Situated on terraces in the heart of Frascati, Villa Aldobrandini, known as the “Belvedere,” represents the pinnacle of magnificence of the Tuscolan Villas. Built in 1550 by Monsignor Alessandro Rufini on the ruins of the Villa degli Ottavi, the mansion has passed through the hands of noble dynasties and popes over the centuries. In the early 1600s, architect Giacomo della Porta enlarged and renovated the villa at the request of Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini. The vast park is home to such wonders as the Water Theater, a majestic 2,500-square-meter nymphaeum with multi-level sculptures and fountains. The villa is a rich display of art, with frescoes by artists such as Domenichino and the Passignano.