Sabine Mts. MONTE GENNARO. Envir.ofRome. 373
turino stops. A little farther on, a road to the right leads to the
Casa Baldi, a favourite resort of artists (pension 5 fr., unpretend¬
ing, but tolerable; host Nino, hostess Peppina), situated on the top
of a hill commanding the town and affording a singularly beautiful
**View. To the right are visible the barren summits of the Sa¬
bine Mts., with Civitella, S. Vito, Capranica, and Rocca di Cavi;
then the narrow plain, bounded by the Alban and Sabine Mts. In
the distance lies Velletri. Nearer is Valmontone with its chateau,
situated on a mountain-top; then Rocca Massima, Segni, and Pa-
liano. Towards the S. stretches the valley of the Sacco. until lost
to view. The town with its ruined castle forms a charming fore¬
ground. The inn should if possible be reached an hour before
sunset. — Olevano is well adapted for a prolonged stay. The
environs are replete with beautiful scenery. Above the town is the
Serpentara, a fine grove of oaks, saved from destruction by the
subscriptions of artists for that purpose.
From Olevano to Subiaco , three routes, all beautiful.
The new Carriage-road, which diverges from the Tivoli road to the
right, 2 M. below Olevano, before reaching Civitella, is the shortest (12 M.)
and most convenient (on foot 4 hrs., by carr. 3 hrs.). Beyond the bridge
over the Anio almost at the end of the route, 15 min. before Subiaco is
reached, a path to the right diverges to the monasteries (p. 369).
The Second, and most beautiful, Route (5 hrs.) by Civitella, Rocca
S. Stefano, and Rocca S. Francesco, must, like the following, be traversed
on foot, or on the back of a donkey (which the landlord procures; 2-2'/2 fr.
and as much more to the attendant). From the Casa Baldi by the above
mentioned road we reach Civitella in li/4 hr., a poor village situated on
an isolated peak in a barren, mountainous district. Owing to its secure
situation it. was inhabited even in ancient times, but its former name is
unknown. The fragments of a fortification which commanded llie narrow
approach on the W. side, constructed of large masses of rock, are still
visible. From the farther end of the village a beautiful view of the
valleys and mountains towards Subiaco is enjoyed. Archaeologists should
not omit to follow the wall to the left from this gate (although a rough
walk), in order to inspect the '-remains of the very ancient wall, constructed
of rough-hewn blocks, by which this, the less precipitous side of the moun¬
tain, was guarded. The path then leads by S. Stefano and Rocca S. Francesco
into the valley of the Anio, and to Subiaco, a beautiful route the whole way.
A Third Route, 5-6 hrs., the longest, and in some respects the most
fatiguing, but also highly interesting, leads by Rojale and Affile. As the
longer half as far as Affile leads by field and forest-paths, easily mistaken,
a guide is desirable. Rojate is a small village, Affile a place of more
importance, boasting of a few relics of ancient waifs and inscriptions.
From this point to Subiaco we foflow the high road (see above).
Excursions. Two of the most beautiful spots among the Sabine Mts.,
which abound in beautiful scenery, must now be mentioned.
Monte Gennaro (4163 ft.), one of the highest peaks of the Sabina, is a
familiar object, to the eye of every one who has visited Rome. The
ascent from Tiroli occupies 5-6 hrs. , and a whole day must be devoted
to the excursion. Guides at Tivoli demand 5-6 fr., those (at S. Polo, which
the traveller may reach unaided, 2-3 fr.
We quit, Tivoli by the Porta S. Angelo, and follow the high road to
Subiaco for 2 M., when a bridle-path diverges to the left, leading along the
mountain-slopes in Vf-t hr. to the lofty (2342 ft.) village of S. Polo de' Caro-
lieri (accommodation kindly forwarded to travellers by Signor Calisto
Meucci, in the Palazzo Borghese, the tower of which commands a line view).
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