Frattocchie on the Ancient Appian Way

Frattocchie lies along the ancient Appian Way and is a district of the municipality of Marino. Its history includes traces of the Roman road, burial structures, and later buildings. If you are looking for a hotel in Frattocchie, this historical focus offers a clear guide to the theme of your stay: the remains span the early Roman Empire, the Middle Ages, and the modern era.

The Appian Way and Torre Secchi

A state-owned section of the Appian Way runs for about 12 kilometres from house number 195 to Frattocchie. At the eleventh milestone of the Via Appia Antica, in Frattocchie, lie the remains of the so-called “Sepolcro con torre,” better known as Torre Secchi. The tomb monument dates from the early Roman Empire. In 1855, a small tower made of brick and tuff was built on it and used for geodetic measurements along the Via Appia Antica. Two distinct functions can be identified at this structure: the ancient tomb monument and the tower’s later use for surveying.

Roman Road Discoveries

In Vicolo del Torraccio, there is an underground archaeological area containing a Roman road branch. It branched off from the Via Appia Antica between the eleventh and twelfth milestones. Three burials were discovered beside the road. They indicate that the route was used less and gradually abandoned between the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.

Another road discovery came to light in 2014 during construction work at the McDonald’s site in Frattocchie: a 45-metre-long section of a Roman road. It was probably a branch of the Appian Way leading to a villa in the area of ancient Bovillae. Together, the finds reveal different stages in the road’s history: a side road that later lost importance, and another branch whose destination lay in the area of ancient Bovillae.

Buildings on the Trappist Estate

The Trappist estate also includes buildings from different centuries. A monumental entrance portal stands on Via del Sassone. The estate is home to a large Roman tomb, topped by a medieval tower with a hexagonal ground plan. A 14th-century document mentions a farmhouse in the Marino area using the phrase “quod dic(itur) Turris Leonardi.”

Villa Sirena, also known as Villino Colonna, is also located within the estate. The country house was built around the middle of the 17th century. A votive chapel from the 19th century was commissioned in 1880 by Princess Maria Barberini. The time span between the Roman tomb, medieval tower, country house, and chapel makes the estate’s different building phases easy to follow.

Planning Tips

A Sunday Mass at 10 a.m. is listed for the Convento dei Frati Trappisti. If you plan to attend, check in advance whether participation is possible. For guided tours of the Parco Regionale dell’Appia Antica, travel by train from Roma Termini to the Santa Maria delle Mole stop is recommended. Check the connection for the day of your tour.

Discover more destinations: Sacrofano, Civitavecchia, Bellegra, Castel Madama, Settecamini, Pisciarelli, Lido Di Castel Fusano, Monte Porzio Catone.

For the broader travel overview: Rome.