After leaving Monterotondo, we continue through the Marcigliana Reserve and the wonderful landscapes of the Roman countryside, and enter the Municipal territory through the district Montesacro.
Open the stage on Wikiloc
| Distance 18,7 Km | Travel time 7 ore | Water sources yes |
|---|---|---|
| Increase in altitude + 13 | Degree of difficulty Facile | Resting areas yes |
| Loss of altitude – 125 | Surface Tarmc, dirt road and path | Road Sign yes |
Starting again from the Monterotondo Cathedral you walk through one of the Roman countryside’s most picturesque and fascinating parts. Descend along Via Sant’Angelo, climb and then descend again towards Valle Ricca, which marks the limit of the Rome Municipality. Enter the Marcigliana Park through Via Santa Colomba and then turn left along the dirt road.
The Marcigliana Park was where they discovered the Crustumerium site, one of the oldest cities in protohistoric Lazio. Virgil placed it among the five cities that built the weapons used by populations from central Italy to fight Aeneas. The Latin city of Crustumerium rose on some heights over the Tiber plane, overseeing the Via Salaria. Even back in the first Iron Age (10-9th century BC) the settlement occupied a 60 hectares area made up of a group of huts. Its strategic importance attracted the Romans’ attention, and they repeatedly tried to conquer it. Apparently Romulus abducted women from Crustumerium as well as the Sabines, but the city finally fell in Roman hands for good only in 499 BC. The Archaeological superintendence in Rome has created an archaeological-naturalistic route inside one of the city’s necropolis, in order to allow the visitor to be in close contact with the ancient remains, especially with the burial sites and with the reproductions of the decorative items, which have been placed in the same positions they were found in.
Leave the park and continue along via Tor San Giovanni then Via della Bufalotta and Viale Adriatico. Climb up the short flight of steps on the left that leads to Via di Monte Argentario and then to the right towards Via Titano until you get to the Church of the Santi Angeli Custodi in Piazza Sempione, one of the most significant works in the Monte Sacro neighbourhood, with its spectacular layout almost welcoming anybody entering the neighbourhood and perfectly closing off the also stunning Piazza Sempione on the Eastern side.
Useful information
Along the way we can find bars and fountains
Intermediate stops
Stop areas where to enjoy a relaxing break and accommodation facilities.
Not to be missed
An interesting visit to the Marcigliana Natural Reserve, with its naturalistic and archaeological beauties.