Marmore Falls: Europe’s tallest man-made waterfall

Umbria

Apr 28

Traces of ancient Roman ingenuity can be found all over Italy. Roads, bridges, aqueducts, amphitheaters, you name it. However, a completely different Roman invention can be found in southern Umbria. I'm talking about a man-made waterfall: the Cascata delle Marmore, or Marmore Falls. At the time, not everyone was too happy about this, but today it is one of the most popular attractions in Umbria.

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History

In ancient times, the Rieto Valley (Lazio) was a wetland fed by the Velino River. It was believed that the wetland was the cause of malaria outbreaks. In 271 BC, the Roman consul Manius Curius Dentatus came up with a plan. He ordered the construction of a canal to divert the stagnant waters into the natural cliff at Marmore. From there, the water fell into the Nera River below. Problem solved, you might think. But it had created a whole new problem. The abundance of water in the Nera River began to threaten the city of Terni through which the river flows. However, this situation remained unchanged for centuries.

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During the late Middle Ages, the wetland began to reappear. Therefore, Pope Gregory XII and Pope Paul III ordered the construction of additional channels. And as you might have guessed, this regularly led to the flooding of the Nera. It took until 1787 to solve this problem when Pope Pius VI ordered the modification of the leaps below the falls. After the work was completed, the problem was finally solved!

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the water flow has been used extensively to generate electricity. So, in hindsight, the Roman consul's plan seems pretty ingenious after all!

The Marmore Falls today

With a total height of 165 meters, the Cascata delle Marmore is the highest man-made waterfall in Europe. It is even the second-highest in the world! Watching the water plunge over green cliffs into the valley below is truly a spectacular sight. The waterfall is surrounded by trees and greenery with several hiking trails. It makes the Marmore Falls one of the most popular attractions in Umbria.

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Before you go

Most of the time the water in the canals above the falls is diverted to a hydroelectric power plant. This means the flow in the falls themselves is heavily reduced.

The waterfall is 'turned on' about twice a day. Once the gates are open, the peaceful stream of water turns into a speeding flow of 15 cubic meters per second!

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In no time, you will see an immense wave of water crashing down via three stone drops. While roaring down, the water creates a fine mist that rises above the trees. If you ask me, this is the best time to visit the Marmore Falls.

The moments when the waterfall is turned on differ per day and month. Therefore I recommend you plan your visit. You can check the current schedule on Cascata delle Marmore's website (link).

Fine mist of the Marmore Falls rises above the trees

How to reach?

You can visit the Marmore Falls at the bottom of the falls (Belvedere Inferiore) or from the top (Belvedere Superiore). Both starting points can be reached by car and bus. The Belvedere Superiore can also be reached by train.

By car: navigate to this parking lot (Google Maps) if you plan to start at the bottom of the falls. Here you’ll find a parking lot almost next to the entrance. To start at the top, navigate to this parking lot (Google Maps).
By train: the Marmore train station is only a few hundred meters from Belvedere Superiore. You can also take a train to the main station in Terni and take a bus from there.
By bus: from Terni station, you can reach the Belvedere Inferiore in about 30 minutes by taking bus E621 or TR7. Take bus E624 to reach Belvedere Superiore.

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The different hikes

Six walking routes run through the park. You will find several observation decks along the routes. Below I will give you a brief description of each course. Which route(s) you take depends on how much time you have and your condition.

Which route are you planning to take? I walked routes 1 to 4 and liked the Sentiero N1. the most.

Sentiero N.1

This path runs from the Education Center at the bottom all the way up (or vice versa). You need to be moderately fit for this hike. Halfway through, you will come to a fork. To the left is the Balcone degli Innmorati, or Lover's Balcony. This balcony offers a unique view from behind the waterfall. Unfortunately, it is only possible to enter this balcony if you participate in a tour.

So, at the fork, follow the path to the right. After a while, you will reach the observation deck with one of the best views: La Specola di Pio VI. From here, you can see the upper part of the waterfall.

View from the La Specola di Pio VI observation deck

Sentiero N.2

Together with the third path, Sentiero N.2 is suitable for children. The route starts from the Education Center. You will find one of the many caves in the park along the path. A little further on, you can admire the waterfall from the side.

Smaller part of the waterfall along Sentiero N.2

Sentiero N.3

This path is suitable for children and, as the previous routes, it starts at the Education Center. It is the shortest walk and offers a view over the last two drops of the waterfall.

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Sentiero N.4

This is probably the most popular path. From the Belvedere Inferiore entrance you walk to two observation decks: the Belvedere Pennarossa Basso and the Belvedere Pennarossa Alto. You have an incredible view of all three jumps of the waterfall from both platforms.

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Sentiero N.5

This path starts from the Belvedere Superiore entrance. Along this route, you will find some of the most beautiful caves in the park. You will also have a view over the second and third drops of the waterfall.

Sentiero N.6

If you're up for a challenge, take Sentiero N.6. Like Sentiero N.1, this path runs from bottom to top. However, this pass is longer and has many steep sections.

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Parco Fluviale del Nera

The Marmore Falls are part of an even larger park: the Parco Fluviale del Nera, or Nera River Park. The park stretches along 20 kilometers of the Nera and is characterized by picturesque landscapes, small medieval fortifications and castles. Read my post about the Parco Fluviale del Nera to find out more.

Practical information

Address:	Via Molino di Cocchi, Collestatte Piano (Google Maps)
Open:	Differs per month, check the website for the latest info (link)
Entree fees:	Entrance to the Marmore Falls is €10,-