Castel Porziano

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Hunting lodge with outbuildings
Castel Porziano is highlighted in yellow
Castelporziano
Castelporziano forest, on the right the Pratica di Mare military airfield

Castel Porziano is the name of the 29th zone of Rome in the area of ​​the Agro Romano , referred to as Z.XXIX , it belongs to the 13th district of Ostia . The name of the barely populated district goes back to a 59 km² estate owned by the Italian presidents ( Tenuta Presidenziale di Castelporziano ). This is located about 20 km south-south-west of Rome on the Mediterranean coast, a few kilometers south-east of the mouth of the Tiber , in the area of ​​the Roman district of Ostia , on the border with Pomezia . The nature reserve, which is not open to the public, is almost entirely fromForest covered and thus one of the largest contiguous forest areas in Lazio . In the middle of it is a castle from the 10th century, which has been rebuilt several times over the years. In the official spellings, the district is separated, but the estate is written together.

history

In the area of ​​the estate was the ancient city of Laurentum , where, according to legend , Aeneas landed.

The Castelporziano estate forms the remainder of a primeval forest that the Romans cleared over 2000 years ago in order to build luxurious villas for the aristocracy near the coast . The desolation of the landscape later led to the formation of the Pontine Marshes , which have only recently been drained with great effort.

In the Middle Ages Castelporziano went to the government of the Papal States over which it the Roman aristocracy for hunting purposes ceded to the extent that in the Everglades because of rampant malaria was possible. In 1568 the Florentine Del Nero family bought the Castelporziano estate for agricultural use. Because of established hunting rights one came into conflict several times with influential circles in Rome and the neighboring simple rural population. In 1824 the noble Roman family Grazioli acquired the estate, but plunged into financial ruin with extensive expansion measures. In 1872 she sold Castelporziano to the Italian state. Shortly afterwards, the 5900 hectare area became the hunting grounds of King Victor Emmanuel II and his descendants. With the abolition of the monarchy in 1946, Castelporziano became an estate of the Italian president, who otherwise resided in the Quirinal Palace in Rome. In addition to these two properties, you also have the Villa Rosebery on the Gulf of Naples .

Flora and fauna

The castle-like hunting lodge with its outbuildings mainly serves as a museum, as an office for around 50 employees of forest and police authorities, and as a starting point for guided tours of registered groups of visitors. Hunting has been prohibited in the nature reserve since 1977.

Castelporziano is known for its horse and cattle breeding . There are also wild boars , fallow deer , roe deer , foxes , porcupines , badgers , martens , hares , pheasants , ravens and crows , hawks , herons and others.

The forest consists of various types of oak , including ancient stone and cork oaks , pines , ash trees , elms , maples , chestnut trees , apple trees , pear trees and also eucalyptus trees , which have helped to drain swamp areas. In places the undergrowth is very dense. The transition to the pine forest begins at Capocotta . There are beautiful dunes by the sea .

Others

Travelers using Rome Fiumicino Airport can see the Castelporziano forest from the plane, provided it is coming from the south, departing south, or departing west. Castelporziano is located southeast of the airport and northwest of Pratica di Mare .

On the northwestern edge of the nature reserve, the Guardia di Finanza maintains an officers' college and a sports center with a sports promotion group .

Web links

Commons : Castel Porziano  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 41 ° 44 ′ 38 ″  N , 12 ° 24 ′ 0 ″  E