Gallicano nel Lazio between aqueducts, lanes and festival tradition

A tuff terrace at the foot of the Monti Prenestini

Gallicano nel Lazio lies on a tuff terrace at the foot of the Monti Prenestini, between the gorges of two streams crossed by the arches of the Acquedotto Claudio. This combination of terrain, waterways and Roman infrastructure invites visitors to consider landscape and history together.

Church, Madonna and Infiorata

The present-day Chiesa di Sant’Andrea Apostolo was rebuilt at the expense of Vittoria Altieri Pallavicini and completed at the end of April 1734. The church houses the highly venerated image of the Madonna delle Grazie. It is said to have come from Constantinople and to have been in Gallicano since the 11th century.

The annual Infiorata di Gallicano nel Lazio for Corpus Christi is created collaboratively: catechists, associations, academies and artists work with drawings by the pupils of the second-year classes at the Istituto Comprensivo di Gallicano nel Lazio. It is made entirely from recycled and recyclable materials such as marble powder, wood derivatives and coffee grounds.

The Infiorata extends for 300 metres over an area of 500 m²; its route runs from Piazza Sant’Andrea in front of the church along Via Maestra, Piazza della Rocca and Via Roma to the Chiesa di San Rocco.

Roman structures and archaeological routes

Gallicano nel Lazio is part of a tour of the Roman aqueducts Anio Vetus, Anio Novus, Aqua Marcia and Aqua Claudia. It passes through gorges cut into the tuff and alongside monumental Roman bridges.

The Castello di Passerano has corner towers and a fortified entrance dating from the 10th century. Ponte Amato was built in the 1st century BC for the ancient Via Prenestina. The Archaeological Park of Ponte Amato and the ancient Via Prenestina includes a visitor route through the Tagliata di Santa Maria di Cavamonte, the ancient Prenestina and other important archaeological sites in the surrounding area.

Ponte Amato is located to the right of the modern S.P. Prenestina between the Tagliata di Cavamonte and the town of Gallicano nel Lazio.

Lanes and regional cuisine

Along the main street of Gallicano nel Lazio, bordered by the Porta Maggiore and the Porta San Salvatore, picturesque lanes branch off in a comb-like pattern. Local products include fettuccine with mushrooms. For your stay, this makes it possible to combine local history, ancient structures and regional cuisine according to your interests.

Plan the right stay

When choosing a hotel or other accommodation, this distinction can help with travel planning: if you focus on the church, lanes and Infiorata, the historic centre becomes the focus of your day; if you are more interested in aqueducts, Ponte Amato and the Via Prenestina, treat the archaeological sites as a separate excursion focus.

Other destinations you may wish to consider as additions: Castel Gandolfo, Genzano Di Roma, Pisciarelli, Rignano Flaminio, Lido Di Castel Fusano, Tor Vergata, Campo Jemini, Torre Maura.

For the higher-level travel overview: Rome.