The ancient Porta Capena was part of the Servian walls dating back to the 6th century BC. The Appian Way and the Latin Way started from here, and from here, a few steps away from one of the monuments and symbolic places of the capital, the Circus Maximus, the Natural Path of the Parks begins.
Walking along Via delle Terme di Caracalla and then Via di Porta San Sebastiano, you begin to breathe in history (and a good dose of PM10!). From the Museum of the Walls onwards, there will be a series of surprises.
For those who want to take it easy, there are many opportunities to deviate from the route to visit monumental areas such as the Catacombs of San Sebastiano and San Callisto, the Circus of Maxentius or the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella.
After passing the Cartiera Latina, the path enters the Caffarella valley, the setting for myths and legends perhaps inspired by the gentle hills that form its natural border, and certainly by the presence of the Almone, a small tributary of the Tiber, considered a sacred river by the Romans since ancient times.
After taking in the natural surroundings, passing by the Egeria spring (open all year round, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m. during daylight saving time), continue on the left side along Via dell’Almone and then Via Cecilia Metella.
This will take you to the Regina Viarum, where you will be accompanied by ancient paving stones, tombs and imperial villas.
From Frattocchie, climb towards the Castelli along the secondary road, but once you reach Castel Gandolfo, you will be rewarded with a view of Lake Albano.
The first stage is mostly urban but certainly spectacular, crossing the Appia Antica Regional Park from north to south and reaching the municipalities of Ciampino and Marino.
A journey through the typical Roman countryside praised by the artists of the Grand Tour.
