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Lake Monterosi: the small crater and a clash between Pope and Emperor
Lake Monterosi is one of the smallest volcanic lakes in Italy: a secondary crater of the Sabatino volcano, it has a diameter of just over 600 metres. Located along the Via Cassia, 2 km from the town centre, it has been a Site of Community Importance since 1995, and a Special Protection Area since 2016. It is a vital stopover area for migratory birds travelling between the Cimini Mountains and Lake Bracciano.
The Stirrup Incident
On the shores of this body of water—referred to as Janula in some ancient sources—Frederick Barbarossa and Pope Adrian IV met on June 9, 1155. The Emperor refused to hold the stirrup for the Pontiff as he dismounted his horse, a gesture that would have signalled his status as a vassal of the Church. In turn, the Pope denied him the kiss of peace. The diplomatic tension was later resolved, and on June 18, Barbarossa was crowned Emperor in Rome.
The Papallione Fountain
Another historical episode involving Lake Monterosi relates to Pope Leo X who, during a hunting trip (possibly in 1515), stopped to drink from a spring near the lake. According to tradition, impressed by the water's quality, he requested that a proper architectural frame be installed for the spring. So a lion's head in stone was crafted, with water flowing from it into a basin. The Papallione Fountain still exists today in Piazza Garibaldi, though the original lion's head has been lost.
