HOW TO REACH THE PARK Every sunday and on holidays the whole area of the Park (3.

400 hectares), is closed to private traffic and it thus becomes Rome's biggest pedestrian zone. Don't miss the chance to spend a whole day in one of the world's most beautiful

landscapes, featuring archaeological monuments and museums as well as nature trails, either on foot or with a bike. The park's territory allows you to organise your visit in many different ways. Leave your car and come to the Park on foot, by bike, or by bus. We are waiting for you!

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ROMA

he Park of the Appia Antica has been declared protected since 1988. Its 3,500 hectares include the first 16 Km of the ancient consular road (from Porta San Sebastiano to the intersection with Via Appia Nuova in Frattocchie); the Caffarella Valley; the archaeological area of the Tombs of the Via Latina; the area adjacent to the Via Tuscolana hosting the remains of seven Roman aqueducts dating back to the Republican and Imperial age, with the green area of Tor Fiscale, and

the two large rural estates of Tormarancia and Farnesiana. Thanks to decades of battles waged by citizens and environmentalists, this territorial system unparalleled in the world in terms of its historicalarchaeological and landscape value - was placed under a single integrated protection system. A green wedge, the Park reaches to the city centre, and, being contiguous with the Alban Hills, it represents a biological corridor for numerous animal species; moreover, the Park has preserved parts of Roman countryside and coppices and groves. In addition to these values, the Park contains historical and archaeological remains of great importance. The Park therefore serves the purpose of preserving a set of general values resulting from the complex and unique relationship between nature and man, between the cultural heritage and landscape.

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Tomba di Cecilia Metella

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Villa dei Quintili Casal Rotondo

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A PARK UNLIKE ANY OTHER

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PARCO REGIONALE DELLAPPIA ANTICA

PARCO REGIONALE DELLAPPIA ANTICA

In collaboration with environmental organisations which have always been actively involved in protecting this area, the Park organises a programme of free guided tours which are held every Sunday in Spring and Autumn. Guided tours for groups may also be organised during weekdays on request. Information on the Parks activities and routes are INFORMATION AND SERVICES

www.parcoappiaantica.it For further information, call + 39 06 51 35 316 from Mondays to Fridays, or contact us at [email protected] provided every Sunday to visitors at the Parks Information Desks, and everyday at the Parks main office. A bicycle rental service is also available.

THE APPIA ANTICA ROAD AXIS

long the 16 Km from Porta San Sebastiano to Frattocchie, visitors will meet an extraordinary series of monuments dating back to the Roman period (such as the Circus of Maxentius, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, to mention the most famous ones) as well as to the Christian era (as the Catacombs of San Callisto and San Sebastiano), as well as unique views, as they take a journey across history that will not fail to amaze them. Visitors may follow this route by stages or all at once, on foot or by bicycle, or hopping on and off the Archeobus. A journey following in the footsteps of the ancient Romans, and treading on the remains of the ancient stone paving which covered the road, from tomb to tomb, from tower to tower, to reach the territories of the municipalities of Ciampino and Marino.

space, and no doubt due to the presence of the Almone river, a small tributary of the Tiber, held to be sacred by the Romans. A walk in the Caffarella Valley affords an exciting adventure in a unique area, among signs of Roman history, grazing sheep, springs, holm-oak and pubescent oak woods, alternating with vast pastures, in a typical Roman countryside landscape. THE TOMBS OF VIA LATINA

THE CAFFARELLA VALLEY

he Caffarella Valley reflects the history of Rome: the city, its culture, the people who lived in it, and the territory in which they settled. Preserved from overbuilding thanks to the long battle waged by the residents and environmentalists, the valley is adjacent to the Wall of Aurelian, and is enclosed by the two main roads of antiquity, the Via Latina and the Via Appia. The Valley became the backdrop to several myths and legends, possibly thanks to the gentle hills naturally enclosing this

long the Via Latina, the second great road in Roman times, an important archaeological site is located. It features part of the original paving of the road, with large funerary monuments on its sides, such as the tombs of the Valerii and the Pancratii, in which invaluable stucco and fresco decorations may be admired. The area was uncovered thanks to Lorenzo Fortunati who, between 1857 and 1858, at his own expense, carried out excavations which were then completed by Pope Pius IX. At the beginning of the twentieth century, following a restoration campaign directed by Rodolfo Lanciani, the area became an archaeological park.

Hills to the city gates. An area of 15 hectares, it was purchased by the Municipality and included in the Regional Park system. A real crossroads for the citys water distribution system, it was named after the imposing remains of the aqueduct system that made Roman engineering feats famous over the centuries. Ancient Pine trees, ruins of ancient suburban villas such as that of Vignacce and Sette Bassi, give the area a unique and evocative appearance. In the small green area of Tor Fiscale, the mushroom beds located in the quarries and in the galleries dug into the lava flows coming from the Alban Hills, still being used today, may be visited. Over the area rises the middle-age tower called the tower of the Fiscale (Papal Treasurer) or of St. John, which had been built to check on the incoming flow of water and its quality, and on southbound trade. TORMARANCIA

GUIDED SIGHTSEEN ROUTES IN THE APPIA ANTICA PARK ON FOOT OR BY BICYCLE Tours ar guided by experienced naturalists and archaeologists of Darwin Cooperative www.cooperativadarwin.it which is involved in management services of the Information Point of the Appia Antica Regional Park since 2002. Tours can be made (in 4 speaking language: English, Spanish, German, French) by bicycle or on foot, for groups of at least 12 people. Guided tours on foot costs 8 euros per person, the cost for guided tours on bike is 12 euros per person and includes bicycle rental and a guide. Bookings are essential, and can be made by fax at 06-5135316 or by e-mail at [email protected].

INFO POINT APPIA ANTICA Information and Gadget At the Information Point of the Appia Antica Park you can hire a bike every day and take all the free brochures you need to plan your archaeological itinerary or natural route. We also have information about opening hours, prices and tickets of the main archaeological sites in the area. We sell gadget and books about the Appia Antica Park and other protected natural areas inside Regione Lazio Bicycle Hiring We have bikes for all ages, seat for children, safety helmets and security lock for your rides along the Appia Antica Park Price: 3,00/hour for the first three hours 10,00 for 4 hours or the all day (bicycle must be returned before the closing time of the info point) Opening Times The Info Point is open every day except 15 August, 25 December and 1 January. Monday - Saturday: 9.30 am - 1.30 pm, 2.00 pm to 5.30 pm 5.30 pm (4.30 pm in winter) Sunday and Holydays: 9.30 am to 5.30 pm (4.30 pm in winter) Call: +39 06 5135316 [email protected] www.parcoappiaantica.it

THE AQUEDUCTS AND TOR FISCALE

nclosed by the districts of Cinecitt, Appio Claudio and Quarto Miglio, in the Via Appia Nuova, crossed by the Via Latina, the Aqueduct area is what remains of a portion of Roman countryside that once connected the Alban

he name of this estate probably derives from that of Amaranthus, a freedman of the Numisii Procurii, a noble Roman family who lived in the area. The towers scattered all over the Roman countryside, built for defence and watch purposes, were often named after the families who owned the property on which they were erected. Since antiquity, the fertile soil of volcanic origin and the presence of water made this area ideal for farming. Similarly to what

happened in the Caffarella Valley, Tormarancia was protected from overbuilding thanks to a long battle waged by citizens and environmentalists. It was only in 2002 that the rural estate became a part of the Regional Park. Most of the estate is still owned by private citizens, and may therefore only be visited on the occasion of the guided tours organised by the Park. FARNESIANA

irtually unknown also to those living in the area, the Farnesiana estate extends over some 200

hectares located between the Via Ardeatina and the Via Appia Antica. Although not very large, it hosts a range of different environments, especially archaeological and historical sites, from settlements dating back to the Roman age such as country dwellings and suburban villas, to Medieval defence systems, among the latter the most important being the ruins of the Castello di Zampa di Bove. In terms of its landscape, the Farnesiana estate is similar to the Tor Marancia estate, the two being separated only by the Via

Ardeatina. Of the extensive wood that once covered it, today only the Farnese grove is extant. Although small, it is important as being a patch of mixed forest, quite unique in the Appia Antica park. The plant species it hosts are typically Mediterranean. Characteristic elements of the Farnesiana estate are its five historical farmsteads dating back to the 18th and 19th century. The estate is currently owned by private citizens, and it may only be visited on the occasion of guided tours periodically organised by the Park Board in collaboration with the WWF.