A path through the woods leads up to Monte Cavo.
THE ALBAN LAKE
is 150 feet below Lake Nemi. Its outlet conducts its waters to the Tiber. This lake also occupies the crater of an extinct volcano; it is six miles round, and of unknown depth. The outlet was made at the time the Romans were besieging Veii, B.C. 394, to lower the waters which threatened to flood the Campagna. It is 1509 yards in length.
Situated on the bluff overlooking the lake is
CASTEL GANDOLFO,
formerly the summer residence of the popes. Its palace was erected by Urban VIII. This palace, and the charming situation, are its only features of attraction.
On the opposite shore, which can be reached either from Palazzolo, or by a path from the Albano or the Marino end of the lake, is the supposed site of
ALBA LONGA.
Built by Ascanius 1152 B.C., destroyed by Tullus Hostilius 666 B.C.
Virgil tells us that on Æneas consulting the oracle at Delos, the oracle replied,—