Valleys, mountains, rivers and people
TOWARDS THE MONTI LEPINI
Today's via Casilina takes its name from Casilium (today's Capua). The road coincides, in several stretches, with the old via Latina; this crossed the fertile valley of the same name. Via Latina also went towards the city of Casilium and, along with via Labicana, which started from the Colosseum, had the ancient city Labico - in the Alban Hills - as its final destination.
In its first stretch, just outside Rome, the road crossed the remaining part of the Roman countryside, clearly marked by the long stretches of great arches of the Claudian aqueduct (1st century A.D.). The aqueduct is set in the vast countryside, which is marked on the left by the Monti Tiburtini and Prenestini.
Closer to Rome are the northern slopes of the Alban Hills, and the town of Colonna which the road skirts, before continuing towards Labico. Today the road proceeds into the Sacco Valley; here visitors can see the medieval towns of Valmontone, Arteno, Colleferro and Segni, perched on the Monti Lepini. Their story is inextricably connected with the alternate fortunes of the noble families of papal Rome, particularly with the Colonna, who predominated in central-southern Latium throughout the Middle Ages.
There are many pre-Roman historical traces in this area, which was inhabited by the Volsci ; these are collected in part in the Archeological Museum of Segni and in part are visible in the extremely interesting excavation areas, such as that of Piano della Civita close to Artena.
Further, there are fine medieval buildings and, from the Renaissance era, elegant noble mansions.
However, the wonderful hills of the Monti Lepini are the most grandiose monument of the area; here the landscape turns from archaic to surreal, from rustic to gently rolling in an almost theatrical atmosphere. In addition, the traditional way of life can be tasted in the generous food on offer.
The first itinerary leads visitors to ancient aqueducts and gently rolling hills, from Rome's outskirts to modern Labico. The second will focus on the town of Labico and the cities in the first part of the Sacco Valley, from Valmontone to Carpineto Romano.
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Historycal itineraries
