Waterfall Chasing in Italy: Cascades and Torrents Abound

4/14/2015

The Great Waterfall of Villa Gregoriana

Villa Gregoriana is a park located in Tivoli, Italy. The park, located at the feet of the city's ancient acropolis was commissioned by Pope Gregory XVI in 1835 to rebuild the bed of the Aniene River, which had been damaged by the flood of 1826.

Since ancient times, the river formed a wide curve around the acropolis, after which it fell from a limestone's spur into the plain below. The river formed originally four falls, now reduced to two. The site had a strategic importance since it commanded a Roman path from Abruzzo which later became the Via Valeria.

It had fallen into ruins by the end of the 20th century, but was reopened to the public in 2005 thanks to a major landscape recovery project.

Villa Gregoriana consists mainly of thick woodlands with paths that lead to the caves of Neptune and the Sirens, which form part of a series of gorges and cascades, and to the Great Waterfall.

Villa Gregoriana stepped falls

Aerial view of Villa Gregoriana falls

Villa d'Este Cascades and Fountains

The Italians were so enamored by waterfalls that they imitated them. The Villa d'Este is a great example. The Villa d'Este was commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este, son of Alfonso I d'Este and Lucrezia Borgia and grandson of Pope Alexander VI. He had been appointed Governor of Tivoli by Pope Julius III, with the gift of the existing palace,which he had entirely reconstructed to plans of Pirro Ligorio carried out under the direction of the Ferrarese architect-engineer Alberto Galvani, court architect of the Este. The chief painter of the ambitious internal decoration was Livio Agresti from Forlì. From 1550 until his death in 1572, when the villa was nearing completion, Cardinal d'Este created a palatial setting surrounded by a spectacular terraced garden in the late-Renaissance mannerist style, which took advantage of the dramatic slope but required innovations in bringing a sufficient water supply, which was employed in cascades, water tanks, troughs and pools, water jets and fountains, giochi d'acqua (water games). The result is one of the series of great 17th century villas with water-play structures in the hills surrounding the Roman Campagna, such as the Villa Lante, the Villa Farnese at Caprarola and the Villas Aldobrandini and Torlonia in Frascati. Their garden planning and their water features were imitated in the next two centuries from Portugal to Poland.

Cascata del Sasso

Cascata del Sasso is located in the Marche region in the province of Pesaro-Urbino . With a length of two hundred feet, Cascata del Sasso, a few steps from Sant'Angelo in Vado, is a wonderful find. From a height of 45 feet, the waters of Metauro are thrown down the stepped limestone, giving rise to a cascade considered among the ten largest in Italy. On the left bank, an old mill--no longer in operation--helps to enhance the charm of the landscape. The lake is surrounded by lush vegetation of willows and poplars. It is also possible to find rare species of birds, such as the kingfisher.

Cascate del Serio
The Serio Waterfalls are located in the town of Valbondione , in the upper valley Seriana , in the Province of Bergamo . It consists of three stepped falls: one at 545' high and two at 250' each, for a total height of over 1000 feet. It ranks it among the highest waterfalls in both Italy and Europe. When the dam opened, the man made reservoir that filled up behind it called Lago di Barbellino was partially drained only four or five days a year, thus determining when the stunning Cascate del Serio would flow.
Tourists can see Italy’s tallest waterfall in all its glory between June and October, on a specific day of each month for a period of only thirty minutes so be sure to book you place to watch it well in advance!
A fascinating legend associated with Cascate del Serio tells the story of a woman who fell in love with a Shepard who was betrothed to another. In her jealousy, the woman captured his fiancé and imprisoned her in a castle situated above the waterfall. The fiancé was so broken hearted at this tragic turn of events that her tears became what is now Cascate del Serio!

Waterfalls of Calabria: The Pollino National Park

The Pollino National Park (Parco Nazionale del Pollino) is the largest national park in all of Italy covering almost 6000 square miles. The park is spread between Basilicata and Calabria regions in southern Italy. It takes its name from the Pollino Massif (highest peak 2,267 m) which is snow capped for most of the year. This region has the most intact natural resources in all of Italy with many unspoiled rivers and forests.

There are many waterfalls and narrow gorges in this region. Follow the rivers and you will find them. (A park guide book will help).

Cascata Galasia

Monte di Castro Cascade

Cascata Maesano

Cascata Maramico

Stroppia Cascata
In the Italian Alps there is the little known, Stroppia Cascata--perhaps the highest waterfall in Italy. An impressive jump of over 1600 feet, from the valley called Vallonasso, until the central valley Maira. The falls are visible beyond the town of Chiappera (Val Maira), in the province of Cuneo, reached just after the village of Saretto, both hamlets of Acceglio . Hiking up a trail from Icardi you can pass near the falls, and admire them in all their beauty. They are also visible on on excursions or climbing the nearby Rocca Provencal .

Stroppia Cascata

Novalesa

In the town of Novalesa in Piemonte are located many high waterfalls, at least six of which are always visible, even in the driest times of the year. Once you get to Novalesa you will find the falls a few hundred meters from the town. This area is ideal for mountain biking, picnicking, climbing and hiking in the surrounding areas. In summer the waterfall looks is cooling and refreshing enough to take a shower under it, but many find the water very cold, so bring towels.

In the colder winters the cascades of water turn solid and freeze, offering a fantastic opportunity for ice climbers and photographers.

Cascata delle Marmore

The Cascata delle Marmoreis a man-made waterfall created by the ancient Romans. Its total height is 541 feet, making it one of the tallest in Italy and the tallest man-made waterfall in Europe. Of its 3 sections, the top one is the tallest, at 272 feet. It is located 5 miles from Terni, a provincial capital of the Italian region of Umbria.

Most of the time, the water in the canals above the falls is diverted to a hydroelectric power plant, so the flow in the falls themselves is reduced to the level of a creek. Piediluco Lake, above the falls, is used as a reservoir for the power plant. To control the operation of the power plant, and to satisfy tourists, the fall is turned on according to a set schedule, achieving a spectacular effect at full flow. An alarm is sounded first, then the gates are opened, and in a few minutes the small creek is transformed into a full-sized river rushing into the void below. Normally, the fall is turned on between noon and 1:00 PM and again between 4:00 and 5:00 PM every day, with additional times on holidays. An entrance fee is charged to visit the falls and the surrounding area.

A path along the falls allows the visitor to hike up to the top of the falls. Along the way, a tunnel leads to an observatory just next to the falls, where a visitor is guaranteed to get soaked. A safer observatory near the top affords a grandiose view of the falls and of the Nera valley below.

Cascate Fraggia
Cascate Fraggia are located in the municipality of Piuro and are formed from the stream that comes from altitude of 10,000 feet from Pizzo Lake. The creek about a 3000 feet downstream form the Lago Fraggia. From there originate a sequence of drops of water, of which the lower falls drops 500 feet into a double cascade. The river continues downstream, frequently interrupted by jumps, rapids and pools.

Fraggia Cascate

Cascate di Isola del Liri

First off, "Isola" del Liri is not an island per se, but the centro storico (historic center) is situated on a sort of island which has the River Liri running around all sides of it. It is a town 40 miles miles south-east of Rome. It is the only Italian town with two waterfalls right in the town center. The Cascata Grande has a drop of 90 feet. Cascata del Valcatoio is slightly shorter.

Cascata Grande

Cascata Valcatoio

Pianazzo Cascata del Catino

Near the border of Switzerland, these two waterfalls are fed by the waters of the Scalcoggia. Cascata del Cantino with a 330 feet drop and Pianazzo at 590 feet. Cantino is the more interesting because of its stone bridge at the bottom of the cascade, leading to a smaller cascade leading into a basic below. Both are reached easily by short walks.

The walk heads off from Madesimo to Pianazzo along the old road which in the past was used by vehicles, but after the opening of a new tunnel (1974) became a thoroughfare reserved exclusively for pedestrians. It’s a gentle walk, suitable even for walkers with wheel chairs. It is illuminated at night. Pianazzo is the highest waterfall in the Valchiavenna area set in a wonderful alpine village.

Cascata Pianazzo

Cascata del Cantino

Santa Maria di Leuca Cascata (Man made)
Santa Maria di Leuca sits on the southernmost tip of the heel of Italy, at the at the point of the Salento peninsula where the waters of the Adriatic Sea mingle and merge with those of the Ionian Sea. It is also home to its impressive lighthouse (one of the most important in Italy), built in 1864 on the site of a 16th century watchtower. Its octagonal form rises 110 feet above the rocky prominence 1000 feet above sea level and contains a winding staircase of 254 steps.

Leuca is also home to a monumental man-made waterfall with a 400 foot drop to the sea. It was built to signal the end of the Puglia aqueduct (the longest aqueduct in Europe). Started in mid-19th century, the aqueduct took nearly a century to complete and arrived in Leuca, its final destination, in 1941. The mouth of the aqueduct is built into a bridge and fountains at the top of the Japigo promontory while a waterway of rocks falls below, flanked on either side by 300 steps. Standing proudly to attention at the bottom is a Roman column, moved from Rome on Mussolini’s orders. The cascade is turned on a few times each week during summer and draws mainly local crowds. At night there is illumination and often concerts. Check the local town web site for schedules.

The Cascade under the Roman Column

The cascade as it falls from the top of the promontory and into the sea, Roman column on the left, Lighthouse on right.

Niagra Rio Verde
The Niagara Rio Verde is located in the town of Borrello in the province of Chieti, in the Nature Reserve Niagara Verde. Rio Verde is one of the highest natural waterfalls of the Apennines, formed by a triple jump which together measure 700 feet. The falls are fed by the Rio Verde, with variable water flow during the year, which flows into the river Sangro. The rocks they fall over have a stepped appearance which adds to their effect. The area of the falls also has interesting microclimate with interesting mosses, lichen, ferns and fauna.

Waterfalls of Villacidro, Sardinia
If you are both an avid waterfall hunter and hiker, then a trip to Sardinia, the largest of the Italian island regions, would be worth exploring. The town of Villacidro boasts some of the most striking waterfalls in the whole of Sardinia, situated in its stunning, unspoiled geological setting. Half a mile from the town, groups of tourists come to the Sa Spendula locality to wonder at the striking waterfall. Spendula in Sardinian means waterfall, and indeed for Sardinians Sa Spendula is the best waterfall. At its best in the rainy season, even in summer it's well worth a visit--it is one of the few year-round waterfalls in Sardinia. An added benefit is the beautiful night lighting system.

Further on into the mountains, the protected area of Monti Mannu has two more waterfalls: Piscina Irgas and Muru Mannu. They can be reached by following paths signposted through the forest. Path 113 leads to a panoramic plateau offering a stunning view of the waterfall as it dashes into a deep pool with drop of about 150 feet.It's waters have carved huge pools in the rock. Path 109 (in several places it crosses streams, is best avoided on rainy days) leads to the most imposing of Sardinia’s waterfalls - Muru Mannu, about 225 feet high. At its foot, the water collects in a pond surrounded by oaks and holly, completing the beauty of the place. In the area there are wonderful pinnacles and rock formations to delight casual hikers and geologists alike.

Sa Spendula

Piscina Irgas

Muru Mannu

Lequarci Cascate
Towering over Ulassai in Ogliastra is the imposing Tacchi escarpment, covered by luxuriant vegetation where numerous springs appear at the surface. During periods of heavy rain they give rise to extremely beautiful falls. Two miles from the town of Santa Barbara, where the small church of the same name stands, those spectacular falls of Lequarci, with a drop of almost 1000 feet and a width of 250 feet. During the hottest and driest summer months does the flow of water of these imposing cascades decrease greatly. The waterfall pours into the valley below among many small ponds that dot an amazing landscape. This massive waterfall is easily seen from the roadside.
A little above the fall of Lecorci, at the base of the Tacchi, is the Cave of "Su Murmuri", among the largest and most spectacular in Europe.

A bonus for visiting this waterfall is the nearby Grotta su Marmuri, one of Europe's most impressive caverns. The cave system is several miles long with chambers up to 100 feet tall. There are underground ponds as well as enormous stalagmites and curtains of limestone.

Lequarci in the winter, rainy season

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Waterfall Chasing in Italy: Cascades and Torrents Abound

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