Tour Oasi Tevere Farfa

The Tevere Farfa Oasis is a natural extension produced by the reservoir of the dam and the Enel hydroelectric power plant. It extends for several kilometers. The environment is semi-lake and marshy with riparian vegetation and numerous species of birds. This naturalistic oasis extends both along the right bank of the Tiber, including the municipalities of Nazzano and Torrita Tiberina, and on the left bank of the river, Poggio Mirteto Scalo side. The itinerary in question includes only the left side of the Reserve, since the large bridge of the Rome-Florence highway dominates the right side and is therefore very noisy.

Equipment
We recommend good binoculars, a text for recognizing plants and birds, clothing in less flashy colors, comfortable shoes suitable for muddy terrain, water and a packed lunch.

Access
By car, from the Poggio Mirteto Scalo station, travel 100 m. in the direction of Rome, until a crossroads for Torrita Tiberina. After a few meters you arrive at a narrow metal bridge, with alternating directions. Immediately after the bridge on the left begins a dirt road, with a sharp curve (it is advisable to go a few meters ahead where at a widening you can maneuver to go back and take the curve easily). The dirt road runs alongside the railway line on the left and the Tiber on the right. You travel about 3 km and you arrive at a grassy clearing with the sign for the Oasis. On the left a bar indicates not to continue with the car, on the right instead the dirt road continues.

Itinerary

Looking at the Tiber, continue to the left, south, on the dirt road that continues slightly uphill. As soon as the road descends, take a path on the right, downhill, which after about 50 meters reaches the bank of the Tiber. The path continues on the bank, shaded by various plant species, with the Tiber on the right and a cultivated plain on the left that gradually becomes wider. We have traveled about 3 km from the start and come across a small bridge. Once upon a time, the cable that towed the ferry passed over it. Continuing, you pass near the reclamation basin that collects the waters of the plain, which up to that point we have skirted, and arrive under the travertine rocks of the Campo del Pozzo promontory. At this point the path becomes very narrow and widens near the railway sleepers. Take a detour on the right and arrive at a hut for observing the fauna. We are right at the confluence of the Farfa river with the Tiber river. Returning, you take the path again, continuing around the promontory.

When the path goes up you reach the plateau above Campo del Pozzo, where the guesthouse building is located. From here too, through walls of reeds, you can observe the fauna. From the guesthouse a dirt road runs along the entire promontory, leading to a set of paths, near the old electrical cabin. You take a small road that runs along a fence on the right and goes downhill. The path leads to a narrow valley and after about a km you reach the starting point and where we left the car.

What to see

The most common plant species are willows and poplars. In particular the white willow with narrow and elongated leaves. The poplars on the other hand are recognizable by the wider leaves, ovate and ovate-palmate. There are also walnut trees.

Among the shrubs, the viburnum and the privet are very common. The banks are covered with common reed and marsh iris. It is also easy to come across thick groups of horsetail.

The basin is home to numerous species of birds, the grey heron, the garganey, the wigeon, the mallard, the pintail, the tufted duck and the fool, aquatic birds that can be easily observed. The fish present in the basin are the barbel, the tench, the chub, the perch and the carp.

The itinerary in question is a pleasant walk that can be done all year round. Of course, during rainy periods it is not recommended due to the muddiness of the ground. It is very suitable in spring and summer and autumn offers the warm colours typical of the local vegetation.