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The Villa Comunale and the Gari Urban Park of Cassino: Where a River Appears in the Heart of the City
In Cassino, the River Gari rises at the foot of Montecassino and Rocca Janula, in Piazza Corte behind the Cathedral, flows through a short underground channel and then resurfaces inside the Villa Comunale (the town’s public gardens, also known as Parco XV Marzo 1944), where it splits into two branches that form the characteristic small lake. A river that runs through the town centre, disappearing beneath buildings and re-emerging in a public park.
An exceptional water basin
The Cassino area lies in one of the largest water basins in Europe, the river Gari is the most direct proof of this. Its flow rate is close to 20 m³ per second, constant throughout the year. Its water boasts excellent chemical and physical properties, suitable for human consumption. Water that runs beneath the feet of those strolling through the heart of the city.
From the small lake to the Terme Varroniane
From the Villa, a cycle and pedestrian path runs alongside the river as far as the Terme Varroniane (Varronian Baths, named after the Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro). Along this stretch the Gari is accessible for boat trips, canoeing and eco-rafting with certified instructors. The park also hosts contemporary sculpture exhibitions and the Maratona di Primavera (Spring Marathon), a city tradition since 1990.
