Route map		Where to stay
	Historical and natural attractions		Markets and fairs
	Local products		Outdoor activities
	Producers		A traditional recipe
	Where to eat		Complete description of the itinerary

 
ROUTE MAP


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The Parco Regionale (regional park) dei Monti Lucretili, situated between the Tiber and the Aniene Valleys and marked by the majestic rises of the Monte Gennaro (1272 mt) and Pellecchia (1368 mt), stretches along the Preapennine ridgeline which closes in, to the east, the Roman countryside. Vineyards and olive groves characterize these piedmont areas, with skillfully built terracing dating back to Roman times.  The forest is rich in delicate wild orchids and elegant liliaceous plants, among which is the rare Iris sabina, typical of this area. The scarce presence of humans has helped the naturalization of the Apennines’ wild animals: wolves,  wildcats, marscian bears and a rare pair of golden  eagles. 

Palombara Sabina lies beneath Monte Gennaro; the town’s distinctive characteristic is its spiraling up towards the castle, built by the Savelli family. Some important monuments in this area are the abbazia (abbey) di San Giovanni in Argentella, which stands alone in the green countrside. Moricone, close to Palombara, is a typical medieval town; notable monuments include the  Romanesque Chiesa (church) Vecchia and the panoramic Palazzo Baronale. The chiesa dell”Assunta, on the square, has a fine 18th century altar-piece - attributed to Corrado Giaquinto – as well as a painting of the Saviour (15th century) by Antoniazzo Romano. 


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LOCAL PRODUCTS

• Extra virgin DOP Sabine olive oil
• DOC Sabine wines
  
  
  
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PRODUCERS

ROMA

• Azienda Agricola (farm) Cola Maria
• Caseificio (cheese factory) La Cesarina
• Eredi Gangemi Concetta
• Società Agricola Milani
• Terra Mia s.r.l. (MozzaRe)

MENTANA

• Persichetti Maria Giuseppa

MONTEROTONDO

• Azienda Agricola (farm) Maurizio Moretti

PALOMBARA SABINA

• Azienda Agricola (farm) Tulli Elena
• Azienda Silvi Roberto
• Silvi Sabina Sapori

MORICONE

• Amici Alvaro
• Azienda Carnicelli Mario
• Azienda Fratini Ottavio
• Cooperativa Coltivatori (farmers’ co-operative) Uniti

MONTORIO ROMANO

• Azienda Giannetti Gioacchino
• Salus s.r.l.

MONTELIBRETTI

• Azienda Agricola (farm) Biologica Tre Colli
• Azienda Altobelli Leonardo
• Marchesi Merzetti s.r.l.
• Oleificio Caponetti
• Oleum Sabinae s.n.c.
• Tinte Rosse
  

NEROLA

• Agrisabina
• Azienda Agricola (farm) (Er Pecoraro) Donati Adelmo
• Azienda Agricola (farm) Biologica Augusto Spagnoli
• Azienda Agricola (farm) Pezzanera s.n.c.
• Azienda Griscioli Giorgio
• Azienda Paganelli Caponetti Elvira
• Carletti Ercole
• Zonetti Luigi & Ennio

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WHERE TO EAT

ROMA

• Tenuta Agricola (farm) Fonte di Papa
  

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO

• Carcibove

FONTE NUOVA

• La Cerquetta

PALOMBARA SABINA

• Centro ippico (equestrian centre) Lucretius

MORICONE

• Abbondanza Fusi
  
  

MONTORIO ROMANO

• Centro ippico (equestrian centre)  La Ripa

NEROLA

• Il Bagolaro

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WHERE TO STAY

ROMA

• Tenuta Agricola (farm) Fonte di Papa

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO

• Carcibove

FONTE NUOVA

• La Cerquetta

PALOMBARA SABINA

• Centro ippico (equestrian centre) Lucretius
  

MONTORIO ROMANO

• Centro ippico (equestrian centre) La Ripa

NEROLA

• Il Bagolaro

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MARKETS AND FAIRS

MENTANA

• Grape festival

PALOMBARA SABINA

• “Perzica” (roman dialect for peach) fair
• “Cerase” (roman dialect for cherries) fair

MONTEFLAVIO

• “Fregnacce” fair (sweet and sour pancake)
• Olive oil and pizzafritte (leavened fried cakes) fair

MORICONE

• Bruschetta (toasted bread) festival

NEROLA

• Festival of the Assumption and S. Rocco, and olive oil festival

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OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES 


ROME’S GUARDIAN: MONTE GENNARO

The Monti (hills) Lucretili, protected by the Regional Park – which was created due to the efforts of a widespread local movement organized by environmentalists and Roman excursionists -  is the largest mountainous group near the capital, and by far the easiest to reach from Rome. From the highest peak, viewers can admire the city’s immense urban fabric, while at the same time they are far removed from pollution, noise and stress caused by the city’s frenetic life. The trip to Monte Gennaro (Cima Zappi – Zappi peak) is a diverse and pleasant itinerary, practicable most of the year.

Parco Regionale (regional park) dei Monti Lucretili
0774 637027; www.parcolucretili.it; info@parcolucretili.it

Associazione (association) “L’Agrifoglio”
0774 425329 – 339 4766300; agrifoglio@tin.it


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A TRADITIONAL RECIPE

“MURZILLITTI”

Ingredients
1kg of honey, 1kg of nuts, 2 eggs, 1 cup of olive oil, cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg; any flour picked up by the mixture

Preparation
Once the mixture has been made, roll it out (1 cm, or 1 and ½ cm width), and cut into lozenges with a specific wooden shaper (“stampu”). The latter was made by men with walnut, maple or juniper wood, and personalized with their initials or inlaid drawings. 


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TOWARDS THE MONTI LUCRETILI


The Parco Regionale (regional park) dei Monti Lucretili, situated between the Tiber and the Aniene Valleys and marked by the majestic rises of the Monte Gennaro (1272 mt) and Pellecchia (1368 mt), stretches along the Preapennine ridgeline which closes in, to the east, the Roman countryside. The calcareous nature of the massif has caused widespread karstic phenomena; dolines, gorges, rutted fields mark these mountains, dear to Roman excursionists. Vineyards and olive groves characterize these piedmont areas, with skillfully built terracing dating back to Roman times. On the slopes many oak, maple and lime tree woods grow; higher up there are vast beech woods, including the wonderful ones in Valle Cavalera. 
The forest is rich in delicate wild orchids and elegant liliaceous plants, among which is the rare Iris sabina, typical of this area. The scarce presence of humans has helped the naturalization of the Apennines’ wild animals: wolves, wildcats, marscian bears and a rare pair of golden  eagles which nests in the heights. On the hills’ summits there are ample mountain prairies, pasture areas which for centuries were the destination of the traditional transhumance.

Palombara Sabina lies beneath Monte Gennaro; the town’s distinctive characteristic is its spiraling up towards the castle - built before 1064 and restructured several times -  by the Savelli family, feudatory of the whole area. Some important monuments in this area are the abbazia (abbey) di San Giovanni in Argentella, which stands alone in the green countryside. Brazilian monks, followers of the Greek cult, probably first built the church in the 8th century; in the 10th  it became a Benedictine stronghold, and during the Middle Ages it reached  its height in splendour.  The old façade of the church shows fragments of the frescoes which originally covered it, including angels adoring the cross. The inside is in stone, simple and picturesque, and dates back to the 10th – 11th century; the naves are divided by Roman columns with fine Ionic capitals. In the back, the presbytery is raised above the underlying crypt.
Moricone, close to Palombara, is a quaint medieval town with small houses and slanting narrow alleys. Its notable monuments include the  Romanesque Chiesa (church) Vecchia and the panoramic Palazzo Baronale. The chiesa dell”Assunta, on the square, has a fine 18th century altar-piece - attributed to Corrado Giaquinto – as well as  a painting of the Saviour (15th century) by Antoniazzo Romano.


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