Riserva Naturale Regionale Laurentino Acqua Acetosa

The Nature Reserve of Laurentino Acqua Acetosa, bounded to the north by the intensive buildings of the Laurentino – Fonte Ostiense suburb, extends between the Via Pontina and the Acqua Acetosa district. The whole area underwent the intense activity of the Lazio volcano whose lava flows have characterised this part of the Roman countryside. This area is rich in tufa stone, lava and pozzolan that have influenced not just the landscape but also the local economy. Another important element is the mineral water spring found inside the reserve and that takes its name of Acqua Acetosa for the considerable presence of carbondioxide. There are some important archaeological remains in the reserve: in 1976, along today’s Via Laurentina, an important archaeological site was discovered. This consists of a fortified settlement and a burial ground with tombs dating back to between the 8th and 7th century BC. According to some scholars, it could be the city of Tellene or Politorium, one of the three ancient cities around Rome destroyed by King Ancus Marcius (the third city, Ficana, has been identified in the area of modern day Acilia). The vegetation present in the nature reserve is very diversified even if mostly degraded by urbanisation. Along the water courses there are poplars and willow trees, while around the ditches there are reeds which are an excellent environment for the many aquatic birds and certain reptiles such as the water snake. In environments characterised by tufa crags there are plants typical of the Mediterranean bush, such as the holm, bay oak and manna-ash. There are also a great many officinal herbs. In thefresh water ditches that run through the reserve, such as the Fosso del Ciuccio, there are river crabs, frogs, toads and newts. Besides the water snake, the other reptiles found are the grass snake, lizard and gecko. The nocturnal creatures found are the fox, owl and dwarf bat, while the birds of prey that often nest in the many farmhouses in the reserve are the kestrel, owl and peregrine falcon. Finally, there are many species of birds, including theheron, moor-hen, hoopoe and nightingale.