A weekend in Frascati in the Roman Hills with a volcanic wine experience.
Wine cellars carved into volcanic rock
Just south of Rome, the Roman Hulls, which Romans call the Castelli Romani, offer an easy and rewarding escape from the city. Among their many little towns, Frascati stands out for a tradition that is both distinctive and easy to experience: eating and drinking in historic wine cellars carved into volcanic rock.
Informal meals and local specialties
Dug into tufa stone, these cellars, many of which belong to local wineries and vineyards that produce Frascati’s famous white wines, maintain a naturally cool temperature and a simple, functional atmosphere. Meals are communal (often at shared tables) and informal, built around local dishes – a must-try is the local porchetta roast sucking pig - with seasonal produce and of course the local Frascati wine in typical local settings where the eating and drinking are unhurried and social.
Frascati is compact and largely walkable
Reaching Frascati is easy with frequent regional trains that connect Rome’s Termini station with the town in about 30 minutes, making it suitable for both day trips and overnight stays. By car, the journey is equally manageable, while the town itself is compact and largely walkable. Once there, visitors can move easily between the historic centre, viewpoints, and the nearby countryside without needing complex planning. 
A relaxing slow-paced weekend
An ideal and very typical weekend in Frascati naturally centres on Saturday lunch, with time before and after to explore at a slow pace. The historic centre has cafés and small bakeries, as well as the famous wine cellars, with quiet streets leading to views over the surrounding hills. Afternoons lend themselves to short walks or time spent outdoors, while evenings are low-key and local, which means more convivial eating and wine tastings. Sunday can be kept simple, with a late breakfast, and a final stroll, before an easy return to Rome. For information: https://www.comune.frascati.rm.it
