From the historic center of Palestrina, you can reach Castel San Pietro Romano, perched on the outer reaches of the Prenestini Mountains, which welcomes visitors with the remains of ancient cyclopean walls of pre-Roman origin. Castel San Pietro has been the setting for numerous films and still retains its original structure intact, appearing almost suspended in time, surrounded by breathtaking views overlooking Rome, the Sacco Valley, and the volcanic Colli Albani hills. From here, the Way enters the heart of the Prenestini Mountains, sedimentary formations of marine origin from the Mesozoic era, which constitute the pre-Apennines of Lazio.
The route crosses the Valle delle Cannucceta Natural Monument, a protected natural area in Lazio since 1995. Rich in springs, some of which are channeled into an underground aqueduct dating back to Roman times, the area has a remarkable biodiversity in terms of both fauna and vegetation. The route then reaches the village of Capranica Prenestina, a small municipality located on the ridge of the Prenestini Mountains, which reach and exceed 1,200 m with Monte Guadagnolo to the east of Rome, where the hamlet of Guadagnolo is located, the highest non-municipal inhabited center in Lazio. Worth noting is the Museo Civico Naturalistico dei Monti Prenestini (Prenestini Mountains Civic Natural History Museum), which illustrates all aspects of the area’s vegetation, fauna, and geology through stimulating and interactive exhibition systems that actively engage visitors.
The museum is housed in Palazzo Barberini, which stands out for its grandeur among the compact buildings of the village. The palace was built on ancient medieval foundations, traces of which can still be seen in the interior, while the exterior retains its noble 16th-century structure, elegantly articulated in dense white limestone. Leaving the village of Capranica Prenestina, you find yourself walking along the old transhumance roads, where bare rock, pastures, and dense oak forests alternate. The path leading to Guadagnolo runs along the ridges that connect the two villages, offering unique views that stretch from the sea to the central Apennine mountain range.
