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Segni in the Lepini Mountains: Cyclopean walls and a Roman Nymphaeum
Segni, located 60 km from Rome, in the Lepini Mountains, is twinned with Mycenae by virtue of its polygonal Cyclopean walls. The Porta Saracena (Saracen Gate), featuring a massive lintel monolith over three metres long, was a renowned attraction on the Grand Tour, famously illustrated by Irish painter and traveler Edward Dodwell. From the fortifications to the acropolis, this site gives visitors the chance to cross three thousand years of history in one or two miles.
The acropolis and the Roman cistern
At its highest point, the Church of San Pietro (St Peter) stands directly on the podium of the Roman Temple of Juno Moneta (3rd century BC). The original walls of the cella (inner chamber), built with squared ashlar blocks, are still fully visible inside the church. Beneath the structure lies a Roman cistern, which is currently used as a venue for cultural events.
The Nymphaeum and the Scarab Bridge
The local Archaeological Museum, housed in the Palazzo della Comunità, preserves the Nymphaeum of Quintus Mutius, a monumental fountain dating to the 2nd–1st century BC. Both the architectural structure and the name of its designer are known, quite unique for this period, with the architect's signature written in Greek letters, using Egyptian blue glass beads. And the 13th-century Ponte Scarabeo (Scarab Bridge) is connected to a local legend about a Carthaginian soldier who offered a scarab amulet as a token of love.
Eating and climbing
In late October, the town hosts the Sagra del Marrone (Chestnut Festival). Traditional local dishes include fregnaquanti pasta, appallocco (a polenta-like country dish), and local black truffles. Mount Lupone reaches an altitude of 1,378 metres, and is the northernmost peak of the Lepini range.
