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La Selvotta Nature Park in Formello: raptors, Etruscans, and a 2,500-year-old aqueduct
Located in Formello, within the Veio Regional Park and less than 20 km from Rome, La Selvotta Nature Park combines nature, archaeology, and educational activities: observation of and interaction with raptors (birds of prey), a waterfall fed by a still-functioning Etruscan aqueduct, and a garden dedicated to medicinal (or officinal) plants. The site is open to visitors all year round.
The raptor center and falconry
The park is home to over 50 species of raptors (including the Peregrine Falcon, Snowy Owl, Steller's Sea Eagle, and Barn Owl), raised in semi-freedom and trained to accept human contact. Visitors can book the "Falconer for a Day" experience: a professional falconer explains lure and calling techniques as the bird flies around freely before returning to the gauntlet (or glove).
The Etruscan aqueduct
Flowing beneath the park is the Selvotta conduit, the longest Etruscan aqueduct in Lazio. Carved into the tufa rock approximately 2,500 years ago, it carries water via free-surface (gravity-fed) flow to a 4-metre waterfall, accessible via a nature trail. The pond at the foot of the falls contains pome of the park's typical fauna: newts, Italian agile frogs (red frogs), and aquatic insects commonly known as "water scorpions".
