Present Status
General information
The area of the case study is affected by the presence of four small towns around the of Lake Bracciano (Manziana, Bracciano, Trevignano Romano, Anguillara Sabazia) . Although it is very close to Rome, the countryside and the areas around the small towns are not seriously threatened by urban and tourist aggression, except for the increased presence of scattered houses. Obviously there are “lobbies” that are pushing to increase buildings around the towns, but the area, as a whole, still has a non-intensive agricultural vocation. In contrast, the suburbs of NW Rome instead, suffer from an urban expansion, not always well planned.
The countryside is pretty well preserved and since 1999 a large part is included in the Regional Natural Park of Bracciano-Martignano: This Park has been established with the aim of a better environmental protection of the territory.
Hydria Virtual Museum
The new aqueduct, realized by ACEA in the 1980s that takes water from the Bracciano Lake, oriented farming practices towards non-intensive modus operandi. In the area there is a herd of pigs, and cattle and horses breeding is usually carried out outside and even in the wild. Moreover organic agriculture practices are normally adopted in all the catchment area of the Lake.
Hydria Virtual Museum
Hydria Virtual Museum
The presence of small hotels, inns and farm holidays affects the type of tourism that has not a massive character, indeed. In addition, the proximity of Rome promotes the “weekend tourism”, during the week even the popular tourist places are not very crowded.
Thanks to favorable weather conditions in the sabatinus basin, there are numerous sailing clubs around the lake. Courses in sailing and local, national and international regattas are practiced all over the year. The sport of sailing on the Lake was born in the 1930s. It has evolved in the 1960s and had huge expansion in the 1980s after the ban of boat motors on the Lake. A diving center is very active with hits courses and social activities.
The three small coastal towns (Bracciano, Trevignano, Anguillara) offer monumental complexes to visitors and very particular views along the alleys of the ancient villages.
Visitor attractions
The monumental Odescalchi Castle (13th century), in Bracciano, is one of the most beautiful feudal mansions in Europe, a fine fusion of military architecture and elegant mansion for Popes and aristocracy. It offers an interesting overview of history through the centuries in which famous people have attended from 1500 to the present day, and where intriguing bloody events have occurred. Today the castle is a museum as well as a location for parties, and weddings.
Moreover, between Bracciano and Anguillara, in locality Vigna di Valle, there is the Museo Storico Aeronautica Militare – Italian Air Force Museum (one of the most interesting in Europe). The exposition follows the history of the Aviation in Italy, from the sketches of Leonardo da Vinci, passing through the monoplanes used in the I and II World Wars, until the present time. Particular sections are devoted to airships (and in particular to Gen. U. Nobile who flew over the North Pole with the “Norge”), to the history of the flight gear, to the period of Balbo Cruises, when Italian seaplanes crossed the Atlantic Ocean to reach the USA or South America or flew to the Far East; to the Schneider Cup competition, with the MC.72 the hydro-racer that in 1934 reached the absolute speed record at 709.202 km/h (still unbeaten for this category).
The Estate of San Liberato, between Bracciano and Trevignano, lies among woodland and hills gently sloping towards the Lake; it was the city of Forum Clodii and today is deemed as an area of outstanding natural beauty. Its name refers to the Romanesque church founded by the Augustinian Monks. Around this settlement (the ancient Church of San Liberato, the Villa and rural buildings) a Botanic Garden, overlooking Lake Bracciano, contains species from all over the world. In the 1960s a restoration work on the settlement begun thanks to the owners but the last “magic touch” was given by the great English landscape architect Russell Page which recovered the natural surroundings giving the garden greater prominence in respect to the buildings.
The small Etrusco-Roman Museum of Trevignano holds the grave goods of two tombs from the Olivetello necropolis discovered in 1960s. It includes ceramic objects as well as artifacts in gold, silver, iron and bronze. A tomb dated back to the 8thcentury BC is a rare relic of the museum – a piece of earth which contains the grave goods and armors of an ancient warrior. In the Museum there are also preserved artifacts from the VII century BC: two large oriental-style amphora portraying a nuptial procession with two-horse carriage, a panther and some lotus flowers, a large embossed, a bronze ceremonial fan composed by concentric trapezoids.
One of the oldest Neolithic villages in Western Europe was discovered in 1989 under Bracciano Lake water, in locality La Marmotta – Anguillara Sabazia. It is around 360 m from the edge and 8 m below the bottom of the lake. A large number of ceramic objects were collected, such as bowls, plates and various vases, as well as a small soapstone statue of a “Mother Goddess”. In 2005, a 9.5 m pirogue, carved from a single trunk, was brought to light. Thanks to an agreement between the town of Anguillara Sabazia and the Prehistory Superintendency, the pirogue is kept in a 12 m showcase, containing substances suitable for its conservation, at the Neolithic Exhibition Centre of Anguillara Sabazia.
The Museum of Farming Civilisation and Popular Culture of Anguillara, founded in 1992, is located in the Orsini Tower. Its collection includes objects used until the beginning of 20th century AD, and shows through the reconstruction of workshops and scenes of daily domestic life. There are represented the shop of the smith, the mattress, the shoemaker and the carpenter, and have been reconstructed the kitchens and the storehouses.
The Orsini Baronial Palace of Anguillara was built in the early 16th century. The palace holds an interesting cycle of frescoes which date between 1535 and 1549. The restoration work of the Loggia building was recently completed, unearthing important decorations and frescoes, which include an interesting portrait of Gentil Virginio Orsini. Today is the headquarters of the Municipality of Anguillara.
The Church of S. Francesco of Anguillara has a nave and a square chancel with a cross vault, typical setting of the Franciscan churches of the 18th century. A series of frescoes adorning the walls and the chancel can be appreciated. The church was included in a Franciscan monastery demolished in the 1950s to make way to a wing of the nearby school, that was never built. The settlement was built around a courtyard with a central well and a portico with arches and brick pillars. The vaults of the cloister were originally painted with various scenes from the life of St. Francis of Assisi, now completely disappeared. At present the church is preserved and some structures of the old monastery can still be valued.
Useful Contacts
Comune di Bracciano – Piazza IV Novembre 6 – 00062 Bracciano (RM) – Italy
Informazioni turistiche
Tel. and fax: +039 06 99816262
E-mail: turismo@comune.bracciano.rm.it
Web: www.comune.bracciano.rm.it
Pro Loco Bracciano – Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini, 7 – 00062 Bracciano (RM) Italy o Canale?
Tel: +39 06 99806018
Castello Odescalchi di Bracciano – Piazza Mazzini, 14 – 00062 Bracciano (RM) Italy
Tel: +39 06 99802379 – Museo: +39 06 99804348
Fax: +39 06 99802380
E-mail: castello@odescalchi.it
Web: www.odescalchi.com
Museo Storico A.M. Aeroporto Vigna di Valle – 00062 Bracciano (RM) Italy
Tel: +39 06 99887508/9
Fax: +39 06 99887445
E-mail: musam@aeronautica.difesa.it
Web: www.aeronautica.difesa.it/museovdv
Comune di Anguillara Sabazia – Piazza del Comune,1 – 00061 Anguillara S. (RM) Italy
Informazioni turistiche
Tel: +39 06 99600050
Fax: +30 06 99607086
E-mail: a.pulcini@comune.anguillara-sabazia.roma.it
Web: www.comune.anguillara-sabazia.roma.it
Pro Loco Anguillara S. – Via Roma, 12 – 00061 Anguillara S. (RM) Italy
Tel: +39 3395755213 / +39 3454588059
E-mail: presidente@prolocoanguillarasabazia.org
Web: www.prolocoanguillarasabazia.org
Comune di Trevignano Romano – Piazza Vittorio Emanuele III, 8 – 00069 Trevignano Romano (RM) Italy
Tel: +39 06 9991201
Fax: +39 06 9999848
Ε-mail: infoturismo@trevignanoromano.it
Web: www.trevignanoromano.it
Pro loco Trevignano Romano – P.zza Vittorio Emanuele III ,1 – 00069 Trevignano Romano (RM) Italy
Tel: +39 06 9999846 / +39 338 4740771 / +39 328 9648173
E-mail: prolocotrevignanorm@tiscali.it
Web: www.prolocotrevignanoromano.it
Comune di Manziana – Largo Fara Gioacchino, 1 – 00066 Manziana (RM) Italy
Tel: +39 06 99675001 / +39 06-9962980/ +39 06 99675020 / +39 06 9963672
Fax: +39 06 99674021
Web: www.comune.manziana.rm.it
Pro Loca Manziana – Piazza Firenze, 00066 Manziana (RM) Italy
Tel: +39 06 9962191
E-mail: info@prolocomanziana.it
Web: www.prolocomanziana.com
Association “Antico presente” for responsible tourism in Etruria and Sabatinus basin
Sede Legale: Vicolo del Pavone, 5 – 01010 Blera – Viterbo
Sede Operativa:Via Lungolago di Polline, 75 – 00061 Anguillara Sabazia – Roma
Tel: +39 346 7584919
E-mail: info@anticopresente.it
Web: www.anticopresente.it