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The Farfa Gorges at Castelnuovo di Farfa: Trekking Through Canyons and Crystal-Clear Waters in the Sabine Hills
The Farfa Gorges are a 35-hectare protected area between Castelnuovo di Farfa and Mompeo, in the province of Rieti. The river has carved narrow gullies through the rock, with waters so clear that in the summer people bathe in them. The area, 55 km from Rome, has been a Natural Monument of Lazio since 2007, and is part of the Nazzano Tevere-Farfa Nature Reserve.
The trail and things to see along the way
The walk starts from the village of Castelnuovo, on Via Cornazzano. The path descends through olive groves and woods of holm oak, Turkey oak and hornbeam down to the river. There you rou reach a 6th-century bridge: a single span of stone and brick, with no parapets. Beyond the bridge, on the right, stand the ruins of the Mola Naro Patrizi, an old water mill. CAI trail 312 departs from there, reserved for experienced hikers.
The wildlife: a catalogue of protected species
The waters of the Farfa torrent are home to minnows (Telestes muticellus), brown trout (Salmo trutta fario), crayfish and freshwater crabs. Amphibians include the spectacled salamander (Salamandrina terdigitata), a small urodele endemic to Italy, barely 10 cm long. In the woods one may spot badgers, porcupines and foxes. Raptors include the peregrine falcon and the Eurasian eagle-owl. The flora is equally rich: tree types include holm oak, Turkey oak and hornbeam, as well as willows, poplars and alders.
