The Castelli Romani – a gastronomical excursion
The Castelli Romani are a group of Italian towns inside of Rome. Close to the capital, they occupy the Alban Hills, a volcanic area that thanks to its fertility it has been a land of agricultural development since ancient times, with wine and porchetta being its two star products.
We will see where we can eat and sample the most popular dishes in this area of gastronomical tradition.
If you love wine, the first stop that you need to do is Frascati, the home of the famous ´Frascati D.O.C.´, with a wide range of flavours that perfectly accompany the traditional cuisine of this area. Where can you eat? At Il Torchio, a cozy restaurant built with old stones where you can sample quality dishes that have been elaborated carefully to the very last detail.
Carrying on with our gastronomical excursion, we head to another town of the Castelli Romani, Marino, famous for its Grape Festival. One of the most emblematic places is Il Cantieri del Gusto, a tavern that characterizes itself for finding flavours and aromas that were lost through time, and that they recuperate by cooking with strictly Italian products (cheeses, meats, mustards, jams and homemade honey).
Following the Alban lake we reach Castel Gandolfo, where you will find one of the most famous and oldest restaurants in the area, Il Ristorante Pagnanelli. Open since 1882, this restaurant offers a spectacular view of the lake as well as a different cuisine thought out for every different season. Various celebrities frequent the place in search for the beauty of its dishes and its panoramic views.
The next team we can go to following the Via Appia is Albano Laziale. If you visit its old town, you can relax for a bite to eat at L´Antica Abazia. This is a rustic yet elegant tavern that has a large variety of wines. It´s also famous for its sweet desserts.
Without going off Via Appia we arrive in Ariccia, a town famous for being decorated by works made by the genius Bernini. In this area you can find the authentic porchetta. Where to go for it? One of the proposals among the wide range of places to eat is Pochi Ma Buoni. Small and casual, it preserves the spirit of the area with traditional Roman cooking.
Genzano di Roma is our next stop, also known as la città dell´infiorata, the floral town. In the old town, right next to the cathedral, there´s a restaurant that dates back from 1885 called Hunters, bearing this name since it was here that the hungers rested when back from hunting in the forest. In 1947 the Masini family bought the restaurant and now it serves traditional cuisine, with game meat being its star dish.
Lastly, now leaving Via Appia, we head to Lanuvio, which according to the legend was founded by Aeneas after the Trojan Wars. And so, we finish our culinary trip in Il Casale della Mandria, a farm where love for nature results in the production of high-quality organic food made with care. This is a family business where you will encounter a friendly and pleasant atmosphere.
And so our excursion ends. Enjoy your food!
Cinta Blanch
You can find apartments in Rome city so later you can enjoy the Castelli Romani on the outskirts, places that offer spectacular views of the Nemi and Albano lakes while you sample traditional food accompanied by a quality wine.
