The Economic System

The economic and productive system of the Colline Romane District presents itself as rich and articulated, thanks to: its complementary nature and vicinity to the Roman area, to the productive fabric of the territory, to the presence of levels of productive specialisation and of typical products, to the sectors linked to the information and communication technologies and finally to research.

Agriculture and quality production

The most important elements within the primary sector (agriculture) is the cultivation of grapes and olives, such production have their roots in antique tradition (with the “Castelli” wines being universally famous) and are developing new forms of specialisation with the aim of responding to the exigencies of the market. Highly relevant is the production of quality fruit and vegetables, nursery garden (flowers and plants) production, bakery products.

The territorial homogeneity and the organisation of the district consent to the territorial development of a system of businesses that are competitive in the sectors of agri-tourism and themed tourism (historic-cultural, eno-gastronomic, naturalistic), taking into consideration the growing increase in the demand for high quality traditional agri-foods.

Extra-agricultural activity

All the economic indicators confirm the tendency towards the growth and concentration of occupation in the public-private, tertiary and service sectors with significant differences reflecting the diverse vocations present. Small and medium sized enterprises (SME’s) prevail in all areas of the territory, with major concentrations of large scale enterprises being registered in the Castelli Romani, in Tivoli and in Colleferro.

The industrial sector registers a strong presence of SME’s in manufacturing industries with specialisation in mechanics, electronics and in optics and the fabrication of metal products (Albano and Ariccia), as well as in the production of means of transport and with the working of minerals and of non metalliferous minerals in Colleferro. The publishing trade is concentrated in Albano, Ariccia and Tivoli, whilst the textile trade is above all found in Ariccia.The importance of building construction is elevated in the larger municipalities (i.e. Palestrina, Velletri, San Cesareo, Tivoli e Colleferro) and overall in the area of the Colli Prenestini. Commerce is uniformly diffused, with great intensity of employment present in the areas of the Colli Albani and Tuscolani.

Hospitality activities are concentrated above all in the Colli Albani and Tuscolani and in the larger municipalities, with the percentage of employment within this sector being most important above all in the area of the Tuscolana. Finally, the territory has a marked presence of advanced tertiary activities and the presence of institutes and research centres. The proximity of the aforementioned with industrially advanced complexes allows for the development of businesses with a high technological and innovative content.

The City of Science in Frascati

The important historic presence of science in Frascati and in the Tuscolano area has always rendered this territory one of the largest centres of European scientific research, being unique within the national and international panorama. Within an area of a little more than 30 kmq this location has a concentration of numerous institutes including the National Boards of Research (CNR), the laboratories of the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment (ENEA), the offices of the European Space Agency (ESA-ESRIN), the National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF), the laboratories of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) and the University of Study “Tor Vergata”.