Centocelle guidebook
Sightseeing
The aqueduct was constructed in AD 226 as the last of the eleven ancient aqueducts of Rome. It was built under the reign of Emperor Alexander Severus to supply his enlargement of the Thermae of Nero which were renamed Thermae Alexandrinae. The aqueduct was repaired for the first time in the era of Diocletian between the 3rd and 4th century, later between the 5th and 6th century and finally in the 8th century during the reign of Pope Adrian I. The aqueduct was described in the 17th century by Raffaello Fabretti (1680)
The Aqua Alexandrina received its water from the Pantano Borghese swamp near the city of Gabii, now a part of Monte Compatri. The same spring has supplied the Acqua Felice since 1586. The first 6.4 km of the total 22.4 km were tunnelled underground, later run on the surface and 2.4 km was carried on brick arches traversing the valleys of the Roman Campagna.
Some of its last section inside the city remains uncertain but the aqueduct entered the city at Porta Maggiore and ended on the Campus Martius at the Thermae of Alexander, between the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona.
The longest continuous above-ground stretch of the aqueduct runs through the district of Centocelle along Via dei Pioppi and Via degli Olmi. Monumental arches are looming above busy Viale Palmiro Togliatti north of Via Casilina. The road runs along the old ditch of Centocelle (Fosso di Centocelle) where the arches reached a height of 20–25 m. Formerly the crossing was an impressive feature of the Roman countryside but now it is totally surrounded by a densely built residential neighbourhood. The brick surface is very well preserved here contrary to the other sections were erosion affected it heavily.
A second longest visible stretch runs along Via dell'Acquedotto Alessandrino south of Via Casilina. The arches carried the aqueduct through a valley with the lowest point at the crossing of present-day Via Carlo Della Rocca. The ruins are surrounded by houses and a public park called Parco Giordano Sangalli. The arched stretch ends at the crossing with Via dia Torpignattara.
It is possible to follow the aqueduct from Centocelle towards Pantano Borghese through open fields and scattered farmsteads until the Grande Raccordo Anulare, the great ring road of Rome. There are significantly lower arched stretches at the crossing points of ditches and hollows for example behind the Tor Tre Teste housing estate where a public park was established around the ruins.
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Aqua Alexandrina
172 Viale Palmiro TogliattiThe aqueduct was constructed in AD 226 as the last of the eleven ancient aqueducts of Rome. It was built under the reign of Emperor Alexander Severus to supply his enlargement of the Thermae of Nero which were renamed Thermae Alexandrinae. The aqueduct was repaired for the first time in the era of Diocletian between the 3rd and 4th century, later between the 5th and 6th century and finally in the 8th century during the reign of Pope Adrian I. The aqueduct was described in the 17th century by Raffaello Fabretti (1680)
The Aqua Alexandrina received its water from the Pantano Borghese swamp near the city of Gabii, now a part of Monte Compatri. The same spring has supplied the Acqua Felice since 1586. The first 6.4 km of the total 22.4 km were tunnelled underground, later run on the surface and 2.4 km was carried on brick arches traversing the valleys of the Roman Campagna.
Some of its last section inside the city remains uncertain but the aqueduct entered the city at Porta Maggiore and ended on the Campus Martius at the Thermae of Alexander, between the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona.
The longest continuous above-ground stretch of the aqueduct runs through the district of Centocelle along Via dei Pioppi and Via degli Olmi. Monumental arches are looming above busy Viale Palmiro Togliatti north of Via Casilina. The road runs along the old ditch of Centocelle (Fosso di Centocelle) where the arches reached a height of 20–25 m. Formerly the crossing was an impressive feature of the Roman countryside but now it is totally surrounded by a densely built residential neighbourhood. The brick surface is very well preserved here contrary to the other sections were erosion affected it heavily.
A second longest visible stretch runs along Via dell'Acquedotto Alessandrino south of Via Casilina. The arches carried the aqueduct through a valley with the lowest point at the crossing of present-day Via Carlo Della Rocca. The ruins are surrounded by houses and a public park called Parco Giordano Sangalli. The arched stretch ends at the crossing with Via dia Torpignattara.
It is possible to follow the aqueduct from Centocelle towards Pantano Borghese through open fields and scattered farmsteads until the Grande Raccordo Anulare, the great ring road of Rome. There are significantly lower arched stretches at the crossing points of ditches and hollows for example behind the Tor Tre Teste housing estate where a public park was established around the ruins.
Centocelle airport
Centocelle airport, around which the entire neighborhood developed, is the first Italian airport, officially entered into operation on 15 April 1909, when the American Wilbur Wright, followed in Rome by his brother Orville, gave a series of flight demonstrations of the "Flyer" airplane in Italy. The Wright Brothers, to which was also added the lively sister Katherine, were guests in Rome of the newly established "Club Aviatori" and their demonstrations were followed by influential and wealthy personalities. Six years later, on a hot day in July 1915 also Gabriele D'Annunzio, who in the Roman countryside where Centocelle now stands devoted himself to fox hunting, visited the place fascinated by aircraft, as well as by all the technological innovations and he was welcomed by the scientist Guglielmo Marconi at the Rome-Centocelle radiotelegraphic station. In a short time Centocelle Airport became a very important airport for people from all over the world. On 17 May 1919 also Thomas Edward Lawrence, an aviator known as "Lawrence of Arabia" attempted a technical stop at the airport, but due to poor visibility he failed to land and capsized on the ground. Today the airport is home to a military installation of the Ministry of Defense named after the ace of aviation, Francesco Baracca.
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Centocelle Park
761 Via CasilinaCentocelle airport
Centocelle airport, around which the entire neighborhood developed, is the first Italian airport, officially entered into operation on 15 April 1909, when the American Wilbur Wright, followed in Rome by his brother Orville, gave a series of flight demonstrations of the "Flyer" airplane in Italy. The Wright Brothers, to which was also added the lively sister Katherine, were guests in Rome of the newly established "Club Aviatori" and their demonstrations were followed by influential and wealthy personalities. Six years later, on a hot day in July 1915 also Gabriele D'Annunzio, who in the Roman countryside where Centocelle now stands devoted himself to fox hunting, visited the place fascinated by aircraft, as well as by all the technological innovations and he was welcomed by the scientist Guglielmo Marconi at the Rome-Centocelle radiotelegraphic station. In a short time Centocelle Airport became a very important airport for people from all over the world. On 17 May 1919 also Thomas Edward Lawrence, an aviator known as "Lawrence of Arabia" attempted a technical stop at the airport, but due to poor visibility he failed to land and capsized on the ground. Today the airport is home to a military installation of the Ministry of Defense named after the ace of aviation, Francesco Baracca.
Transports
To go to Termini station and the center, get off at S. Giovanni stop and change with metro A
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Mirti station
To go to Termini station and the center, get off at S. Giovanni stop and change with metro A
To reach the location:
Bus to Termini station
Metro A to S. Giovanni
Metro C to Mirti
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Leonardo da Vinci International Airport
di Via dell'Aeroporto di FiumicinoTo reach the location:
Bus to Termini station
Metro A to S. Giovanni
Metro C to Mirti
Ciampino Airport station
To reach the location:
Bus N. 520
Bus N. 548
Food Scene
Trattoria La Fraschetta
112 Via dei Plataniroman cuisine
Ristorante Pizzeria Dall'Amicone
117 Via Tor de' Schiavigood meat
Pizzeria Buone Maniere
77 Via Tor de' Schiaviexcellent pizza. Book in advance
180g Pizzeria Romana
53 Via Tor de' Schiaviexcellent pizza. Book in advance.
Mabe restaurant Roma
19 Piazza dei Mirtirefined cuisine
MIRTO - Latteria con cucina
10 Piazza dei Mirtiparticular dishes
Le Delizie Di Aurora Roma
49 Via dei Castanigood breakfast and ice cream
Open Café
81 Via dei Castanigood breakfast on the patio
Piacere Marco Merola
33 Via dei CastaniPizzeria Ristorante Fulvi
50 Via dei CastaniLo Sciabbecco
Via Tor de' Schiavikaraoke on saturdays
La Siciliana Caffè
34 Piazza dei MirtiGood sicilian food and pastries
🦐🥩 Ristorante di pesce e carne Roma🥩🦐 - L'officina dei sapori
72 Via degli AceriWoods
117 Via dei PlataniAssolo Mare
18 Piazza delle Camelieexcellent fish restaurant
McDonald's
114 Via Appia NuovaShopping
Tuodì
19/B Via delle Cameliefood
Via dei Castani
Via dei CastaniThis is the shopping street
Centro Commerciale Primavera
194 Viale della Primaverabig shopping center
Essentials
Acquazzurra Roma
70/a Via degli Aceriself service laundry
Asl Roma B Poliambulatorio San Felice
14 Via Degli EucaliptiDrinks & Nightlife
Al Turacciolo_Centocelle
126c Via Tor de' Schiavigood wine selection
Wine Not?
46 Via dei Glicinigood wine selection
Retrogusto
46/A Via degli Ontanigood beer selection
Craftwork 100Celle
7 Via dei Pioppigood beer
Le Guide ai Quartieri
The Fausto Cecconi School in Centocelle
The confirmation of the key role that the Centocelle Airport played for the development of the neighborhood is also found in the name of the first school built, the large school complex in Via dei Glicini, inaugurated on 28 October 1933 and named after the aviator "Fausto Cecconi "that, having conquered the world record with 63 hours and 13 minutes of non-stop leather, had participated in the transatlantic aerial flight Rome-Brazil under the orders of Cesare Balbo. The aviator had prematurely lost his life in an explosion in flight. The lictor fasces on the façade testify to the construction in the fascist era. With the outbreak of the Second World War it was used as an antiaircraft shelter for the population. The bombing in 1943 caused its closure and Centocelle was declared a combat zone. The Fausto Cecconi School was occupied by a Fascist Command and German troops used the courtyard as a fleet subject to continuous attacks by the enemy air force. On June 4, 1944, the complex was hit by 8 shells that devastated the nursery school classes. The school was closed from 1944 to 1946 and the German occupation followed the English one. The building was returned in 1946 in disastrous conditions, but the children returned to school and the classes became more and more numerous. Inside the Fausto Cecconi school there are some historical archives; the most important dates back to 1933, while in the canteen and the gymnasium there are some mosaics probably made during the bombing by those who sought refuge in the school complex.
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Centocelle
The Fausto Cecconi School in Centocelle
The confirmation of the key role that the Centocelle Airport played for the development of the neighborhood is also found in the name of the first school built, the large school complex in Via dei Glicini, inaugurated on 28 October 1933 and named after the aviator "Fausto Cecconi "that, having conquered the world record with 63 hours and 13 minutes of non-stop leather, had participated in the transatlantic aerial flight Rome-Brazil under the orders of Cesare Balbo. The aviator had prematurely lost his life in an explosion in flight. The lictor fasces on the façade testify to the construction in the fascist era. With the outbreak of the Second World War it was used as an antiaircraft shelter for the population. The bombing in 1943 caused its closure and Centocelle was declared a combat zone. The Fausto Cecconi School was occupied by a Fascist Command and German troops used the courtyard as a fleet subject to continuous attacks by the enemy air force. On June 4, 1944, the complex was hit by 8 shells that devastated the nursery school classes. The school was closed from 1944 to 1946 and the German occupation followed the English one. The building was returned in 1946 in disastrous conditions, but the children returned to school and the classes became more and more numerous. Inside the Fausto Cecconi school there are some historical archives; the most important dates back to 1933, while in the canteen and the gymnasium there are some mosaics probably made during the bombing by those who sought refuge in the school complex.