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Description
The Caffarella Valley is located between the Aurelian Walls, Via Latina, Via dell'Almone, and Via Appia Antica. An integral part of the Appian Way Park, it constitutes its main and privileged access.
At each entrance, an information panel indicates the public areas that can be visited, the main paths, the monuments, and the rules of conduct. The name of the valley derives from the main historical estate present in the area, belonging to the Caffarelli family.
The park is rich in historical evidence as it includes a part of the **Triopio of Herod Atticus**, an important agricultural estate that extended between the Appian Way and the Almone River, which Herod Atticus (philosopher and mathematician who lived during the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelius) had acquired from his Roman wife Annia Regilla.
**Accesses** - Entering from the Appia Nuova, you can visit **Porta Latina**, one of the main gates of the Aurelian Walls, of which both the semicircular tower and the facade clad in travertine are preserved. At the height of Via Arco di Travertino, the park borders on the **Archaeological Area of Via Latina**, which includes monuments such as the Tomb of the Pancrazi and the Barberini Tomb. On the opposite side of the Valley emerges the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and the Sacred Grove. Descending into the valley, you reach Via della Caffarella as far as the Casale della Vacchereccia.
**Casale della Vaccareccia**
The complex, which consists of a medieval tower and a sixteenth-century farmhouse, was built by the Caffarelli who, in the sixteenth century, reclaimed the area. In front of the farmhouse, a nineteenth-century fountain with water supply and drainage channels has been brought to light. The road from the fountain leads to a spring, crossing three ancient bridges that span three streams: the Almone River, the Marrana della Caffarella, and a secondary canal.
The **Bridge over the Almone**, corresponding to the Casale della Vaccareccia, with a single span with a low arch, has a structure consisting of two brick archways with a connecting vault in tuff stone. Continuing the path you will encounter the **Tomb of Annia Regilla**. The Tomb, already known as the Temple of the Reticolo God, is improperly attributed to Annia Regilla, wife of Herod Atticus. Nearby there is a nineteenth-century farmhouse-mill and a medieval valca, fed by an arched conduit. It was a mill for processing and washing fabrics.
If you continue you will arrive at the **Domine Quo Vadis Church**.
Shortly after you encounter the **Nymphaeum of Egeria**. The term Nymphaeum, of Greek origin, indicates a temple or cave dedicated to the worship of the Nymphs. After passing the Nymphaeum, you can take the uphill path on the hill to reach the **Sacred Grove**. In truth, the real site of the Sacred Grove of Egeria is after Porta Capena, and its location in this place was the result of a reconstruction based on inaccurate assumptions.
Behind it appears the **Temple of Sant'Urbano**. Built in the 2nd century AD, it was dedicated to Herod Atticus, Ceres, and Faustina. A small church, as early as the 9th century, occupied the temple's cella and the crypt below. The place of worship was held by the Basilian Monks.
The temple can be accessed directly from the entrance located on Vicolo di Sant'Urbano, which can be reached from Via Appia Pignatelli. Descending, you reach the **Torre Valca**. Strategically located with respect to the Almone River, this consolidated the water exploitation system in the Caffarella Valley.
Dating back to the 12th century, the tower is built with regular blocks of tuff, peperino, and marble, on previous structures. The presence of the tanks suggests that the plant was used as a "valca." From the Lombard term "walkan" to roll, they were water mills used for processing and washing clothes.
Continuing, you reach the **Constantinian Columbarium**, of Antonine times, which appears as a small temple in brickwork with polychrome effects. In medieval times it was reused for the construction of a water mill, in operation until the Renaissance when part of the structure was buried. Among the remains stand out a tomb of the type tangent to the Columbarium, a circular monument, and some hydraulic conduits.
At each entrance, an information panel indicates the public areas that can be visited, the main paths, the monuments, and the rules of conduct. The name of the valley derives from the main historical estate present in the area, belonging to the Caffarelli family.
The park is rich in historical evidence as it includes a part of the **Triopio of Herod Atticus**, an important agricultural estate that extended between the Appian Way and the Almone River, which Herod Atticus (philosopher and mathematician who lived during the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelius) had acquired from his Roman wife Annia Regilla.
**Accesses** - Entering from the Appia Nuova, you can visit **Porta Latina**, one of the main gates of the Aurelian Walls, of which both the semicircular tower and the facade clad in travertine are preserved. At the height of Via Arco di Travertino, the park borders on the **Archaeological Area of Via Latina**, which includes monuments such as the Tomb of the Pancrazi and the Barberini Tomb. On the opposite side of the Valley emerges the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and the Sacred Grove. Descending into the valley, you reach Via della Caffarella as far as the Casale della Vacchereccia.
**Casale della Vaccareccia**
The complex, which consists of a medieval tower and a sixteenth-century farmhouse, was built by the Caffarelli who, in the sixteenth century, reclaimed the area. In front of the farmhouse, a nineteenth-century fountain with water supply and drainage channels has been brought to light. The road from the fountain leads to a spring, crossing three ancient bridges that span three streams: the Almone River, the Marrana della Caffarella, and a secondary canal.
The **Bridge over the Almone**, corresponding to the Casale della Vaccareccia, with a single span with a low arch, has a structure consisting of two brick archways with a connecting vault in tuff stone. Continuing the path you will encounter the **Tomb of Annia Regilla**. The Tomb, already known as the Temple of the Reticolo God, is improperly attributed to Annia Regilla, wife of Herod Atticus. Nearby there is a nineteenth-century farmhouse-mill and a medieval valca, fed by an arched conduit. It was a mill for processing and washing fabrics.
If you continue you will arrive at the **Domine Quo Vadis Church**.
Shortly after you encounter the **Nymphaeum of Egeria**. The term Nymphaeum, of Greek origin, indicates a temple or cave dedicated to the worship of the Nymphs. After passing the Nymphaeum, you can take the uphill path on the hill to reach the **Sacred Grove**. In truth, the real site of the Sacred Grove of Egeria is after Porta Capena, and its location in this place was the result of a reconstruction based on inaccurate assumptions.
Behind it appears the **Temple of Sant'Urbano**. Built in the 2nd century AD, it was dedicated to Herod Atticus, Ceres, and Faustina. A small church, as early as the 9th century, occupied the temple's cella and the crypt below. The place of worship was held by the Basilian Monks.
The temple can be accessed directly from the entrance located on Vicolo di Sant'Urbano, which can be reached from Via Appia Pignatelli. Descending, you reach the **Torre Valca**. Strategically located with respect to the Almone River, this consolidated the water exploitation system in the Caffarella Valley.
Dating back to the 12th century, the tower is built with regular blocks of tuff, peperino, and marble, on previous structures. The presence of the tanks suggests that the plant was used as a "valca." From the Lombard term "walkan" to roll, they were water mills used for processing and washing clothes.
Continuing, you reach the **Constantinian Columbarium**, of Antonine times, which appears as a small temple in brickwork with polychrome effects. In medieval times it was reused for the construction of a water mill, in operation until the Renaissance when part of the structure was buried. Among the remains stand out a tomb of the type tangent to the Columbarium, a circular monument, and some hydraulic conduits.