They’re known as the Castelli Romani, or Roman Castles. Just outside of the Eternal City there’s a string of castle villages full of family-run and km 0 restaurants that deserves to be included in your next trip. Castelli Romani area is located short distance south-east of Rome at the feet of the Alban Hills, easy to reach by car.
Come here in the summer and you’ll find it few degrees cooler than in the city. In the fall, mushrooms and chestnuts from the surrounding woods end up directly on your plate. But in any season you can take a short outing for porchetta, homemade pasta and the Roman lamb chops, known as abbacchio alla scottadito.
Note to self: this is the place to enjoy also a glass of good wine. As a matter of fact, since 1996 the Roman Castles area has been home to a large DOC zone that makes a wide variety of wine. Porchetta e vino anyone?