Description
- Roundtrip private transportation from your Civitavecchia cruise ship pier!
- Private air-conditioned fully licensed and insured transportation!
- Private English-speaking certified driver!
- Visit Nemi, Frascati, and Castel Gandolfo!
- Customize with more time at one shore excursion stop and less time at another!
- Explore the stops on your own and leisurely with suggestions from your driver!
Explore the three stops of Nemi, Frascati, and Castel Gandolfo on your own on this fun, private sightseeing shore excursion. Your private driver will suggest some places to see. You decide if you would like to spend more time at one and less at another!
A full day of fun in the Roman countryside with your private driver! A pretty pocket of verdant hills and volcanic lakes 12 miles (20km) southeast of Rome, the Colli Albani (Alban Hills) and their 13 towns are collectively known as the Castelli Romani. Since ancient times they've provided a green refuge from the city and still, today Romans flock to the area on hot summer weekends. Highlights include the famous wine town of Frascati, hilltop Castel Gandolfo, and the scenic Lago Albano.
After meeting your professional private English-speaking shore excursion driver at your Civitavecchia cruise ship port, you will receive a brief outline of the day before starting the journey in your private comfortable, air-conditioned transportation. Although the stops are unguided, your driver will give you suggestions on what to see and do in each of the 3 cities. You can decide if you and your private group would like to explore more at one and less at another. Your first stop will be the historic square in the center of Arricia, designed in 1661 by the great architects Bernini and Fontana. In Piazza della Corte you can enter through the beautiful Porta Napoletana and overlook the 17th-century Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta and the spectacular Palazzo Chigi. On the typical excursion route, you would have approximately 30 minutes to explore before continuing the scenic drive through Genzano to Nemi, where you will make numerous stops to take fabulous photos from stunning vantage points.
Nemi is a town in the Alban Hills overlooking Lake Nemi, a volcanic crater lake. The town's name derives from the Latin nemus, or "holy wood". In ancient times the area had no town but a grove, the site of one of the most famous of Roman cults and temples to Diana, goddess of the hunt, moon, and nature. After 30-45 minutes of exploring Nemi, you will begin the short 20-minute drive along the edge of Lake Albano to Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the Pope.
The palace and gardens have belonged to the Church since 1596 when the previous owners went bankrupt. Used widely by the papacy under previous pontiffs, Pope Francis has only been there three times and has yet to stay overnight. He has opened up the grounds to be viewed and appreciated by gardeners and nature lovers alike. Following the 45-minute visit, you will continue on to Frascati, famous for great food, vintage wine, and aristocratic villas built for rich Romans during the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. While you are here you may choose to enjoy a wine tasting where you would sample three local favorites for about $20 Euros paid directly to the local shore excursion operator.
Following a stop for lunch at either Castel Gandolfo or Frascati on your own, your driver will return you to your Civitavecchia cruise port.
Where we meet
For the Civitavecchia Private Rome Countryside Nemi, Frascati, and Castel Gandolfo Sightseeing Excursion, you will meet your local excursion staff at the Civitavecchia cruise port. All necessary details will be printed on your Electronic Shore Excursion Ticket. Please allow enough time to catch the port shuttle to the transportation hub for your excursion departure.
Cancellation
For the Civitavecchia Private Rome Countryside Nemi, Frascati, and Castel Gandolfo Sightseeing Excursion, we issue full refund for your deposit or full payment to us if: Canceled by client prior to excursion date with a minimum of 24 hours prior notice by email to reservations@shoreexcursioneer.com.
For cancellation reasons below, you must contact us via email within 14 days after your excursion:
- Your ship arrives into port late and you cannot make it in time to the meeting location (we will verify with the tour operator).
- Your ship skips/misses the port.
- Weather conditions or equipment failure prevents the operator from running the excursion.
- A medical problem prevents you from safely participating in the excursion (we will verify with the excursion operator and the guest may send doctor's note). This applies to individuals only and not the remainder of the group.
- Cancellations/deposit refund requests that do not comply with the above may not be subject to refund.
- Refunds may be subject to a service charge fee as determined by the payment processor, please refer to Terms and Conditions for more information.
