Anguillara Sabazia between Lake and History

Lake, Trails and Natural Landscapes

Anguillara Sabazia on Lake Bracciano represents a combination of water, trails, architectural history, archaeological discoveries and local festivals.

The CAI 270 Trail and the Ciclovia dei Laghi begin at the Porta del Parco in Anguillara Sabazia and are approximately 8,000 metres long. The Ciclovia dei Laghi can be travelled by mountain bike, on horseback or on foot.

Anguillara Sabazia lies within the Bracciano-Martignano Regional Natural Park. The waters of Lake Bracciano are suitable for sailing, rowing, surfing and diving. The spring and ruins of Acqua Claudia now form the Acqua Claudia Archaeological and Natural History Park.

Old Town and Architectural History

The old town of Anguillara Sabazia has preserved its original medieval layout. The Palazzo Baronale Orsini was built in 1502 on the existing structures of the Palazzo degli Anguillara, commissioned by Carlo, the son of Gentil Virginio Senior, Lord of Bracciano.

The Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta dates from the 9th century and is an example of Romanesque architecture; later renovations gave it a combination of different architectural styles. It contains frescoes and works of art, including a painting of the Assumption of Mary on the main altar. The present-day church consists of three naves; the two side naves contain three chapels. It also has an organ made by Domenico Alari in 1792.

The Neolithic heritage includes the village of La Marmotta in Lake Bracciano near Anguillara Sabazia, dated to between 5750 and 5260 BC. The Centro Espositivo del Neolitico di Anguillara Sabazia houses a 9.5-metre-long dugout canoe that was recovered on 31 July 2005 near the settlement of La Marmotta at a depth of 12 metres. The Museo Neolitico was opened in October 2006 in the premises of the former agricultural consortium and displays finds and explanatory panels about the Neolithic village of Anguillara Sabazia.

In the settlement of Marmotta at the source of the Arrone, a visible monument marks one of the intake points of an aqueduct restored from 1608 onwards by Paolo V. Borghese. In the Mura di Santo Stefano, three distinct levels of the building are still recognisable despite the collapse of the roof and floor slabs; they are connected by a stairwell that has almost completely collapsed.

Festivals and Local Cuisine

The Sagra del Pesce in Anguillara Sabazia takes place in mid-June and has celebrated fishing as a traditional activity of the people of Anguillara on the shores of Lake Bracciano for more than 60 years. The highlights are fried lattarini served in a typical paper cone as street food, as well as the highly prized whitefish. “Broccoletti in piazza” is a food festival in Anguillara Sabazia that takes place at the end of March and has been held there for 20 years.

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