Head Off To the Castelli Romani For A Nice Weekend and other Rome, Italy Off The Beaten Path Tips

The Castelli Romani (Roman Hills) region - located just 40KM away from bustling Rome - is famed for its production of wine and local cuisine. This region also boasts of many interesting castles and villas from Villas Torlonia, Falconieri and Aldobrandini to the Castle of Santa Severa and Castello Odescalchi di Bracciano - which I'll be introducing to you very shortly.

We were there for a weekend of fun at our company's private dinner.

The Venue?

The Castello Odescalchi di Bracciano, one of the most beautiful medieval castles in Europe. Built sometime in the 2nd half of the 1400's, the castle is located in the little town of Bracciano and overlooks the volcanic lake of Bracciano.

Here's the full address of the Castle:

Odescalchi Castle
Piazza Mazzini, 14 - 00062
Bracciano (Italy)


For more photos, please check out the Travelogue: A Weekend at Castelli Romani (Roman Hills). Grazie mille!

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Phone: +39 6 99802379
Website: http://www.odescalchi.it/halls.htm

40KM away from the Eternal City of Roma.... on the southern shore of Lake Bracciano, the Castello Odescalchi di Bracciano reigns majestically as one of the most beautiful medieval castles in Europe.

The 14th century medieval Odescalchi Castle belongs to the noble Odescalchi family, whose ancestors include Benedetto Odescalchi, the 17th century pope Innocent XI. It once hosted princes but is used nowadays for conventions, gala dinners and receptions for up to 1,400 guests.

The castle has also hosted several celebrities' weddings. Worth mentioning: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' wedding in November 2006. Also, CNN international correspondent Christiane Amanpour and the former U.S. State Department spokesman James Rubin held their 1998 wedding reception there, attended by 180 guests including the late John F. Kennedy, Jr. That same year, Italian pop megastar - Eros Ramazzotti tied the knot with model Michelle Hunzicker (now his ex-wife), held their reception at the castle.

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Phone: (+39) 06 99802379
Website: http://www.odescalchi.it/halls.htm
Other Contact: Email: castello@odescalchi.it

Follow me as I bring you on a quick virtual tour around the castle.

Perhaps you might be tempted to part with €5,000 to €7,000 for a 1-week stay at Castello Odescalchi di Bracciano this summer!

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La pasta è semplicemente il miglior alimento inventato dall'uomo. Punto. ;-)

Translated into English, the above sentence literally means: Pasta is simply the best food ever invented by man. Period. And that's exactly how I feel. We feasted on delicious pasta, fish... and vino... and took home lots of happy memories with us.

And now, back to the walking virtual tour of the Castle......

Walking from the Eastern Tower base of this medieval castle to the castle entrance, you'd soon reach the Entry Hall - a wide circular staircase - leading to the Study and Library which is also known as the Pope's Hall. Apparently (based on the notes taken from the official brochure), Pope Sixtus IV was a guest here in 1481.

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The virtual castle tour continues!

The beautiful Castello Odescalchi di Bracciano overlooks Lake Bracciano, a lake with volcanic origins. I guess that explains it's kewl circular shape! The Castle is surrounded by forests, olive groves and gardens.

Another noteworthy Room in this castle is that of the Orsinis. The Hall of Arms with its vast and impressive collection of medieval arms is another must-see. The 3rd Room, too, takes its name from an illustrious guest who stayed here in 1900: King Umberto I.

Clamber up to the top of the (6) towers of the Castle for a magnificent view of the Secret Garden.

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Phone: +39 6 99802379
Website: http://www.odescalchi.it/

Bored staying at the Castle... and don't know what to do?

Worry no more, my friends!

The little medieval town of Bracciano boasts of a mere 14,000 inhabitants and is perched 280meters above sea level . The town's most famous landmark must surely be the majestic Castello Odescalchi di Bracciano.

In case you get too bored staying in the Castle, you must wish to explore the Botanical Gardens of San Liberato where you can also admire the oldest bell-tower in the world.

San Liberato

For the more adventurous, I'd like to highly recommend taking a boat trip on the lake with the "tragetto"....

For the artsy folks, how about a visit to the Aeronautical Museum at Vigna di Valle

Aeronautical Museum

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Phone: +39 6 99802379
Website: http://www.odescalchi.it/halls.htm

The once bustling and heavily-populated city was totally destroyed in the year 79 AD when Mt Vesuvius erupted without even a warning on the fateful night of August 24th. It's really tragic to see everything perish in a blink of an eye.

To reach Pompeii, you can either join a local tour from Rome or hop onto your rented car and head towards Pompeii via the Autostrada....

Photo: This is how the main street of Pompeii looked. Horse-drawn carriages used to ply the once-busy cobbled streets.

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You must TRY and spend a day (or at least half a day) to visit the ancient city of POMPEII, now lying in ruins after the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in the year 79AD.

Footnote: POMPEII - a town preserved by volcanic lava since the eruption of Mt Vesuvius tells the story of everyday provincial Roman life...

So, if you want to know a little bit more about what life was like during those times, c'mon over then.

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Here's the home of the Vetti brothers, 2 playboy siblings who also perished tragically when Mt Vesuvius erupted here in POMPEII.

These brothers were once part of Pompeii's social elite. Inside the huge house, you can still see lovely paintings in their original position! This house seems to be the least affected by the Vesuvius eruption. No wonder it is today one of the most visited places to explore in Pompeii.

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Nobody has any excuse for coming to Rome and not visiting the CITTÀ DEL VATICANO aka VATICAN CITY and the SISTINE CHAPEL.

This is where you'd be able to marvel at Michelangelo's greatest masterpiece. The Vatican City is situated entirely within the city of Rome and separated from the rest of Rome by a wall.

Do you know that the Vatican City is a nation unto itself - with its own army, postal service and, currency?

For more info, please surf on to my VATICAN CITY travel page. Grazie mille.

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