The Marmore’s Fall, formed by the Velino and the Nera, tributaries of the Tiber, is one of the most visited natural attractions in Umbria, although it is an artificial waterfall, it has very ancient origins that date back to Roman times, in 271 BC: it is in this given that the Roman consul Manio Curio Dentato, with an ingenious hydraulic intervention, had a canal built in order to drain the stagnant waters of the Velino in the Sabina (plain of Rieti), dangerous for the nearby population, towards the Nera river. The intervention was thus called and known over time as “Cavo Curiano”.
Other interventions made to counteract flooding during periods of flooding date back to 1422, by the engineer Aristotile Fioravanti and entrusted by Braccio Fortebraccio da Montone. On this occasion a new channel called “Reatino” was built. Other interventions date back to 1547 by Antonio Da Sangallo, commissioned by Pope Paul III with the construction of a third canal. In 1601 the architect Giovanni Fontana created the “Clementine” canal in honor of Pope Clement III. Finally, in 1787 the architect Andrea Vici made the last intervention which gave the Marmore Falls its current appearance.

To date, the Marmore Falls is the highest artificial waterfall in Europe.

CURIOSITY

• The name derives from the richness of calcium carbonate on the rocks which resembles white marble.
• Today the waterfall is not only an important tourist and naturalistic attraction due to the richness of flora and fauna, from algae, mosses, ferns, insects, fish, reptiles, birds and small mammals, but it is also used for hydroelectric production.

• The waterfall is not always open at full capacity (Be careful of the opening hours so as not to miss this fascinating moment!!), and this allows you to admire the beauty and richness of the vegetation that is shown when the water flows from the waterfall it’s close. Its opening is announced by an acoustic signal. The view of the water that flows forcefully and creates a wonderful rainbow on sunny days is wonderful. The Falls can be accessed from both the Upper and Lower Belvedere.
• At night the waters of the waterfall, when open, are illuminated by a LED lighting system.
• The beauty of the Marmore Falls Park is also given by being able to admire along the way the caves that the water has dug over the centuries with stalactites and stalagmites in the travertine: some can be visited and the most famous is the LOVERS’ CAVE.

A ROMANTIC LEGEND

The Gnefro, a fairy and legendary creature of Umbrian popular culture, tells the story of the nymph named Nera who is in love with the shepherd Velino. The goddess Juno, who did not accept a love between a nymph and a human being, transformed the Black nymph into a river. Velino, believing that the Black Nymph was drowning in those hitherto unknown waters, threw himself into it. However, Jupiter, softened by pure love, also transformed the shepherd Velino into a river. Since then the Nera and Velino rivers could stay together for eternity.

DID YOU KNOW THAT

• The soprano Gina Palmucci, deeply in love with her territory, being of Terni origins, chose Nera Marmora as her stage name;
• The Cascata delle Marmore was painted by several painters and narrated by important literals such as Lord Byron;
• He is present in many films such as Federico Fellini’s Interview in 1987, Dario Argento’s Stendhal Syndrome in 1996, and again in fiction such as Don Matteo;
• In 2011 it was the location for the concert with the orchestra
• “I Filarmonici di Roma” and in 2012 the concert for the “Tribute to Sergio Endrigo” by Simone Cristicchi;
• In 2017 he starred in the advertising campaign for the promotion of Tourism in Umbria together with the former Italian diver Tania Cagnotto;
• In January 2023 it was the location for the outdoor test of the MasterChef broadcast.