…you will fall in love! Ciociaria, a land of woods and grass plains, dotted with unexpected, little-known waterfalls, is surrounded by the Mountains: Aurunci, Ausoni, Ernici, Lepini, Simbruini and Meta, and crossed by the watercourses Amaseno, Aniene, Liri, Melfa, Rapido and Sacco. These rivers run and twist, playing hide and seek among the valleys, and suddenly gush out with all their strength to form spectacular waterfalls. Let us explore the most hidden corners of Ciociaria and get cooled off by the mischievous splashes of the falls!
Cascata Grande in Isola del Liri
When talking about waterfalls in Ciociaria, how not to mention Isola del Liri? The town, a strip of land between the two branches of the Liri River, was founded in the year 1000 at the foot of the Cascata Grande, a rare example of a water jet in a historic centre, tirelessly and cheerfully unleashed by nature. The 27 metres cascade is backgrounded by the breathtaking Castello Boncompagni Viscogliosi.
After touching the thousand-year-old Monastery of San Domenico, the Liri River splits into two arms by a ravine, embracing the town as if it were an island, and forming the Cascata del Valcatoio. The latter descends along rocky walls in the western district, while the Cascata Grande flows directly from the heart of the village, inhabited, in ancient times, by the Volsci. Enjoy the show at night, let yourself get fascinated by the colourful lights, and raise the curtain on your most intense emotions.
Grotte di Falvaterra and Rio Obaco
From the powerful cascade in Isola del Liri, we run on blind date to Falvaterra, where we can admire the Caves of Falvaterra and Rio Obaco, a regional natural monument on the Northern Slope of the Ausoni Mountains. We are in the middle of the 130 hectares park of the same name, where the Rio Obaco winds and flows into the Sacco River.
The Caves of Falvaterra and Rio Obaco
Protected by an uncontaminated nature on the surface, the underground waters gave rise to the Falvaterra Caves, extraordinary tunnels, and cavities through the limestone rocks of Mount Lamia, where amazing jets of water gush forth from the bowels of the heart. Water Trekking, practiced here, will leave you speechless: waterfalls and rapids, bright white dripping stalactites, and gorges and lakes in semi-darkness, inhabited by cave animals, such as the transparent Niphargus crustacean. Two kilometres of fantastic speleosub surprises are waiting for you!
The Pozzo d’Antullo in Collepardo
From underground wonders to the beauties of the surface, we are now heading to Collepardo.
Here you will be spoiled for choice for refreshing your ideas by the Cascades of the Torrente Fiume and the one of Capo Rio.
“So small, so small, so small… so big!!!”
sang a jingle from the 80s, advertising mint gummy candies in a small tin box. The slogan summarises the qualities of Collepardo on the Ernici Mountains, a village so small, which arouses such a great feeling of awe. We will experience both the heavenly atmosphere of the Certosa di Trisulti and the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Cese, and the hell dimension of the deep Caves of the Torrente Cosa, the Grotte dei Bambocci, and the enormous sinkhole of the Pozzo d’Antullo.
Waterfall of the Torrente Cosa
Overwhelmed by contrasting emotions, we suddenly come across the Waterfalls of the Torrente Cosa, one of the most copious streams in the Ernici Mountains, originating from the clear springs in the karst area of Capo Fiume, in Alatri. Over the millennia, it has been carving its path in the Valle del Fiume, among waterfalls and cascades, rocky leaps and ledges, and very narrow gorges. The torrent enters Collepardo from Ponte dei Santi, and then plunges into the Valle dei Santi, so-called for preserving several hermitages, included the Eremo of the Madonna delle Cese and the Certosa di Trisulti.
The Torrente Cosa arrives at the foot of Collepardo, running under numerous wooden bridges, until it flows into the Cosa River. Not to confuse the two watercourses, the inhabitants of Collepardo call the torrent “Fiume” or “Torrente Fiume”, hence the source of Capo Fiume. Finally, do not miss the summer open-air Water Trekking, where you can learn about the animals and plants in the heart of the Ernici Mountains. These magical places, so rich in history and traditions, are crossed by winding paths, climbing up to almost 1000 metres, among the rustling, thick beech trees.
Cascata di Capo Rio
Arrived in Capo Rio, also in the Ernici Mountains, let us take a few selfies in front of the small cascade of the same name, nestled among centuries-old, twisted beech trees on the slopes of the Mounts La Monna and La Rotonaria. It is said that someone came here in search of gold but returned empty-handed. What is certain, is that the Valle del Rio is perfect for mountain bikers. Along the tracks, flanked by high sheer cliffs, you will be able to appreciate the inebriating fragrance of cyclamens, anemones, primroses, and snowdrops.
Cascata di Comunacque in Trevi nel Lazio
Lazio not only boasts the world-famous Trevi Fountain in Rome, but also the Trevi Waterfall of Comunacque, foaming in the green of the Simbruini Mountains. Trevi nel Lazio, nestled among high rocky cliffs, is very appreciated by free climbers, and the woods are extremely rich in wild strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and mushrooms. But the undisputed “King of the Forest” is the Aniene River, a watercolour of vibrant emotions, fading from green to blue, overwhelmed by the white roar of the Trevi Waterfall.