With over 60 thousand hectares 25 kilometres from Rome, we can admire the Castelporziano Estate, which runs along the Roman coast connecting Ostia, Capocotta and Anzio.
Its microclimate allows a lush and constant growth of a typical Mediterranean vegetation: the last remaining vast forests and woods with monumental trees, that in ancient times stretched along the coast of Lazio. The scents and colours of uncontaminated nature, the remains of an ancient Roman villa and its tepidarium, make the Estate a wonderful place to spend your free time.
There are three kinds of tour: naturalistic, archaeological, and cultural artistic.
Since 1999 it has been protected as a nature reserve.
Let’s start our visit!
As soon as we enter the estate, we find ourselves immersed in a fairytale wood! Castelporziano oak forest is typical of the Mediterranean area with its continental climate. We catch glimpses of the castle with its Italian-style garden and mosaics and the museum with its ancient Roman artefacts, the remains of the villas. It is difficult to see the wild animals living in the estate, free roaming and protected within the immense green, while you can easily spot horses, fallow deers and cattle. Listen out for rustling as your walk through the Estate, there could be a deer near you! You might also spot foxes, hedgehogs, martens, skunks, porcupines, Italian hares and wild rabbits…
Castelporziano is considered by the scientific world a unique area of high conservation value due to the high level of biodiversity, the complexity of the forest ecosystems, the great wealth of flora (1,000 species) and fauna (3,000 species) and the presence of natural pools, both temporary and permanent wet environments.
Visiting the President’s Estate in Castelporziano is in fact one of the most beautiful natural experiences you can have while in Rome.
ITINERARIES
The itineraries include transfers and breaks, during which (from 12.30 to 14.30 depending on the itinerary) you can use the Estate’s bar and restaurant facilities.
All the itineraries start with the screening of a short introductory film.
From March 19 to June 16, 2019 the following itineraries are available every Saturday and Sunday, except June 2:
Artistic History Tour
starting at 9.15 and 10.15
The tour includes: archaeological museum, castle, historic residence and hall of trophies, Church of Saint Filippo Neri, Coffee house and lemon house, historic Queen’s garden with ancient mosaics, rose garden, ancient fountain, carriage exhibition.
Total duration: approx. 4 hours 30 minutes
Tor Paterno Archaeological tour alternating with Nature tour of the Capocotta-Lauro Reserve starting at 9 am
Tor Paterno Archaeological Tour
After visiting the archaeological museum, the shuttle bus will take you to Tor Paterno to visit the Imperial Villa and the Roman aqueduct. Then let’s go back onto the shuttle bus and along Via del Telefono and Via delle Riserve to reach the dogana fountain. The itinerary winds through several areas of natural interest within the Estate.
Total duration: approx. 5 hours 30 minutes
Capocotta – Lauro. You can also reserve a tour suitable for people with physical disabilities.It goes through an oak wood with Turkey oaks and Italian oaks with white and oriental hornbeams, used in the past for the production of timber, where it is also possible to encounter wild boars, deer, specimens of hoopoe, jays and different species of woodpeckers. The whole area has undergone major renovation and environmental requalification after undergoing significant transformations for speculative purposes, before it was bought by the President of the Republic. It is particularly interesting to see how the native vegetation is recovering.
TOTAL DURATION (from the beginning to the end of the visit, including transfers, break, visit to the nature museum): 5 hours 30 minutes
AVERAGE DURATION of the paths: 1 hour 30 minutes
LENGTH: 2610 linear metres
Malafede nature itinerary
starting at 9.30
The itinerary covers the integral protection area of the cork oak. It goes through a tall forest with mainly oak trees of various types: Turkey oaks, Italian oaks, Virgil oaks, downy oaks, quercus crenata, holly oaks and majestic specimens of cork oaks. At the edge of the forest there are many evergreen shrubs (phillyrea, mastic, myrtle, heather, rock roses). The reduction in forestry activities is helping the recovery of the holm oak and the Mediterranean vegetation. This environment is the perfect refuge for wild boar and deer. Of particular interest is the invertebrate fauna and the typical herbaceous flora of the arid sandy substrates, with localised wetlands. You can also see the agricultural area dedicated to the free pasture of Maremma horses and cattle.
TOTAL DURATION (from the beginning to the end of the visit, including transfers, break, visit to the bird the nature museum): 6 hours
AVERAGE DURATION of the paths: 2 hours 30 minutes
LENGTH: 3330 linear metres