canyon exploring with Michele Angileri

Gola di Casperia (Fosso di Caprignano)

Maybe the medieval village of Casperia is the most beautiful among the villages of Sabina: very clean, silent, with a fine great view all around. Buildings and alleys are made of white stone. The village rises on a little hill at the feet of Sabini Mounts. On one side the mounts with their green forests, on the other the fields, the famous olive-groves of Sabina, the beautiful medieval villages. One of the finest views in Italy!

Medieval villages were built where it was easier to defend. One side of the village of Casperia is defended by the pit of Fosso di Caprignano, the canyon of Casperia. It has deep tight narrows. Unfortunately, as often happens to canyons having a village on their edge, it is polluted by urban trash and water coming from farm activities. Ignorance, inorganization, incivility made people of Casperia to mar an uncommon natural jewel, without even realize it.

But in most rainy seasons water going through canyon is clean. This is the good time for canyoneers to descend Casperia's narrows enjoying the meanders, erotions and water games.

I remember ...

It was a complex exploration ... The first time I saw the canyon its water had a lot of pollution, dirty and stinky: too dangerous to go in. Another time, some year after, I saw clean water and some trash. However I didn't trust, so I did an advanced recognition together with my friend Ezio Carallo, using single-rope caving techniques. We went through a great part of canyon, stopping only at our last rope. Canyon was reasonably clean. I performed the complete descent together with Gaetano, Andrea and Luca some weeks later.

Photographs in this website show ultralight ropes (6 mm ropes made of high tenacity fibers). Read multimedia book Ultralight ropes canyoning technique to learn how to use them.

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