Area 1 – Itinerary 4
Vinalia Tuscolane: Wine from ancient times to present day
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Aldobrandini Villa (place of interest I – Frascati)
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Museum Tuscolano – Aldobrandini Stables (museum I – Frascati)
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Tuscolo Archeological Park (museum II – Monte Porzio Catone)
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Wine Museum (museum III – Monte Porzio Catone)
Visitors who are passionate about archeology and wine tourism can set off to explore the area between Frascati and Monte Porzio Catone, where wine has been celebrated since ancient times and where, to this day, a strong bond between local identity and wine-making culture remains. The common theme of this itinerary is, in fact, the secular history of the beverage sacred to the god Dionysus.
From the moment tourists reach G.Marconi Square, the beating heart of Frascati, they are surrounded by historical buildings. At the very center stands the spectacular Monumento ai Caduti della Grande Guerra (a monument to the victims of WW1), and a short distance away is the majestic Villa Aldobrandini, a luxurious aristocratic residence designed by the renowned architects Della Porta, Maderno and Fontana, for Pope Clemente VIII’s nephew. Overlooking the square are the Aldobrandini Stables, a service facility to the villa of the same name, already visible in an engraving by Matheus Greuter from 1620. The structure has been modernized by the world famous architect Massimiliano Fuksas and is now home to the Museum Tuscolano, a multifunctional space designed to host archeological collections, temporary art exhibitions, educational workshops, multimedia spaces and an auditorium. The focal point of the collection are the archeological finds from the Tusculum site. Among these stands out a pentelikon marble female statue, originally from the thermal baths of Adriano and brought to light in 2023, which could be interpreted as a maenad. This figure was linked to the worship of Dionysus, god of wine, and was said to accompany him dancing in an inebriated state, caused by the consumption of the intoxicating beverage and psychoactive plants.
Following the dionysian parade led by the maenad in the Museo Tuscolano, visitors can reach the Tuscolo Archeological and Cultural Park to explore the remains of the ancient town of Tusculum. The roman agronomist and scholar Marco Terenzio Varrone recounts that, on the city gates, was a sign that reminded and encouraged all roman winemakers not to bring wine into the city before the celebration of the Vinalia, festivals dedicated to grape harvest and wine. This very wine was also used by Ortensio, according to Macrobio, to water the famous sycamore trees he had planted on the Tuscolane slopes, so that the trees could flourish and thrive.
Visitors will explore the remains of the ancient settlement, starting from the evocative theater, and then diving into the unique history and atmosphere of the location, which offers a series of scenic routes that cross the surrounding park.
According to the myth, Tusculum was founded by Telegonus, son of Ulysses and the enchantress Circe. Archeological data confirms that the area of the acropolis has been populated since the Iron Age. In contrast, the territory below the monumental area has only been occupied starting from VII-VI century b.C. Thanks to its strategic position, Tusculum has always had a dominant role on the surrounding territories, both in Roman and medieval times, becoming a privileged place of residence for the Roman nobility and then for the Conti of Tuscolo clan. During the conflicts between the Papacy and the Empire, the city became a dangerous rival to Rome and was therefore completely destroyed on April 17th 1191.
From Tuscolo, visitors can enjoy a special view of the Vulcano Laziale. It’s these fertile vulcanian soils that give the wines harvested in this region the distinctive traits, appreciated by wine lovers everywhere.
From Tuscolo’s Archeological and Cultural Park, still within the territory of Monte Porzio Catone, our travelers can reach the heart of town to relax and enjoy the last stop in their ecological itinerary: the Museo del Vino. Launched in 2024 to celebrate the history and culture of this thousand year old product, the Wine Museum of Monte Porzio Catone preserves numerous instruments and tools for the harvest of grapes and the production, preservation, and distribution of the beverage sacred to Baccus. Among these objects are fullers, vats for filtering, wine presses, plows, barrels, pitchers and decanters of different sizes, shears, compasses, knives, scissors and more.
It will be interesting for visitors to discover the different phases that mark the work done in a vineyard and the numerous procedures necessary for pruning grapes, producing and distributing wine.
The itinerary recommended offers visitors the opportunity to reflect on the close relationship between wine and territory over the centuries and the profound transformation it underwent in recent years. Traditional inns are a thing of the past: the consumption of wine nowadays, used also as a means to socialize, is reserved for city wine bars and local wineries, where manufacturers often open the doors of their cantinas to tourists and aficionados. At the same time, wine tasting associations are promoting the study of this millennial beverage. Wine represents, therefore, the protagonist of the “wine drinking culture” phenomenon, through training courses, themed tastings, guided tours and teaching activities in vineyards.
Recommendations and fun facts
- To better enjoy the atmosphere of the itinerary, we recommend reaching the Tuscolo Archeological and Cultural Park from Frascati or Monte Porzio Catone, using one of the many trekking paths marked by the Castelli Romani Park.
- We suggest trekking these particular routes from the end of April to the start of July, to take part in the events Vinalia Priora and Vinalia Tuscolane, held at the Aldobrandini Stables and the Tuscolo Archaeological and Cultural Park respectively. These events are dedicated to the union of archeology and wine, with the goal to support and promote local wineries through tastings and historical accounts.
- By walking these paths mid-April, visitors can also take part in the event “Orchids of the World” held every year by the town of Monte Porzio Catone: a floricultural and horticultural international event enriched by musical, artistic and cultural events.
Contacts and opening hours
Museum Tuscolano – Aldobrandini Stables
Frascati (RM), Piazza G.Marconi n.6
Info: +39069417195 | cultura@comune.frascati.rm.it |
www.mu-sa.it
Opening hours: Tuesdays-Sundays 10:00–19:00
Tuscolo Archeological Park
Monte Porzio Catone (RM), SP Tuscolo
Info: +393914225048 | info@tuscolo.org | www.tuscolo.org
Opening hours: Saturdays & Sundays 10:00 – until sunset
Monte Porzio Catone’s Wine Museum
Monte Porzio Catone (RM), Piazza Trieste 11-13
Info: 3311260841 | info@museodelvinompc.it |
Opening hours: Mondays, Thursdays e Fridays 16:00-21:00
Saturdays and Sundays 10:00-21:00