If you are on holiday in Cicignano or in Sabina, given the proximity, you cannot ignore a visit to a place that certainly does not need particular presentations. Roughly an hour from the Residenze del Borgo di Cicignano, the majesty of the Marmore Falls welcomes astonished visitors, who can hardly believe the creations of Nature, yet in this case they are right to question its origins because over time there has been a lot of human intervention.
Work of man, since the third century BC
The Romans put in a particular effort to drain the waters of the Velino river, which, with its frequent floods, made the area swampy and unhealthy. It was in 271 BC when the consul Mario Curio Dentato organized the construction of a canal into which the river could flow, even if the current structure is due to further subsequent interventions that lasted until the Renaissance.
The importance of human activities on the waterfall is also reflected in the fact that it has a controlled water flow rate: given its function of producing electricity, during some parts of the day the waterfall has a reduced flow rate, while at other times, in pre-established time slots, the water is released. The spectacle is quite impressive, preceded by an acoustic signal, and it is easy to understand why, because it goes from 3 to 15 cubic meters per second. We suggest you refer to the website of the organization that manages the Parco della Cascata for timetables and any organizational changes.
The Lovers’ Balcony
The Lovers’ Balcony, which can now only be visited by appointment, is so called not only for the romantic atmosphere given by the twilight created by the narrow opening in the cave or by the noise and spectacle of the pouring water.
A very widespread myth can be traced back to this area, of evident Greek-Latin origin due to the tendency to personify all the elements of nature. And thus, the love between the Nera nymph, daughter of the god Apennines, and the shepherd Velino could certainly not be allowed by Juno, the queen of the gods, perhaps out of envy, or due to the rules whereby the marriage between a mortal and a demigod could not take place. The girl became a river, the Nera, while Velino, throwing himself into her waters to rejoin her, was also transformed into a river.
And today, the lovers who come here, via trail number 1, can only but feel a shiver down their spine, in witnessing this eternal and continuous launch, which seals the love between Nera and Velino. It is no coincidence that the Park organizes, on Valentine’s Day, special appointments for couples who want to experience the thrill of a kiss against the backdrop of this timeless atmosphere.
April 2021: the discovery of a new species of geranium
There can be no romance without flowers. The Botanical Garden of the Waterfall houses a specimen of Geranium Lucarinii, unearthed by scholars Roberto Venanzoni and Robert Wagensommer, and which owes its name to Domenico Lucarini, one of the creators and founders of the structure.
The discovery dates back to April 2021: scholars were looking for the Geranium macrorrhizum, also exceedingly rare, especially at this altitude, sighted by Countess Elisabetta Fiorini Mazzanti, of the Accademia dei Lincei, at the end of the nineteenth century, and which had not been since then in the Valnerina area.
When Venanzoni identified the geranium, careful investigations revealed that it is not what Mazzanti believed at the time, but an endemic Umbrian species, a fragrant geranium that can now be admired in the Botanical Garden of the Waterfall. Given the rarity of the flower, the site of its discovery is deliberately kept secret from the general public.
The trails among caves and rampant vegetation
Who knows how many other unknown flowers hide, like lost treasures, in the lush vegetation around the waterfall, assisted by the humidity of the air and the peculiar characteristics of the water?
Holm oaks, alders, oaks, willows, Aleppo pines grow luxuriantly, creating a natural temple, while the aforementioned Botanical Garden allows visitors to admire the individual species of flora that populate the Park.
The ground is made of non-compact rocks, which hold water, and over time this has created the formation of caves, rich in fascination and charm, which make up three different complexes: there’s the Grotta della Morta and the Grotta delle Diaclasi, the Grotta delle Colonne and the Grotta della Condotta.
Visitors can enter the six marked trails that lead into unknown ravines with enchanting views, starting from the Lower or Upper Belvedere, stop for a picnic at the tables found in the equipped areas, take photographs and refresh their spirit.
How to get to the Marmore Falls
The route by car includes a stretch of State Road Bis 79, reachable from the A1 motorway, even for those who are already here in Cicignano. Exit at the Valnerina junction, while at the next roundabout, after roughly 3 kilometers, the second exit leads to the Provincial Road 209. The on-site directions will lead you to the park’s car park.
Before going, we suggest you check opening times on the Park’s website or contact the call-center at the following numbers 0744.67561 – 0744.362231 – 345.7709992.
For guided tours you need to make arrangements at the following email address: attivita@cascatadellemarmore.info
