Seen from space, the outline of Lazio can still be seen: In rich green, the inner and outer craters of the volcano are well over 20 kilometers southeast of Rome. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, much of the volcano collapsed. The magma chambers had almost completely emptied during an eruption and collapsed under the gigantic weight of the volcano cone. What remained were oval depressions, so-called caldera.
Today, several caldera are filled with water, as shown in this photograph from the Copernicus program of the Esa. The smaller lake is called Nemi, the larger Albano. On its banks are several cities that are collectively known as Castelli Romani. Because it remains pleasantly cool in the hills in the summer, the region has been a popular recreational area for the Romans for more than 2,500 years.
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Satellite image of the week: snapshots from spaceParticularly well known is the town of Castel Gandolfo, which rises above the Albano. There lies the Papal Residence, where since the 17th century many of God's representatives on earth spent their summers.
The name Castelli Romani - translated as much as Roman castles - comes from the numerous villas that wealthy Romans built there since antiquity. Almost 1000 years ago, the Roman Emperor Caligula had two more than 70 meters long boats built on the banks of the Nemi.
The ships of the Caligula
Long before, people had carved a tunnel into the crater wall to irrigate the surrounding areas. The water level of the lake dropped significantly. Especially for the ships Caligulas, the water level should have been lowered even further, so that the cruises of the emperor were not disturbed by unnecessary waves.
Even today, the region is a popular destination. Every city has its own attraction. Ariccia is famous for porchetta - rolled pork belly from spit. Northern Frascati is known for its wine but also for several scientific research organizations such as ENEA, the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development or ESA's Earth Observation Center.
The last time was the Vulcano Laziale 5000 years ago.
