Discover Frascati

Frascati is a comune of about 23,000 people in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in Lazio, in the area of the Castelli Romani. It lies 20 kilometres south-east of Rome on the Alban Hills, close to the ancient city of Tusculum.

It stands at 326 metres above sea level, below the north-western slope of Monte Tuscolo and crossed by the Via Tuscolana, in a commanding position relative to Rome, squeezed between Grottaferrata to the west and Monte Porzio Catone to the east. Part of its territory falls within the Castelli Romani regional park.

Three things define it. It produces the white wine of the same name. It is a historical and artistic centre, with the villa landscape that the papal court and Roman aristocracy built across these hills. And it is closely associated with science, being the location of several international scientific laboratories — which is not what most visitors expect from a wine town.

Its name is humble: it probably comes from the local tradition of collecting firewood, frasche, and many place-names around the town refer to trees or wood.

And its existence is owed to a destruction. After nearby Tusculum was destroyed in 1191 the town's population increased and the bishopric moved there from Tusculum; in 1538 Paul III gave Frascati the title of Civitas under the name Tusculum Novum.

Where is Frascati? On the Alban Hills, 20 kilometres south-east of Rome, at 326 metres, in the area of the Castelli Romani.

Is it just about wine? No. Frascati produces the white wine of the same name, but it is also a historical and artistic centre and is closely associated with science, being the location of several international scientific laboratories.

Where does the name come from? Probably from the local tradition of collecting firewood — frasche — and many place-names around the town refer to trees or wood.

What is Tusculum? The ancient Latin city on the hill above, destroyed in 1191. Its destruction increased Frascati's population and brought the bishopric down here.

Why is it called Tusculum Novum? Because in 1538 Pope Paul III conferred the title of Civitas on Frascati under that name.

What happened on 15 September 1616? The first public and free school in Europe was established here, on the initiative of Saint Joseph Calasanz.

What is the church of Capocroce? It commemorates 1 May 1527, when a Landsknecht company fresh from sacking Rome changed direction beside a roadside shrine to the Virgin and the town was spared.

Who owned the Roman villa here? The most significant archaeological finds belong to a patrician villa associated with Lucullus; in the first century AD its owner was Gaius Sallustius Crispus Passienus, who married Agrippina the Younger, mother of Nero. The Flavians later confiscated it.

Is it cooler than Rome? A little — generally one or two degrees lower, with less humidity. Summers reach 35 °C with rare peaks of 37, and the town has never reached 40 °C.

Does it snow? Very rarely, and only in intense generalised cold waves arriving mainly from the Rhône valley, usually as temporary sleet.

How do I get there? By train from Rome, directly.