Stage 12: Trevi nel Lazio - Collepardo

A mule track in the woods leads from Trevi nel Lazio to the Arco di Trevi, an imposing stone arch which, in Roman Times, served as a customs house at the border between the Roman territory and that of the Aequi, an ancient Italic population. Following a path among large meadows and grazing animals, we reach Guarcino, the "town of waters", rich in sources of excellent mineral waters, which are bottled for selling. The village is also renowned for its delicious almond amaretti cookies. Past the town of Vico nel Lazio, nicknamed "the little Carcassonne of Ciociaria" because of its imposing walls, we arrive in Collepardo, the "village of herbs", which boasts a centuries-old herbal tradition dating back to the Carthusians. In the vicinity, we can explore areas of great geological interest, such as the Pozzo d’Antullo, a 300 m wide and over 70 m deep karst sinkhole, and the Grotte dei Bambocci (Caves of the Puppets), so called because of the child-shaped stalactites, resembling surreal underground creatures.