20 kilometres south-east of Rome, the pretty hilltop town of Frascati is where wealthy Romans head at the weekend to escape the intense summer heat, and to visit some of the region’s ancient Baroque palaces and historic towns. It also happens to be the place Lady Kitty Spencer and her financier husband Michael Lewis chose for their fairy tale wedding in July 2021. Here’s everything you need to know about the Italian town that’s fit for the aristocracy…
The lowdown on Frascati
Frascati is a small hilltop town located in the Lazio region of Italy. Because of its proximity to The Eternal City – you can reach Frascati by rail from Rome in under an hour – it has long been a weekend retreat for wealthy Romans, who come for the day to visit historic wineries, Baroque mansions and local restaurants. Frascati is one of several attractive medieval towns near Rome known collectively as the Castelli Romani. Situated on the slopes of Monte Tuscolo, it is home to several monumental residences built in the 15th and 16th century by papal families, the largest and most impressive of which is Villa Aldobrandini, which Lady Kitty Spencer chose as her wedding venue.
Things to See in Frascati
The sprawling Villa Aldobrandini is one of only a handful of palazzi open to the public. The main house – a grand peach-hued residence built in 1550 – sits atop a hill with a dramatic backdrop of oak and chestnut woods. The grounds house a vineyard as well as orchards and beautiful flower gardens, an impressive stone fountain and an avenue lined with statues that leads up to the villa itself. This Baroque jewel created the ideal backdrop to Lady Kitty’s Italianate wedding, during which she wore no less than six bespoke dresses by Dolce & Gabbana.
Pay a visit to the property and you can explore the vast grounds and gaze out from the wide loggia where Lady Kitty and her new husband stood, looking out towards Rome and the dome of St Peter in the distance. Villa Aldobrandini has interestingly played host to a wedding once before, as depicted in a 16th century painting found in the cellar and now known as the Aldobrandine Wedding. It now hangs in the Vatican Museum.
The Wines of Frascati
Another reason to visit Frascati are the wines. The region is well known for its wonderfully fresh yet full-bodied white wines made from Trebbiano or Malvasia grapes. It is the wine of the ancient Romans, cultivated here since the 6th century. The grapes grow on Volcanic soils which lend the wines a lovely clean mineral taste and a savoury edge. Frascati DOC is very affordable, but if you’re hunting for a special bottle to enjoy with dinner, look out for Frascati Superiore DOCG or Cannellino di Frascati DOCG, a sweet dessert wine made from late harvest grapes.
Frascati’s Best Restaurants
Frascati is very much a destination for gourmands, although the vibe is more rustic and relaxed than polished. Home to a charming collection of fraschette (maker-run wine bars) which allow you to bring your own cicchetti (snacks), so long as you order a carafe of their chilled wine. More upscale is Cacciani which has views of Rome from the terrace. Without a doubt Frascati’s most popular restaurant however is Cantina Simonetti, which boasts one of the best spots in town, right on the cobbles of Piazza San Rocco. Strung with fairy lights and with traditional Roman dishes such as Bucatini all'Amatriciana served on simple paper-laid tables, this is la dolce vita, Frascati style.
Subscribe now for a trial offer of 3 issues for £1 plus free digital editions and home delivery.
More from Tatler
