euro)
per hour, depending on the car you use. |
TOUR
B
includes the
visit to the Ancient Appian Way, the original
ancient road (built by consul Appio in 312 BC).
It is now part of an archeological park (its map
is shown to the right). The road was called by
the ancient Romans Regina Viarum, Queen of the
Roads, as it was by far the best built, and with
the best environment. It was flanked by
monuments, graves, villas, aqueducts, which can
still be seen with the original Roman
cobblestone.
[Map areas: Brown: Rome's historical centre.
Pink: the round area within the ring, including
modern Rome. Green: the park].
The tour includes
also a visit to Castelgandolfo, which is the
summer residence of the Pope, and also a visit
to the beautiful Lakes of Albano and Nemi,
moreover to Rocca di Papa, Grottaferrata and
Frascati, two famous residential resorts
surrounded by a beautiful green environment.
Finally, the tour
ends just like Tour A, in a very characteristic
restaurant in Rocca Priora (please read above).
The organization,
the time to be picked up, the price is the same
of Tour A, please read above. |
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Appian way |
Map of park |
The lake of
Albano and Castelgandolfo |
St. Nile's
Abbey in Grottaferrata |
Villa
Aldobrandini
in Frascati |
The
residence of the Pope in Castelgandolfo |
The lake
of Albano with Castelgandolfo, seen from the
Villa of Cardinale Colonna (built 1629), on the
road to Rocca di Papa. Beyond the lake you can
see Rome and the Tyrrhenean sea coast. On this
site there is also an Abbey (of Palazzolo), and
an ancient Roman aqueduct conveying water to
Albano, probably the first town founded by the
Latins. Notice the colours of the water: one can
see all shades of green, emerald and blue,
depending on the lake bed, the surrounding
environment, the drifts, and sunlight.
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One can clearly
see the volcanic origin of the lake.
There are
countless beautiful views. From the hills, there
are also panoramic views of Rome, and of the
Tirrenean sea beyond it. |
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Close-up of Castel Gandolfo, and of the
Pope residence. Beyond the lake you can see Rome,
and after it the Tirrenean sea |
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Part of the lake with the beach
resorts. The 1960 Olympics rowing
competitions were held here |
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Rocca di Papa, nested on the Monte Cavo,
seen from the Tuscolo archeological
area.
To the left of the little town, in the
former crater of a large prehistoric
volcanic area, one finds the fields and
forests where Hannibal camped with his
troups (Campi di Annibale). |
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Close-up of Monte Cavo (954 Mt. above
s.l.). It is an inactive crater, also on
the edge of another larger inactive
crater transformed into beautiful fields
(Campi di Annibale). On top of the mount
there stood the famous ancient Temple of
Latium Jupiter (Tempio di Giove
Laziale). |
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TOUR C:
It is the same of tour A, but it includes also
the visit to the Ancient Appian Way and to the
acqueduct Claudius while returning to Rome. The
price is the same of Tour A, with a supplement
of 40 Euros (app. 43 US$). |
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Aqueduct Claudius
(37-58 AD) as it reaches
Rome |
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TOUR D
of the lakes, of
the volcanoes, and of their scenic villages. It
explores the lakes of Albano and Nemi, the
villages of Castelgandolfo and Rocca di Papa,
the panoramic volcanic area of Monte Cavo, and
the Campi d'Annibale (Hannibal's fields). Price
as above.
GRAND TOUR: It includes
the visit to the highlights of all tours. A one
day tour. The price is double.
The excursion
includes the transportation only
with comfortable cars and courteous English
speaking and knowledgeable driver, not the entry
tickets to visit the sights (which is
economical), tourist guidance, meals etc. |
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TO
BOOK or to enquire: Please write to
info@romanhomes.com We will reply to you
swiftly.
Upon
request we can organize your transport to any
other location or destination.
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is a registered trademark.
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