This Natural Monument, as the name suggests, conveys an idea of solemnity, of majesty, in which Nature was the originator of a wonderful creation. When in front of the Natural Monument of the Farfa Gorges (Gole del Farfa) all this is amply confirmed, constituting a destination for everyone, and for which our Cicignano is an excellent starting point.
Once you leave the circular walls that surround our village like a hug, you can decide to spend a day in one of the other nearby villages, discovering historical and artistic testimonies or their excellent cuisine. Or you might want to spend a day in nature.
The Farfa Gorges are the perfect scenario for a trek, a picnic, a swim, fresh air or bird watching…
Where is the Natural Monument of the Farfa Gorges?
Located within the Nazzano Tevere Farfa Regional Nature Reserve, this strip of roughly 60 hectares is found in the territory of the municipality of Mompeo, and in the close vicinity of Castelnuovo di Farfa, both in the province of Rieti.
The Gorges are created by the bed of the Farfa river, a tributary of the left bank of the Tiber, with which it meets near Nazzano. The river, which in certain places has the impetuous characteristics of a torrent, digging into the rock, has given life to a truly suggestive scenography. The surrounding vegetation is lush, full, and provides small beaches where visitors can stop to enjoy the fresh and crisp air even in summer, created by Farfa’s very cold water.
A great deal of biodiversity in the Farfa Gorges
The water is clear and its purity is aided by the pebbles on the bed, which avoid it from clouding over and it is inhabited by an abundant variety of aquatic organisms, such as fish and crustaceans, yet also amphibians, which contribute to the “menu” of the numerous birds of prey that nest on the surrounding rocky walls. It looks more like a sanctuary than a monument, dedicated to mother earth, or to the river god, delimited by the riparian vegetation that creates a gallery of branches that join together. A multitude of mammals live in the wood along the banks, protected by environmental conservation.
Human testimonies, a precious area also from a historical point of view
There’s more than just nature here in the Natural Monument. There are also testimonies of distant times, of men of the past. It is quite impressive to observe the remnants of an ancient Roman road emerging from the vegetation, or to discover that the banks of the river are connected by a bridge of the same period, dating back to roughly the sixth century.
A little further on, and a little closer to the present, are the remains of the Mola Naro Patrizi, a factory that takes its name from the family of the lords of Mompeo, who had it built. This water mill was certainly not the only one in the area, quite the contrary, these structures profoundly characterized the territory, and the descriptive panels on site explain it very well. The Mola’s two stones are still there, imposing.
Activities in the Farfa Gorges
The Farfa Gorges attract numerous visitors. It must be said that the fragility of this environment makes the presence of man a danger and therefore visitors who approach it must maintain the utmost respect. But this certainly doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.
In fact, in addition to the classic picnic, enjoying the crisp and fresh air even in midsummer, bird watchers can devote their time to observing birds of prey, and the many birds that nest nearby. There are also sports activities such as water trekking or canyoning, for which, however, we recommend that you rely on an expert guide, for both personal and environmental safety.
You can also go for a swim – the waters are very clean and suitable for swimming – or walk along the trekking paths in the surrounding area which lead up to the inhabited areas of Mompeo on one side, and Castelnuovo di Farfa on the other, to discover two beautiful villages, rich in charm and history.
Here, in this temple without walls, one can profess, embrace and recognize the secular religion of respect for Nature which, hopefully, will have more and more devotees: the survival of similar areas and our entire planet depend on it.
