Immersed in the landscape of the Roman Castles, just a few kilometers shy of Frascati, the park stretches along the slopes of Mount Tuscolo. The ancient city of Tusculum, celebrated by Cicerone and Tito Livio, still preserves, to this day, the legacy of a famous past.

The heart of the site resides in the remains of the city which, according to the myth, was founded by Telegonus, youngest son of the enchantress Circe and Odysseus; the oldest evidence of stable settlements in the Acropolis date back to the Iron Age. Thanks to its peculiar strategic position, the site played an important role both in the Roman Era, when it became the nobility’s favourite place of residence, and during the Middle Ages. After turning into an ancestral stronghold for the powerful family of the counts of Tuscolo between the XI and the XII century, the city became a dangerous rival for Rome, which is why it was destroyed in 1119, and consequently completely abandoned. The Park’s itinerary leads visitors to the discovery of the old urban layout, between archeological paths and natural terraces, to rediscover some of the buildings of the Forum Area like the cathedral, the archaic fountain, Mercury’s temple and the theater, perhaps the most well known and distinctive monument in the entire site.

Just behind the Forum are the remains of vast thermal baths from the Hadrianic era, only partially dug and upon which was later built a medieval cathedral.
Walking along the ancient Via dei Sepolcri, visitors can admire the remains of the suburban sanctuary, spectacularly overlooking the Latina Valley, and a small thermal building. After a short walk to the summit of the Mount of the same name, visitors can reach the Acropolis and observe the remains of the Temple of the Dioscuri and the medieval ruins of the counts of Tuscolo’s stronghold.

The Park is also a place where nature and culture meet, where visitors can take part in guided tours, events and activities. A designated area with tables and barbecues also allows them to relax, immersed in an extraordinary landscape.

Campagna fotografica realizzata nell’ambito del progetto “Oltre Roma” e finanziata dalla Regione Lazio, Avviso Pubblico “La cultura fa sistema 2021”