Here we have beautiful photos of the Albano Lake, about 18 miles far from Rome. A good way to understand how not only the Eternal City but even its outskirts must be seen, in order to be fascinated by art, nature and traditions. 

The Albano Lake could be considered as a charming and sought place that, especially in the summer, is searched by the inhabitants of Rome and tourists. Moreover you should know how it is not an ordinary lake, because it hides something that has made the history of Rome. First of all, the deepest lake in all of Italy (170 metres), it was actually a volcano! Thousands and thousands of years before the foundation of Rome, this volcano (called Albano, in fact), spewed miles and miles of lava rivers that solidifies. And over the centuries they allowed the Romans to obtain construction materials such as tuff, volcanic rocks, or basalt (a stone of volcanic origins used for the famous roman roads). Once off (and if today is in a phase of quiescence, so much so that the lake is constantly monitored), the crater of the volcano is covered by water, giving origin to this impressive natural environment. Its charm, and the enviable position (from some points you can see the whole of Rome), have made it a perfect place for the holidays.

In fact, over the centuries, emperors, censors, magistrates, or simple nobles of ancient Rome built here their villas. Indeed it appears that the surface of the lake was used by the Romans as a sort of theatre, if it is true that the lake was used to perform the naumachiae, the reenactment of naval battles. The popes and cardinals did the same thing, coming here, to the Albano Lake, to have their summer villas and residences.

Moreover still today the Albano Lake is reminded by the chronicles if you think that, for example, in the course of the Olympic Games of Rome 1960 the lake became the ideal setting for the rowing races. Not only that, because the small mound that you see in the distance, covered with vegetation, in ancient times was a sacred place: on the top of Monte Cavo, the name of the hill that stands above the lake, there was a sanctuary dedicated to Jupiter. A temple was erected there and all the Latin tribes, even before Rome, directed there to pray the God. As a first step, to subject all those people, the newly formed city of Rome conquered that mountain, making Jupiter as an official protector. In this way, we can say that the Eternal City made Jupiter a sort of "romanization". The deity became a part of the city and its destiny. What to say, finally, is the fact that on the shores of the Albano Lake was founded in the mythical city of Alba Longa (now identified with Castel Gandolfo). Do you know why is it so important? Because it is here that, according to the traditions, were born two very famous twins: Romulus and Remus.