Park of the Caffarella

The Caffarella Park (

Aurelian Wall at its western edge to the Via dell'Almone to the east. It contains several sites of archaeological interest, as well as a working farm, and has considerable ecological value, with 78 species of birds and fauna.^[1] The Catacombs of Rome and Colli Albani (Rome Metro)

are nearby.

History

In Roman times much of the area was occupied by a large estate known as the Triopius.

Nympheum of Egeria

. Several towers in the park are medieval and served mainly as watch towers.

The modern name of the park comes from the Caffarelli family, which operated a farm in the area in the 16th century. It was subsequently owned by the

Torlonias. In the mid-20th century the area was in major danger of being used for urban expansion, but it was protected and then incorporated into the Appian Way park following popular campaigns for its preservation.^[1]

Major features

The Nympheum of Egeria. This spring and the surrounding construction can be dated back to the middle of the 2nd century AD by reference to the types of bricks used in its construction. The water springs from the rear of the nympheum under a now-headless reclining statue of the god Almo (a personification of the River Almone).^[2] The Nympheum was constructed by Herodes Atticus after he was cleared of the murder of Annia Regilla. It is mentioned by Valerius Antias.

Tomb of Annia Regilla. This well-preserved building is also known as the Temple of the God
sepulchre, it is not certain that it is the tomb of Annia Regilla. The construction is of red and yellow brick and there are two floors, with significant remaining external decoration.^[3]
In the Middle Ages, it served as a hay loft for a neighbouring farmhouse.

Valca Tower. This building is constructed from rectangular blocks of tuff and dates back to the 12th or 13th century. It was protected by a first wall of defence and a drawbridge. The tower is believed to have been part of a fulling mill.^[2]

Roman cistern. Constructed around 100 AD and originally underground, this cistern was exposed when earth moving was carried out for the construction of the nearby Circus of Maxentius.
Columbarium of Constantine. This columbarium, a building for housing the ashes of the deceased, dates back to the 2nd century AD. During the Middle Ages it was converted into a mill.^[2]
The Sacred Wood is a spot on a hill overlooking the valley and with good views of the mountains surrounding Rome and the
Castelli Romani. According to tradition, this is the spot at which Herodes Atticus ordered a sacred wood to be planted.^[2]

Church of Sant'Urbano alla Caffarella
. A 7th-century church built over a 2nd-century pagan temple.

References

^ ^a ^b "The Caffarella Valley". Pamphlet produced by the Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "The Water Trail". Pamphlet produced by the Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica.
^ Guide ai servizi delle aree naturalii protette del Lazio: Parco Regionale Appia Antica. Regione Lazio, 2009