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Town: CASTEL GANDOLFO, ALBANO LAZIALE
It is a well-known resort, exerting a certain fascination thanks to the paths
round it and for the panorama that can be viewed from Castel
Gandolfo. It is the perfect spot to stay and have a rest walking
in the shadowy woods and along its shores. This area belongs
to the Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani and the southern-east
zone of the lake is a natural reserve of 490 hectares.
Area's Natural Characteristics
The lake's history is strictly linked with the geological
events determined by the presence of the Laziale volcano. Its
activity began more than 600.000 years ago, causing several
geological transformations, the latest phase of which formed
the crater. The crater filled up with water coming from the
water-bearing strata creating the lake. The woods began to cover
its versants. Probably in the 4th century B.C. the Latin populations
created grounds destined to pasture and to cultivation, by diminishing
the water level through the realization of an outlet. The level
of lake's water decreased drastically of about 80 metres,
enabling the surrounding vegetation to colonize the lake shores,
forming the typical riparian woods. The lake's water is
very deep, reaching in its southern part a depth of 171 metres;
if finds at 293 metres above the sea level, 25 metres deeper
than that of Nemi. Without tributaries, the water flowing in
it, comes from its surroundings and from the rainfalls. Its
northern site it is characterized by a lot of ilexes; on the
southern side there are, in addition to this kind of trees,
English oaks, maples, and flowering ashes. Near the surface
of the lake grow black poplars and several black alders. Where
the water is not very deep, there is the reed and the scirpus.
Underwater there are clusters of myriophyllum with its leaves
like thin filaments. The lake's natural characteristics
enable the presence of fishes and nesting avifauna, particularly
those birds that spend here the wintertime. Among fish's
species there are the perch, the tench, the rovella, the rudd.
There are also the eels, long snake-like fishes. The groups
of ducks are also very interesting: mallards, pochards, teals,
and tufted ducks, and other species of water-birds spending
here the wintertime. During the winter it is possible to watch
cormorants, coots with their characteristic white spot on the
forehead, and grebes with their red and black tufts on the ear,
that reproduce in this place. Along the slopes where the trees
are less thick it is possible to watch other types of Mediterranean
birds, such as: sparrows, and white-throats. Among the daily
birds of prey there are kestrels and hawks.
Place
At the kilometre 21,400 along the via Appia (S.S. 7), turn to
to the left toward the Lake Albano, after 2,2 kilometres, cross
the tunnel, you will reach directly the lake. It is possible
to reach the lake also from the centre of Castel Gandolfo, trough
a street which cross the railway line Rome-Albano. Near the
lake's outlet starts a path flanking the water in its
southern part. This five-kilometre-long path is not very difficult
to walk and it will take you at least two hours. The road around
the lake's shore is nine-kilometre-long, considering also
the asphalted part.
Roads and Public Transports
By Car: From Rome cross the Via Appia Nuova (S.S.7) (slip-road
23 of G.R.A.) following the road signs toward Castel Gandolfo.
By train:There is a train starting each hour from Rome.
It will take you 45 minutes to reach Castel Gandolfo. For information
on train timetable call the phone number:… or visit the
web page:www…. The railway station is at fivehundert-metres
distance from the lake.
By Bus: Rome-Castel Gandolfo. (Cotral bus service phone
number 800431784, phone number 067222153) from the underground
station ‘Anagnina' of the Linea A. It will take
you about 40 minutes to reach Castel Gandolfo. To reach the
lake's shore (1 km), it is possible to take the local
bus.
Topic
Fauna, Geology, Landscape
Visits
The access to the lake is open in every season. There are bathing
structures where it is possible to rent canoes, pedal boats,
sailing boats or mountain bikes. For information phone to the
Azienda Autonoma Soggiorno e Turismo in Albano Laziale, phone
number 069324081/2, fax 069320040, or the Parco Regionale dei
Castelli Romani presso la sede di Villa Barattolo, Via C. Battisti
n.5, 00040 Rocca di Papa (Roma), phone number 069495253/5 -
fax 069495254
Tourist signs
There is an explanatory board at the beginning of the path,
but not along it. Near the lake's outlet there is an area
with picnic facilities (tables, benches, seesaws and swings).
There are also explanatory boards.
Further Information
Web sites: www.parks.it/parco.castelli.romani/index.html,
www.hurricane.it/castelliromani, www.castellionline.com.
Books: AA.VV., 1996. Quattordici sentieri tra natura
e archeologia dei Castelli Romani e Prenestini. Editore
XI Townstà Montana del Lazio Castelli Romani e Prenestini,
via della Pineta 69, Rocca Priora (RM); Bassani P., Lotti L.,
1992. Alberi e arbusti del Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani.
Edizioni del Parco, Rocca di Papa (RM); AA.VV., 1993. 14
Routes – Lazio. Guide geologiche regionali, vol. 5.
Società Geologica Italiana, Roma.
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