Castelli Romani: an experience between art, culture, food & wine

First we’ll visit Castel Gandolfo – a lovely town where the Pope has his summer residence. Castel Gandolfo is a town located 25 kilometres (16 mi) southeast of Rome. Within the town's boundaries lies the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo which served as a summer residence and vacation retreat for the Pope. Although the palace is located within the borders of Castel Gandolfo, it has extraterritorial status as one of the properties of the Holy See and is not under Italian jurisdiction. It is now open as a museum.

The town lays in a dormant volcanic crater which has provided fertile land for the growth of grapes and the production of wine. In June, a folkloristic and religious exhibition, the "Infiorata" is held. A whole street (Via Italo Belardi) is covered with allegorical carpets of flowers and a masked parade walk on these, with medieval and traditional clothes realized by the town's women. The event was held for the first time in 1778.

Rocca Priora is a small town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, Italy. It is one of the Castelli Romani on the Alban Hills about 25 kilometres (16 mi) southeast of Rome, situated in the Regional Park known as the "Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani".

Famous for its "porchetta" (pig meat)! Ariccia is a lovely town in the beautiful hills of the Castelli Romani south of Rome. This area of rolling golden-hued landscapes with stone hill towns is magical; it became the favored summer residence of the popes and elite from the capital city wanting to escape to a cooler clime and fresh air during the hottest months.