History Channel Airs Special on Sunken Ships of Lake Nemi

Lake Nemi, just a short drive form Rome but a world away, is a lake formed from a volcanic crater. The ancient Romans felt that it was a sacred place and built shrines to several gods in the vicinity, including Diana, the goddess of the forests and hunting. Caligula built a floating temple to Diana (perhaps) and Mussolini pried this temple from the muck of Lake Nemi. The floating temple (two ships, actually) was put on display in a nearby museum, but the Nazis burned the museum as they were retreating. The History Channel attempts to recreate this floating temple and even shares footage of the draining of the lake by Mussolini to recover the ships. Watch the show tonight at 9:00 pm, and if you miss it, it's on again at 1:00 am Wednesday, October 1st (that's also tonight!).

Day Trips from Rome: Lake Nemi's Festival of Strawberries

On June 7th and 8th of this year, the town of Nemi (named for the volcanic lake upon which it is perched) celebrates the Sagra delle Fragole, or Festival of Strawberries. The weekend will feature all kinds of events surrounding the folklore of the wild strawberry in the region, with music, parades and free strawberries in the piazza for all who come. The town is located southeast of Rome in the Alban Hills and is not only known for its strawberries but also as the location of an ancient shrine to Diana, the goddess of the forest. Lake Nemi was home to a luxurious floating temple of Diana built by the emperor Caligula. This floating temple was discovered by archaeologists and enshrined in a museum in the 1930s. Unfortunately, when the Nazis left Rome they burned the museum and the ancient ship. The museum was rebuilt and many of the preserved artifacts can be visited today.

White Wines of Rome

Certainly the wines of Italy are renowned. The wines of the region surrounding Rome (Lazio) are not as well-known as some of the neighboring regions (like Tuscany). But Roman wines, especially the whites, are quite popular within the region and some are even widely exported. You may have heard of Est! Est! Est! from Montefiascone, made from combinations of Malvasia and Trebbiano grapes. Other white wines that are worthy of note are the Castelli Romani (Roman Castles) from the Alban Hills region around Lake Nemi (pictured above). The wines from this area have an ancient reputation, and in particular Frascati and Marino have an international following. The region offers many other interesting white wines (also made primarily with Malvasia grapes), such as Colli Albani, Colli Lanuvini, and Montecampatri-Colonna. You will find that the white wines from Lazio are sweet, fruity, light, and not meant to be set down for long periods of time. Enjoy them on the younger side. Look for these wines on the menu in restaurants and wine bars or pick up a bottle at an enoteca (wine shop). Try the Enoteca Bernabei at Via San Francesco a Ripa #48 in Trastevere for a great selection and helpful guidance.
Readers: What are some of your favorite white wines of Lazio?