The experience of these places entails their protection Lakes, hills, history, myths and tra- ditions. This is the Castelli Romani Castelli Romani Park: a land of legends, distillation of culture and beauty. Regional Park From the lakes outflowing chan- nels built by the Romans to the palaces of the Renaissance, hi- story here is marked by centuri- A land where history es and millennia. In an evocative landscape shaped by man where becomes legend you can still detect the geological Sinibaldi energy of the “Vulcano Laziale” Sinibaldi or the morpho-tectonic forces that gave birth to the hills and carved the valleys. The presence of man coexists with solid and layered cultural contaminations in this area, where ancient traditions are still lively and build a strong commu- nity identity. Sinibaldi The Park talks to us about land values, ecological relationships, as Gherardi well as the sense of belonging of who lives or attends these places. Nature as a primary source to recover our lost equilibrium and the memories of the ancestral link between man and its environment. This is the deep sense and the main objective of a Protected Area. The reconciliation between man and nature through one of the most effective actions: the ex- perience of knowledge.

Realized in October 2019 by the Natural Heritage, Parks and Protected Areas Department of the region. Texts by Roberto Sinibaldi Translation by Filippo Belisario [email protected] www.parchilazio.it Gherardi Sinibaldi

www.regione.lazio.it dei Laghi and via Appia) still display Park’s extension ranges to A 15,000 hectares protected area, half of which covered stunning and unexpected views. 15,000 hectares, 27,000 inclu- by woods, at the very gates of , together with 16 From the city of Rome you can re- ding the buffer zone, and thus cognize the steep profile ofMonte represents the second widest park municipalities and 350,000 inhabitants. Here comes a sketch Cavo, the ancient Mons Albanus, in the Lazio region. of the Castelli Romani Park’s landscape: a fertile volcanic rich in history and archaeologi- The area includes innumerable hi- land, rich in water, history and traditions. cal remains. From the top of this storical witnesses, archaeolo- mount the view encompasses the gical areas, urban layers, that whole urban area of Rome, but also give identity to the places and en- Castelli Romani Regional Park was The “”, so defined the coast towards South where in rich their history. established in 1984, under the po- since the XVI century, arrived almost clear days you can recognize Everywhere you can see beautiful pular pressure of a draft law. environmentally intact up to the last and the Pontine panoramas or villages, and the sea- Such a particular origin comes century. This integrity characterized Islands, more than one hundred ki- side is really close. from the indisputable beauty of also the shape of the ancient lometres away. Sinibaldi the places. A beauty that cha- volcano from which they were All around stand the racterized the area since the most geologically born. During the last woods. Through many dif- ancient times. decades, inexorable transformations ferent shades of green you Wooded hills, fertile valleys, produced deep social, morphological can investigate the diversi- springs, lakes, mild climate, fresh and landscape changes. Neverthe- ty of the various species of air, a strategic position very close less, the main infrastructures that trees. Dark green spots are to Rome. cross the park area (via Tuscolana, via made by holm oaks, while hazelnut or chestnut trees, Rufo as well as hornbeams, have light green leaves. Chestnut trees where in- troduced during the XVII century for The strong link between natural, economic purposes linked to the tim- human and cultural resources, ber. As time went by these trees were together with the food and wine able to colonize almost exclusively tradition, gave birth, throughout the wooded landscape. Here and the- time, to a collective experience of re some remains of the original mixed generous harmony in front of which woods can anyhow still be found. no one can be indifferent.

Gherardi Ferri