Nera River Park

Nera River Park: the park of the waters: the Velino and Nera rivers, Lake Piediluco, the Marmore waterfall, large hydro for the Terni steelworks. Along the river valley the small fortified centers: Arrone, Ferentillo, Montefranco; the monasteries, the watchtowers. But it is also and above all the sports park, the one linked to the water (boating, rafting, canoeing) and the one reserved for rock lovers, that populate the walls of the largest man-made gym in Ferentillo.

The Cascata delle Marmore (Marmore’s Falls) is a man-made waterfall created by the ancient Romans. Its total height is 165 m (541 feet), making it one of the tallest in Italy and the tallest man-made waterfall in Europe. Of its 3 sections, the top one is the tallest, at 83 m (272 feet).

Its source is a portion of the waters of the river Velino (the rest of the river flows into a hydroelectric power plant), after flowing through Piediluco lake near the community of Marmore. It pours into the valley below formed by the river Nera. Its flow is turned on and off according to a published schedule, to satisfy the needs of tourists and the power company alike. Tourists try to be there the moment the gates are opened to see the powerful rush of water.