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St Benedict’s Lake: The last of Nero's lakes in Subiaco
Hidden within the Aniene gorge, below the Abbey of St Scholastica, the Laghetto di San Benedetto is the sole survivor of the Simbruina Stagna: three artificial lakes built by Emperor Nero in the 1st century by damming the river. His villa, the ruins of which remain nearby, was designed around these bodies of water. The name Subiaco itself derives from the Latin name for these lakes, Sub lacum ("below the lakes").
The setting
White rock walls enclose the small lake in a natural amphitheatre. A waterfall feeds the pool, which changes colour throughout the day depending on the light filtering through the branches. The water creates a humid microclimate ideal for having a lush undergrowth.
How to get there
It can be reached on foot from the Abbey car park, along the ST2 trail, or from the ruins of Nero's Villa.
