Over the hills of the “Monti della Tolfa”, that overlooks the coast in front of Civitavecchia, the Monterano Regional Reserve encloses an area rich in diverse natural resources. The Reserve surprises and fascinates by the alternation of sulfur springs, streams, woods of chestnut and elm trees and rich undergrowth of ferns, holly, cyclamen and orchids. Witness of the Etruscans can be traced in artificial gorges carved into the rock, called "avoni" or "tagliate", but also in more recent ones. From the top of a rocky bedrock, between the wilderness, stand the ruins of the ancient village of Monterano (XII - XIII century) depopulated due to malaria. Nowadays on the plateau of the ancient settlement are visible only some ruins of the aqueduct, of a tower, of a fountain, of the church of St. Bonaventure and of the medieval village. Particularly exciting is a trip along a path that winds for about 3 km on foot through the wilderness, to discover the ancient settlement: on Canale Monterano towards the small waterfall named “Diosilla”, along Fosso Biscione towards "Solfatara" until reaching the Monterano plateau, passing through the ancient Etruscan “tagliata” named “Cavone”. Near the existing village of Canale Monterano, surrounded by a peaceful, natural setting, and by woods and pastures, are the ancient “Terme di Stigliano”. Of Etruscan origin and known in Roman period as “Aquae Apollinares Veteres”. Nowadays “Terme di Stigliano” still attract for its thermal waters. But there is another aspect of this area of volcanic origin, that is the “Natural Monument.of Caldara”, close to Manziana a small town nearby Canale Monterano. The “Natural Monument of Caldara”, that Etruscans believed home of “Mania”, god of the underworld, is a solfatara, where an incredibly prosperous grove of birch, typical trees of higher altitudes, is present. There is also a herd of cattle in the wild.
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