canyon exploring with Michele Angileri

Fosso Vorvoni

Monti Prenestini rise east of Rome like a bastion above Roma's flat. Though they are near the metropolis, they preserve a beautiful and wild natural environment, defended by a dense mediterranean bush. As years pass they become wilder, home of wild boars, because a lot of people has given up the works tied to mountain. So the ancient paths are being canceled by the bush.
The villages in Monti Prenestini are very nice, ancient, rich in historical evidences.

Some deep valleys going down Monti Prenestini are interesting to canyoneers.

South-western side of Prenestini Mounts is bordered by the long deep valley of Rio di Capranica. Farmers and shepherds went away from here, so it has become wilder than it was some decades ago. The ancient paths are now lost, canceled by spiny bush.
The upper part of the stream is known as Fosso Vorvoni. The area of the springs (now taken) and the mill (Mola Bossi) is protected and preserved. It is a destination for school daily trips, and for nature enthusiasts.

Downstream of natural park, Fosso Vorvoni goes down steep towards main valley, with cascades and deep pools of clean water, surrounded by lush vegetation. When water flows (I don't know if it gets dry in summer) it's nice to enjoy this wild beauty, located a few steps away from Roma.

I remember ...

I guessed to know all about streams in Prenestini Mounts, all but the valley of Rio. Far from roads, hidden by woods and river bends, it might have some narrows and cascades?
Maybe not ... it is too long and too little steep ... Maybe yes: its first part might be steep enough, and the rest ...

The answer to questions like these ones can come only from going through Rio valley. That's what we did.

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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