Caffarella Park

An integral part of the Regional Park of the Appian Way, it constitutes its principal and privileged access.

The Valle of the Caffarella extends over about 190 hectares between the Aurelian Walls, via Latina, and Via dell’Almone.

Its name derives from the central historic estate in the area, the 16th-century Casale della Vaccareccia, with its adjoining medieval tower, belonging to the Caffarelli family who had their possessions here.

The park, crossed by the Almone river, a small tributary of the Tiber sacred for the ancient Romans, is rich in historical and archaeological evidence built starting from the 6th century BC. such as sepulchers, villas, towers, and hydraulic works. Among these, the Valche were towers-mills dating back to the 11th century. They were located near the river, allowing the processing and washing of fabrics.

The main path of the Caffarella Valley presents important naturalistic values ​​for its elements of biodiversity and was the theater of myths and legends linked to the history of Rome. It seems that the territory belonged to the family of Herodes Atticus (2nd century AD), who built his majestic villa, the Pago Tropio. The large complex includes the evocative Nymphaeum of Egeria, the Sepulcher of Annia Regilla (already known as Temple of the god Rediculus) in the shape of a small temple, and the church of Sant'Urbano, an ancient temple dedicated to Ceres, Faustina, and Annia Regilla, wife of Herodes Atticus.

From the entrance of Via Latina, height Largo Tacchi and Venturi, if you head to the right, you can reach Via della Caffarella: a journey of just over 6 km that ends on the Appian Way. Along the way you can admire the Casale della Vaccareccia, the Sepulcher of Annia Regilla, and the Almone river. The route ends on the Appian Way, near the Domine Quo Vadis? Church, built on the place where, according to tradition, after the apparition of Jesus, repentant Peter decided to return to Rome where he was crucified.

The numerous Roman quarries that extend for many kilometers in the subsoil of the Caffarella Valley are worth a visit. From these, the Romans extracted pozzolana; today, they are mostly used for the cultivation of Pleus or the more common Champignons mushrooms.