Park of the Aqueducts

The Aqueducts Park is one of the most suggestive and fascinating places in Rome, located in the heart of Municipio VII and part of the Regional Park of the Appia Antica. This park, which covers an area of about 240 hectares, takes its name from the numerous ancient aqueducts, both Roman and papal, that run through it and once supplied water to ancient Rome. Among these, the Aqua Claudia, the Anio Novus Aqueduct, the Aqua Marcia, the Aqua Tepula, the Aqua Iulia, and the Aqua Felice stand out. The area now occupied by the park was known as “Old Rome,” a name that evokes its ancient history. It was only in 1988 that, thanks to the initiative of citizens and intellectuals, the area was included in the Regional Park of the Appia Antica, to protect it from degradation and real estate speculation that threatened to erase its historical and archaeological value. The history of Roman aqueducts is fascinating and complex. The Aqua Claudia, one of the most imposing, was started by Emperor Caligula in 38 AD and completed by Emperor Claudius in 52 AD. This aqueduct, about 69 kilometers long, brought water from sources located 70 kilometers from Rome to the heart of the city. Its majestic arches, built with tuff and travertine blocks, are still visible and represent an extraordinary sight. Among the main attractions of the park is also the Aqua Felice, built in the 16th century by Pope Sixtus V. This aqueduct is interesting not only for its function, but also for the reuse of ancient materials: it was in fact built using parts of the Aqua Marcia. In the park, there are also other structures of historical interest, such as the Casale di Roma Vecchia, a medieval building that offers a glimpse of rural life at the time, and the Torre del Fiscale, a medieval tower located at the intersection of the Aqua Claudia and Aqua Marcia aqueducts. The park has also been a highly appreciated film set. Films like Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita,” Pier Paolo Pasolini’s “Mamma Roma,” and Paolo Sorrentino’s “The Great Beauty” have used this suggestive setting for their shots, helping to make the Aqueducts Park known internationally. A curious anecdote concerns the period during World War II, when the area was the scene of battles and was occupied by Allied troops. After the war, the park fell into a state of neglect until the 1970s, when a recovery process was initiated thanks to the commitment of local associations and citizens.