The Marmore waterfall is a corner of paradise nestled in the fabulous Natural Park of the Marmore Falls. An itinerary through history, nature, legend, nature trails, caves and breathtaking scenery.

The Marmore waterfall: not everyone knows that …

To fully experience the excitement of the first visit to the Marmore waterfall, it is certainly preferable to rely on the many authorized guides whose availability you can check directly at the central ticket office.
If you want to enjoy the visit on your own, take a look at these "pills" on some curiosities of one of the most visited naturalistic monuments in Europe.

Where is the Marmore Falls located?

The Cascata delle Marmore is located just 7 km from the city of Terni, in Umbria. This little paradise rises unexpectedly almost on the edge of the state road 209 of the Valnerina, the valley carved by the Nera river. It is formed by the waters of the Velino river that flow from the nearby Piediluco lake and flow into the Nera gorges. The Natural Park in which it is set boasts incredible landscapes, terraces overlooking the waterfall and very pleasant paths.

Why is it called “Cascata delle Marmore”?

The most accredited hypothesis on the origin of the name "Marmore" is that it derives from the calcium carbonate salts present on the rocks, which, giving them the characteristic white color, make them similar to marble. The resemblance was so strong that at first it was thought to be really marble.

The amorous legend of the Marmore Falls

There is a very romantic legend about the origins of the waterfall. The protagonist is a nymph named Nera, who fell in love with the young shepherd Velino. It was difficult for the two to meet because they belonged to two too different worlds. Furious, Juno transformed the Black nymph into a river because she had transgressed the rules that did not allow love with human beings.

Velino destroyed by the painful loss threw himself headlong from the cliff of Marmore believing that Nera was drowning in those waters that were not there before. Jupiter, to avoid certain death, during the flight transformed him into water, so as to be saved and reunited with Nera for eternity. Precisely that leap, of poignant love, would have formed the famous waterfall.

The true story of the Marmore Falls

The waterfall has very ancient origins, dating back to 271 BC, in Roman times. In fact, in this period the Roman consul M. Curio Dentato ordered the construction of a canal to drain the stagnant waters of the Velino towards the Nera, diverting the course of the river and forming the Marmore Falls. The canal was made necessary by the serious problems created by the passage of the Velino in the Reatina plain, whose particular conformation of the land created a stagnant swamp dangerous for the resident population.

Over time, other interventions were carried out to counter the flooding in the period of flooding of the two rivers, which caused many adversities to the inhabitants of the surrounding areas. Two new canals were built, one in 1422 by the engineer Aristotile Fioravanti, and one in 1547 by Antonio Da Sangallo, but the danger of flooding still persisted.
It was only with two other interventions, in 1601 and 1787 that the waterfall assumed its present aspect.

In the nineteenth century, the waters of the waterfall began to be used for their driving force: in 1896, the newly born Terni steel mills fed their mechanisms by exploiting 2 m³ of water from the Curiano cable. In the following years, the waterfall began to be intensively exploited for the production of hydroelectric power.

Many nature trails, even free

The Marmore Falls, with its 165 meters high overall, it is the highest waterfall in Europe. But not only. It also holds the primacy of highest artificial jump in the world (primacy disputed by the artificial Liebien waterfall, in China). The maximum jump of the Marmore Falls is 85 meters and its average range is 15 m³ / s of water. The number of (paying) visitors it attracts every year is also record-breaking: approx half a million!

In addition to the six paths included within the waterfall area and which you can take once you enter the paid gates, we suggest you do not miss two other extremely suggestive routes with a great naturalistic impact. They start directly from the area behind the large car park and are free.

One of the two paths will take you to the industrial archeology park of which we have mentioned above; the other, much flatter, will allow you to along the Valnerina and the river that gives it its name (the Nera river), surrounded by greenery and embraced by silence. For the more trained there is the possibility of reaching the villages overlooking the valley through this long route, from Arrone to Casteldilago up to the town of mummies, Ferentillo. Have a nice walk!

The balcony of lovers

If you are going to visit the waterfall with your beloved or your beloved, you absolutely cannot miss the view from the balcony, located approximately in the middle of path n ° 1. We suggest you access it with a sweatshirt, even in summer and, above all, with a rain jacket. From here, in fact, you will have a breathtaking view of the impetuous jet of water. Once you arrive at the suggestive and impetuous view, you must touch the water of the Velino river that swirls downstream.

Casteldilago and the island "that no longer exists"

When the waterfall was artificially created, the jet was so impetuous and abnormal that extensive flooding originated upstream of the Valnerina. The pretty hamlet of Casteldilago (also known as the hamlet of San Valentino), not far from the waterfall, was flooded on the slopes, so much so that it appeared to travelers as a real island. It seems that the name also arose from this particularity.

A visit to Casteldilago can be combined with a stop at the "Sanctuary of the Madonna dello Scoglio" (nearby) which stands on a sheer rock overlooking a large portion of the Nera Valley.

The industrial archeology park

Once you have finished the climb up to the upper viewpoint, if you still have time, we suggest you visit the park, taking path no. en plein air. You will find yourself immersed in a real open-air museum, which brings together six large artifacts from the hydroelectric plants of Galleto and Narni. In addition to the pleasant walk, you can enjoy other wonderful panoramic views of the waterfall and the valley below, the Valnerina.

Magic and illusionism

The waterfall and its pools have been the setting for famous numbers of illusionism and escapology, that is the ability of an artist, often a magician, to be able to free himself from physical and environmental constraints. The magician Haldin and, more recently, the magician Casanova, they presented many of their amazing experiments here.

Living nativity scene and Marmore Falls

If you will spend your Christmas holiday in the Umbrian territory, plan to return to visit the waterfall at night, for the representations of the living nativity scene.
The scenery of the Marmore Falls, already suggestive and fascinating in itself, becomes even more enveloping and the atmosphere will take you back two thousand years.
In fact, a Palestinian city is faithfully reproduced, with the various inns where Mary and Joseph asked for hospitality. The cave of the Nativity is built near the second jump.
We suggest you carefully check the times and dates of the performances and, given the natural degree of humidity of the location, to cover yourself adequately!

edited by Marco Vescarelli

To find out more: Umbriaexperience

Cascata delle Marmore official site