2. This park presents some natural hills formed by the passage of a tributary
of the Almone river. When the river flooded the Romans built a 6-metre
viaduct to pass over the river ditch.
The other hills were formed during the construction of Line A of Underground
when the City Council decided to dump the excess soil in the park.
3. The streets leading to the park
Via delle Cave: it got its name from the four tunnels under
the street from which tufo and pozzolana - the local stones
- were extracted.
Via Latina: it was known since the Paleolitic as the street
leading to the south of Italy. It was rebuilt by the Romans
and got this name because it linked Lazio Vetus (all the
populations of Ancient Latium). The Romans conquered
these people who became Cives Romani.
4. The streets leading to the park
Via dei Cessati Spiriti: it was used to go to the south of Italy.
This street was built as an alternative to the Appian Way which
was controlled by lords who asked for passage toll. Therefore
Pilgrims built alternative streets in a low-lying rural area formed
by the river. When pilgrims traveled along this dark street at
night they where often attacked by bandits who weren’t seen,
so they were mistaken for spirits who lived along the street. In
1800 guards were set to control the street and a shrine to the
Madonna was built. In this way the spirits were warded off. For
this reason the street is called Via dei CESSATI SPIRITI.
5. FAUNA
Paradise tree: Ailantus Altissima or Ailanto. It’s a
hardwood tree imported from China to substitute the
gypsum used to feed silkworms but in Italy it never
happened.
Black Poplar: from Latin
Populus Nigra. It likes
humidity and is a proof of the
river presence in the past.
Piazza del Popolo in Rome
takes its name from this tree.
6. Cherry tree: from Latin Prunus
Cerasiferas (carries the
cherries) it has got a smooth
trunk and big smooth leaves.
The blossom is sacred and it is
considered perfection in
Japan.
Robinia Pseudo Acacia: takes
its name from the botanist John
Robeon who discovered it . It
has a large trunk with boughs
and it is from north America and
Canada.
7. Cypress:is the cemetery tree for two
reasons: The roots are in contact
with the ground. It’s tall and has a
pyramidal structure which seems to
put in contact earth and sky.
Maple tree: from Latin
Acer Mitundo, it’s on the
Canadian flag.
Lime tree: it has a heart-shaped leaf and
it’s famous because honey
can be produced from its blossom.
8. Hemlock: it’s similar to
fennel, it’s a weed which, if
eaten, frees irreversible
enzymes which bring
cerebral death.
Holm oak: it is an
evergreen from Latin
Quercus Ilex. Other
evergreens are Cork and
Umbrella Pine tree.
Jude’s tree: from Latin Cercis
Siliquastro, it takes its name from
Jude who hung himself on this tree
after betraying Jesus. The tree
became red from his blood therefore
the fruits are red.
9. River Almone: it’s the river flowing from the Alban Hills. It’s the third river
in Rome after the Aniene and the Tiber. It’s 20 km long and was sacred
for the Romans. Near the river there is the Constantinian columbarium
(tomb) .
Sacred wood: according to the legend Numa Pompilio wrote the
Roman laws under the inspiration of the nymph Egeria with whom he
had an affair. This area became sacred for the Romans who planted
many sacred oaks. This legend is narrated by Ovid. After World War II
only a Holm oak remained. Now this area retains the genetic heritage
of the last oak because the of this plant have been planted again.
10. The fountain of Egeria:is part of the heritage of Erode Atico . The legend says
that the Athenian Erode Attico senior was so poor and desperate that he hit his
head against a wall and he realized the wall was hollow and he found a treasure.
For this reason he wrote to Nerva who told him to use and abuse the treasure. In
realty Erode was a bandit who had hidden the money and his son inherited it
and on he built a fountain. It was an artificial cave with a statue in the center from
which the water of the God Almone sprouted, also providing the water for the
octagonal pool. It was a lacus salutaris. When the Torlonia family obtained the
land they built an irrigation canal from the fountain.
11. Tufo: is a lava stone produced by the volcano of the Alban Hills.
In this volcano the lava was very dense and in order to exit it
produced an explosion of gas and ash which hit all Rome with
its pyroclastic flow that spread and destroyed every form of
life. 10.000 years passed and the volcano woke up again
causing another explosion: layers and layers of galate created
tufo (compact) and pozzolana (friable).The tufo is an insulating
substance.
