Founded on the remains of a Roman villa, Frascati is said to owe its name to the branches used to cover the dwellings. After the destruction of Tusculum in 1191, many inhabitants took refuge in the village below, creating a new town. Between 1200 and 1300 it had a period of strong development.
In the 16th century it was ceded by Julius II to Marcantonio I Colonna, who made it his own residence and that of his wife, Lucrezia della Rovere. In 1538 Paul III Farnese gave Frascati the title of Civitas with the name Tusculum Novum. Don’t miss the 15th-century Cathedral and the 9th-century Church of Santa Maria del Vivaro. And then the Episcopal Palace, the Town Hall with works by Pinelli, and the ancient Tusculum with the remains of the Roman theatre from the 2nd century AD.
Ninfeo di Villa Aldobrandini – photo www.comune.frascati.rm.it
It reached its height of magnificence in the second half of the 16th century with the construction of sumptuous villas, becoming the favourite site of the Roman aristocracy. Visit them on a tour of the Renaissance villas. Villa Aldobrandini dominates Frascati, Villa Torlonia with its Water Theatre by Maderno.
Villa Lancellotti – photo Ezio Bocci @ www.comune.frascati.rm
Then again, Villa Lancellotti and Villa Falconieri. The Museo Tuscolano is located in the 17th-century Scuderie Aldobrandini renovated by Fuksas.
Frascati was the first small town in the Castelli Romani to have a railway in 1856. It was known as ‘the hangover train’ because it brought visitors to the fraschette on Sunday evenings back to Rome.
Pupazza frascatana
Traditional Roman dishes can be tasted in the fraschette. Among the many, the antipasto all’italiana, the coppiette di cavallo, the corallina romana, the porchetta and the mortadella spianata. Among the best known desserts are pan giallo, panpepato and Pupazza di Frascati. The culinary delights must be accompanied by a Frascati DOC wine.
The patron saints Saints Philip and James are celebrated on 3 May. 8 September 1943, the sad day on which Frascati was bombed by American planes during the Second World War, is still alive and celebrated. Around 6000 victims were counted.