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 It is said that Hercules, when once challenged
to prove his forces, threw to the ground a big trunk, which
opened a cleft, from where begun to gush out the water which
filled up the valley forming the Lake of Vico. In reality,
a crater, due to the collapse of the Vicano vulcan, during
the centuries filled up with the waters of underground springs,
and the ripid slopes where covered by an impenetrable and
insidous wood., called Cimina. When the Roman consul Fabius
dared to penetrate it, the Senate entreated him to desist
because of the fear imparted by this forest never crossed
before by anyone. But the consul could not resist and crossed
the forest, marking a route, which later has been followed
by the ancient Via Cassia.
In the 16th cent.
the Farnese lowered the level of the lake through an underground
tunnel, already bored by the old Etruscans and leading to
the Vicano river, in order to increase pasture ground and
cultivable land, and it's this vast expanse, nowadays covered
with hazelnut plants, which can be admired from the ridges.
From here, you can watch the whole valley of 3000 ha , protected
by a ring of wooded mountains. Mount Venere, the last vulcan
to extinguish over 70.000 years ago, rises in its midst. The
vast extents of secular beeches, over 35 m high, alternate
with those of Turkey oaks, not less majestic. About 1000 ha
are occupied by hazelnut cultivation and secular chestnut
woods, which represent the major economic resource of the
area. The reserve embraces one of the loveliest landscapes
of Italy.  Of
remarkable interest are the swamp, where thousands of migratory
and permanent birds, mainly aquatic like herons, ducks and
other slimers find shelter, and the beech-woods of Mount Venere,
Mount Fogliano and Mount Cimino (La Faggeta), where the Viterbese
find shelter from the heat in summertime. A ring-road, along
which you find parking sites, pic-nic areas and signed routes,
runs through the reserve. Camping, horse-riding centre, walks
or bicycle-rides, canoe on the lake: Informations and assistance
from Coop. L'Idea at the Visitors' Centre of the reserve,
Caprarola, Tel. 0761/637444.
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