- What it is: some 240 hectares of parkland, part of the Appian Way Regional Park, with the arches of the Aqua Claudia (1st century AD) and the Acqua Felice (late 16th century).
- Getting there: about 20 minutes on foot from the apartment, or one Metro A stop to Giulio Agricola and a short walk.
- When: at sunset, when the arches turn golden. In summer avoid the middle of the day: there is very little shade.
- Entry: free, it is a public park.
The aqueducts: water for Rome for almost two thousand years
The ancient Romans brought water into the city from the hills to the south-east along long aqueducts, partly underground and partly on arches. In the park you mostly see the great arcades of the Aqua Claudia, begun by Caligula and completed by Claudius in the 1st century AD, more than twenty metres high in places.
Alongside runs the Acqua Felice, the aqueduct commissioned by Pope Sixtus V at the end of the 16th century, which still feeds fountains in the centre today. Along the way you also pass the remains of Roman villas and the small Marrana stream, where sheep often graze.
An open-air film set
It is no coincidence that Cinecittà is nearby: the park is one of the most famous locations in Italian cinema. Fellini’s La Dolce Vita opens right here, with a helicopter carrying a statue of Christ along the arches, and Paolo Sorrentino chose it for scenes in The Great Beauty. Before that, Pasolini filmed Mamma Roma here.
Getting there from Labieno 39
- On foot: about 20 minutes through the neighbourhood. This is the best option if you want to enter from Via Lemonia, the side closest to the main arches.
- By metro: from Subaugusta, one Metro A stop towards Battistini to Giulio Agricola, then about 10 minutes on foot to the entrance.
- Finding your way: search Google Maps for “Parco degli Acquedotti” and choose the Via Lemonia entrance: from there you are right under the arches.
What to bring and a few tips
- Water and a hat from May to September: the park is one big open meadow.
- Comfortable shoes: the paths are dirt tracks, sometimes muddy after rain.
- A blanket for a picnic: pick up supplies near the apartment before you go.
- Sunset is the most photographed moment: the low light catches the arches and the city disappears behind you.
- The park is popular with families, runners and cyclists; as in any large park, it is best to leave before dark.
Making a day of it: the Appian Way
The park is part of the Appian Way Regional Park. With some energy (or a rental bike) you can continue towards the Via Appia Antica, its monumental tombs and the Villa dei Quintili, and come back by metro.
For more ideas, read the neighbourhood guide and the guide to Quadraro street art.
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