Mazzano Romano: Borgo, Archaeology and the Treja

Mazzano Romano is defined by its medieval Borgo, built on a steep hill rising above the Treja Valley. When planning your stay, you can weigh up three distinct areas of interest: the town’s architectural history, the archaeology around Narce, and the trails along the Treja. These topics belong to different historical periods. The Borgo tells the story of medieval settlement, the MAVNA focuses on an ancient city and the culture of the Faliscans, while some hiking routes lead to historical remains or into the area of the waterfalls.

The Borgo and its architectural history

The medieval Borgo includes the 15th-century Palazzo baronale di Everso e Dolce degli Anguillara. Remains of the church of San Nicola can be seen in Piazza dell’Antisà. The church was built in the 16th century to a design by Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola and demolished in 1940 due to the risk of collapse. A different feature is the small church of San Sebastiano in Piazza Umberto I, which has 16th-century frescoes. At San Nicola, the design and demolition are part of the building’s history; at San Sebastiano, the frescoes are the notable historical detail.

Archaeology and Monte Gelato

The Museo Archeologico Virtuale di Narce (MAVNA), at Piazza Giovanni XXIII 12, is dedicated to the ancient city of Narce, Faliscans archaeology, and the Treja Valley area. This provides a distinct archaeological focus alongside the town’s medieval history. At Monte Gelato, further layers of history come together: the complex in the municipality of Mazzano Romano includes a medieval tower, an old watermill, and waterfalls on the Treja. The archaeological site also preserves remains of a Roman villa dating from the 1st century BC.

The restored Mola di Monte Gelato houses a permanent exhibition with models and panels. It explains the structure of the mill and the surrounding area. This means the mill can be understood not only as a historic building: the exhibition also covers its design and the area around it. Another date in Monte Gelato’s history is 9 October 1830. On that day, Marquis Urbano del Drago Biscia Gentili applied to the treasurer of the Papal States for permission to build a watermill on the Treja at Monte Gelato.

Hiking trails along the Treja

The hiking trails differ in their starting points and destinations. The trail to Santa Maria di Castelvecchio leads from Mazzano Romano along the Treja River to the remains of a medieval Borgo that its inhabitants left in the 17th century. By contrast, trail 001, “Fossi della Mola di Monte Gelato,” starts in Mazzano Vecchio and follows the Treja to the area of the Monte Gelato waterfalls. To choose between them, consider this specific question: would you prefer to focus on the trail to the remains of an abandoned Borgo or on the trail into the waterfall area?

The circular route “Il cuore del Parco: da Mazzano Romano a Calcata e ritorno” starts in the old town of Mazzano Romano at Via del Lavatoio and first descends to the Treja. Colle di Narce is also of interest to archaeology enthusiasts: its summit can be reached from the trail in the Valle del Treja, and some remains of an ancient Faliscan city are preserved there. The information about starting points and destinations helps you distinguish between the different focuses of the routes.

Getting there from Rome

Mazzano Romano is accessible from Rome by CO.TRA.L. bus services. Check the current timetable before setting off so you can plan your journey around your stay.

Discover more destinations: Lido Dei Pini, Falcognana, Vitinia, Moricone, Lido Di Castel Fusano, Pavona, Castel Madama, Marina Di Cerveteri

For the main travel overview: Rome.