The ascent is made in three-quarters of an hour. There is a wooded
ascent along the Via Triumphalis, by which the Roman generals ascended
in order to celebrate at the Temple of Jupiter Latialis. The ruins of
this temple were converted partly into a monastery by the Cardinal
York, and partly into the Church of S. Peter's at Frascati. The
ancient name of this mountain was Monte Latialis, and the ancient road
that went over it, Via Numinis, the initials V. N. in the pavement
telling us the name. It is 3200 feet above the sea. About three parts
of the way up, from a ledge off the road, a beautiful view of the
Alban Lakes can be had--forming, as it were, a pair of eyes. The view
obtained is unequalled, comprising the sea and coast from Terracina
and Civita Vecchia, Rome and the Campagna, and, immediately beneath
us, the Alban Mountains--one of the most interesting views in the
world, every spot around being full of historical associations. Here,
as it were, we can take in the whole panoramic view of the history of
Rome. The surface of the mountain, on which stood the shrine of the
god, extends to three thousand square yards. Besides its religious and
architectural purposes, this area was used as a collector for rain
water, which first ran into a _piscina limaria_ to be purified, and
then through a subterranean channel to a reservoir, the capacity of
which amounts to one thousand cubic yards, having still some hydraulic
regulators of lead, with their keys and pipes, on which the names of
Maximus and Tubero, consuls in 11 B.C., are engraved.
The return journey is made down the direct road from Rocca di Papa to
Frascati, passing the PONTE DEGLI SQUARCIARELLI, over the Aqua Craba,
at the point where the roads turn off to Marino, Grotta Feratta, and
Frascati.
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