Parco Archeologico Culturale di Tuscolo

Saturday guided tour of the #tuscle #mindchanger with Jacopo Manni. Structures such as the Roman forum before Rome. Barbarossa's daughter marries in tuscany. For the whole thread of history go to the excavations of the tuscan. 5 euros which are worth 1000

Tusculum, an ancient and powerful city of Lazio, located 30 km south-east of Rome, between the Via Latina and the Via Labicana, extends over a volcanic hill (external enclosure of the Laziale Volcano) between 630 and 670 meters above sea level. It is included between the municipalities of Monte Compatri, Monte Porzio Catone, Frascati and Grottaferrata. According to legend, it was founded by Telegono, son of Ulysses and the sorceress Circe. The excavations and the evidence of the nineteenth-century and contemporary archaeological investigations have established that the first permanent occupation of the area took place as early as the Iron Age (10th-8th centuries BC); while the occupation of the plateau, where the monumental area consists of forum and theater develops, was established around the VII-VI centuries BC. The first arrangement of the city forum, with two arcaded buildings to the north and south, dates back to the 4th-3rd centuries BC. Starting from the first half of the 1st century BC (post social war) the area acquires a new architectural structure, unique and monumental, concluded in the following century with the construction of the main buildings still visible today, divided into four areas: Western Sacred Area, Southern Area of ​​the Basilica, North Area and Area of the Theater. The center of the ancient settlement of Tusculum is today the tour route that winds along the ancient decumanus and inside the forum. This area includes some of the most important public buildings of Tusculum and can be considered the administrative and representative center of the city, which in the period of maximum extension, covered an area between the acropolis area and well beyond the area of ​​the amphitheater, west of the current park. In the archaic age Tusculum was one of the most important cities of the Latin League, a fierce enemy of powerful Rome, from which it was defeated in the famous battle of Lake Regillo in 496 BC. Entering the Roman orbit it was conferred the status of Municipium Optimo Iure in 381 BC. At the end of the Republican age and with the birth of the Empire, the city and the surrounding area became the favorite summer destination of emperors, senators and writers who had their sumptuous homes built here. Among the most famous villas we remember that of Silla, that of Lucullus, that of Tiberius, that of Matidia and that of Cicero who wrote his Tusculanae Disputationes here. In the Middle Ages Tusculum was the stronghold of the Conti di Tuscolo family, a Roman family that extended its power over the area surrounding the city and up to the Roman coast, where it carried out numerous mercantile activities. Thanks to this rich and powerful dynasty, which counted numerous popes among its exponents, the city strongly influenced the Capitoline political situation. In the second half of the 12th century the citadel became the residence of Pope Alexander III as Rome, which wished to be a free municipality, forced him to leave the city. Following the struggles between the Pope, Antipope and Emperor and above all due to the ambiguous attitude held by the rulers of Tusculum, the final destruction of the city took place by the Roman civic troops in 1191. The foundation of the Palatium dei Conti is still preserved on the acropolis, built on the remains of a Roman temple, the palatine church and the remains of the town, enclosed by walls and towers.

In the Castelli Romani area, the Tusculum mountain of volcanic origin, which is part of the Alban Hills, hosts the "Tusculum", a pre-Roman, Roman and medieval city of Lazio, an archaeological park which in recent years has been involved in continuous excavation campaigns and interesting findings. . The area is located at the top of the mountain path, easily accessible by car, bike or in any case your own means as it currently lacks public connections; however, there is a number on the internet to call for more information. An area very popular with the Romans for beautiful walks in the open air as there is also a rest area and a picnic area. Too bad the lack of staff especially (like almost every site of cultural interest and everywhere) on holidays around New Year's Eve.

A wonderful place, one of a kind: for those who want to simply take a walk in the open air in an uncontaminated place full of history, a timeless bucolic landscape ..... the Tusculum theater, the thermal baths, the Via Sacra, the Roman tombs ..... and in addition a breathtaking view of the Castelli Romani park and the villages that populate it at its feet.

We came at night to see if we could watch the stars, but unfortunately it was too close to the city and the light pollution was too severe. But if you come in the evening before the sun goes down, you should be able to enjoy a good night view of the city.