Chasing Waterfalls: The Majestic Cascata delle Marmore 🇮🇹

Marmore Falls or Marmore Falls is an artificial waterfall created by the ancient Romans. With a total height of 165 meters, In the entire world, it is the tallest artificial waterfall. It is 7.7 km from Terni, the capital of Umbria, Italy.

Its source is part of the water of the Velino River. After flowing through Lake Piedilco near the city of Marmore, it pours into the valley formed by the Nera River below. The waterfall stream is on a regular scale and schedules are published to assist nearby power companies.

History of the Cascata delle Marmore

The Velino River flows through the highlands surrounding the town of Rieti. In ancient times, it nourished the wetlands of the Rieti Valley, which was believed to cause disease. To eliminate this threat to the city of Rieti, the Roman consul Manius Curius Dentatus issued an order in 271 BC.

Construction of a canal to divert standing water to the natural cliffs of Malmoa. In the Nera River below, the water descended from there. However, this solution created another problem. When the Velino flooded, its waters flowed through the Nera towards the city of Terni, threatening its inhabitants.

The Roman Senate reached a conclusion in 54 BC because the matter was so divisive between the two cities. Chr. was compelled to manage it. Cicero and Aulus Pompeius respectively represented Rieti and Terni. The issue was not resolved by the Senate, and it persisted for centuries.

Between the first and first centuries AD, the close-by Ponte del Toro Bridge was constructed. And in the 1st century BC-AD of additional drainage from the Marmoa Plateau, another canal from Velino had to be bridged. Due to poor maintenance of the canal, the flow decreased and eventually, the wetlands reappeared.

1422 Pope Gregory XII. He proposed building a new canal to restore the original flow. In 1545, Pope Paul III ordered: Construction of a new canal. The plan was to extend the Curonian Trench and build a regulating valve to control the flow. After being completed some fifty years later, Pope Clement VIII completed his new work and named it after himself: Clementine Groove.

In 1787

Over the next two centuries, the Nera River flooded frequently, and the canal’s presence posed a challenge to the landscape of the valley below. 1787, Pope Pius VI. Architect Andrea Vici fixed most of the problems by modifying the jumping section below the waterfall to give it its current appearance.

In 1896

In 1896, the newly established ironworks in Terni began to use the water streams of the Curiano ditch for their work. Over the next few years, engineers began using the flow of water to generate electricity.

Current status in Cascata delle Marmore

In most cases, the water in the channel above the waterfall is diverted to a hydroelectric power plant, greatly reducing the flow of the waterfall itself. Lake Piedilco above the falls serves as a reservoir for the power plant. The Garret Power Station, built in 1929, is of architectural interest. Its capacity is about 530MW.

to oversee the power plant’s operation and provide entertainment for tourists, the waterfalls flow according to a set schedule, creating a spectacular effect when the water fills up. First, the alarm sounds, then the locks open, to oversee the power plant’s operation and provide entertainment for tourists: The falls are usually lit up from 12:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

From 00:00 to 13:00

From 00:00 to 16:00

From 00 to 17:00

These hours contain additional hours on public holidays. An admission fee is required to visit the falls and surrounding areas.

A trail along the falls allows you to hike to the top of the falls. Along the way, a tunnel leads to a viewing platform right next to the waterfall, where visitors can get soaked.

Visit the Cascata delle Marmore

Now the Nera and Velino basins and the waterfall area are definitely worth a visit.

If you like walking, you’ll enjoy it to your heart’s content but don’t worry if you don’t like hiking. Although the waterfall cannot be climbed directly, it is accessible to the disabled.

You can walk or drive up the mountain to see the waterfall from above, then continue driving towards Lake Piedilco.