DOI Heft:
Ashby,T.: The classical Topography of the roman campagna. The via latina. Introduction
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70348#0026
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The British School at Rome.
‘ At least two explosions took place on the old crater rim and produced
the deep-sunk and singularly impressive lakes of Albano and Nemi. Others
broke out on the flanks of the great cone. Of these, the largest is marked
by the crater at the Valle Ariccia, but at least two dozen of smaller size
have been discriminated by the geologists of the Government Survey round
the outer slopes of the volcano. These lateral vents probably mark the
sites of the last eruptions.’
The first summit of the outer rim was occupied by the ancient city
of Tusculum, the highest point of which is 670 m. (2198 ft.) above sea-
level. This rises abruptly about half a mile to the N. of the road, while
the lower part of the city was approached by an easy slope from the neigh-
bourhood of the 13th mile. On the south too the hills begin to close in : at
the narrowest point, near the 15th mile, is the mediaeval Castel di Molare.
The road has meanwhile been rising, and continues to do so until the
16th mile is reached, at the point (566 m., 1857 ft.) where the modern road
turns off to Rocca Priora (probably the site of the ancient Corbio). Here
begins a comparatively open expanse, about two miles long, through which
the road runs E.S.E., ascending first slightly to its summit level (582 m.,
19095 ft.) and then falling slightly. The hills come somewhat closerat
the 18th mile, and the road descends through a cutting, immediately to the
S. of an isolated hill called Monte Fiore. After the descent the plain of
the Doganella opens out (528 m., 1732 ft.), and on the other side of it is
a final ascent to the point (560 m., 1837 ft.) where, at the 20th mile, the
road passes through the rim of the outer crater at the Pass of Algidus,
traversing a narrow gap, its passage through which has been assisted by a
cutting in the road. Immediately after its exit from this the road forks,
the main Via Latina going on E.S.E., while a branch diverges E.N.E.
to join the Via Labicana at the 23rd mile of the latter road (Papers, cit.
274).
A fairly rapid descent in an E. and E.S.E. direction, though again
over quite easy country, down the outer slopes of the rim of the outer
crater, now begins ; and at the Fontanile delle Macere, the probable site of
Ad Pictas, the road has reached 305 m. (1000 ft.). It then reascends very
slightly, crosses, almost on the level, the space between the E. extremity
of the Alban Hills and the W. spurs of the Volscian Mountains, and, at
the 26th mile, comes beneath the latter, which rise to the S. of it. It now
takes an easterly course, falling slightly, and at the 27th mile passes under
The British School at Rome.
‘ At least two explosions took place on the old crater rim and produced
the deep-sunk and singularly impressive lakes of Albano and Nemi. Others
broke out on the flanks of the great cone. Of these, the largest is marked
by the crater at the Valle Ariccia, but at least two dozen of smaller size
have been discriminated by the geologists of the Government Survey round
the outer slopes of the volcano. These lateral vents probably mark the
sites of the last eruptions.’
The first summit of the outer rim was occupied by the ancient city
of Tusculum, the highest point of which is 670 m. (2198 ft.) above sea-
level. This rises abruptly about half a mile to the N. of the road, while
the lower part of the city was approached by an easy slope from the neigh-
bourhood of the 13th mile. On the south too the hills begin to close in : at
the narrowest point, near the 15th mile, is the mediaeval Castel di Molare.
The road has meanwhile been rising, and continues to do so until the
16th mile is reached, at the point (566 m., 1857 ft.) where the modern road
turns off to Rocca Priora (probably the site of the ancient Corbio). Here
begins a comparatively open expanse, about two miles long, through which
the road runs E.S.E., ascending first slightly to its summit level (582 m.,
19095 ft.) and then falling slightly. The hills come somewhat closerat
the 18th mile, and the road descends through a cutting, immediately to the
S. of an isolated hill called Monte Fiore. After the descent the plain of
the Doganella opens out (528 m., 1732 ft.), and on the other side of it is
a final ascent to the point (560 m., 1837 ft.) where, at the 20th mile, the
road passes through the rim of the outer crater at the Pass of Algidus,
traversing a narrow gap, its passage through which has been assisted by a
cutting in the road. Immediately after its exit from this the road forks,
the main Via Latina going on E.S.E., while a branch diverges E.N.E.
to join the Via Labicana at the 23rd mile of the latter road (Papers, cit.
274).
A fairly rapid descent in an E. and E.S.E. direction, though again
over quite easy country, down the outer slopes of the rim of the outer
crater, now begins ; and at the Fontanile delle Macere, the probable site of
Ad Pictas, the road has reached 305 m. (1000 ft.). It then reascends very
slightly, crosses, almost on the level, the space between the E. extremity
of the Alban Hills and the W. spurs of the Volscian Mountains, and, at
the 26th mile, comes beneath the latter, which rise to the S. of it. It now
takes an easterly course, falling slightly, and at the 27th mile passes under