A preserved ecosystem in the heart of the Castelli Romani between wildlife, lush vegetation and archaeological sites.
Besides the various medieval and roman ruins due to the singular history of Torrecchia, the estate boasts great natural resources.
Torrecchia’s ecosystem includes a variety of habitats with forests, clearings and other permanent grasslands which enhance the development of a lush biodiversity. The exceptional archaeological and ecological interest of the area was recognized in 2007 when it was classified as a "Natural Monument", thanks to the support of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Torrecchia Vecchia is registered as a protected area by the European Environment Agency (EEA), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Torrecchia Vecchia's estate
Lush vegetation
There are over 625 acres of woodland on the estate. The species represented are diverse, including different species of the oak family such as the cork oak (Quercus suber), the downy oak (Quercus pubescens), the Turkey oak (Quercus cerris) or the evergreen oak (Quercus ilex). In the heart of Torrecchia’s preserved woods, you will also find hazel (Corylus avellana), Viburnum (Viburnum), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and butcher's-broom (Ruscus aculeatus). Scattered throughout the domain, are ten cork oaks, whose circumference exceeds four meters. They are classified as “Veteran trees”.
Hikers may also come across rare and remarkable species: The sowbread covering (Cyclamen hederifolium) parts of the forest.
Manna ashes (Fraxinus ornus), field maples (Acer campestre), strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo), beech trees (Fagus) and lime trees (Tilia) are also present.
Inherent to the volcanic texture of the Alban Hills, the soil is mainly composed of effusive and pyroclastic rocks, such as volcanic tuff.
Preserved Wildlife
The Torrecchia ecosystem is a privileged habitat for a large number of wild animals. Foxes, pheasants, hares, porcupines, badgers, hedgehogs, blackbirds, turtle doves, quails, woodcocks, warblers, thrushes, cattle grets, hoopoes, owls, peregrine falcons, hawks, grebes, little bitterns, etc. Even the presence of the most mysterious of predators, the wolf, has been sometimes detected.
Discover this preserved ecosystem in the heart of the Castelli Romani between wildlife, lush vegetation and archaeological sites. Hikers, naturalists, and amateurs of nature walks throughout the woods will be delighted to discover the treasures of this wonderful domain.
