Monterano Nature Reserve – Lazio: lost city, sulphur and woods in the Tolfa Mountains. The Monterano Nature Reserve covers about 1,000 hectares in the territory of Canale Monterano, in the province of Rome. It is a place out of time, where baroque ruins, sulfurous waterfalls and lush forests coexist in a landscape full of mystery, beauty and biodiversity. 🌿 From the Mediterranean scrub to the oak forest: The landscape of the reserve alternates Mediterranean scrub, Turkey oak and downy oak woods, pastures and tuffaceous gullies. The valleys of the Mignone river and the Bicione ditch are home to humid and shady environments, ideal for mosses, ferns, butterflies and songbirds. 👉 Tip: Follow the Fontanile path at dawn or late in the afternoon: the light filters through the trees and silence accompanies every step. 🏛️ The ghost town of Monterano: The symbolic heart of the reserve is the ancient Monterano, a village abandoned in the eighteenth century and today a fascinating ruined city. Among its stones resurface the church and convent of San Bonaventura, designed by Bernini, the and the paved streets invaded by vegetation. 👉 Tip: Visit Monterano at sunset: the ruins gilded by the light and the landscape around create a suspended, almost cinematic atmosphere. 🔥 Sulphate, vapours and mineral waters: In the Solfatare area of Montaran, the earth still emits steam and sulphurous gases from the cracks in the tuff. These geothermal events are among the most accessible and evocative in Lazio, a true open-air laboratory. 👉 Tip: Take the geothermal trail: a short but spectacular loop between vapors, mineral deposits and an acrid smell that tells the volcanic soul of the area. 🦉 Wildlife and wildlife watching: The reserve is home to a rich fauna: foxes, wild boars, porcupines, badgers, buzzards, tawny owls and numerous species of amphibians and reptiles. The insulation and low anthropization make it ideal for those looking for authentic contact with nature. 👉 Tip: Bring binoculars and a nature notebook: near the Acqua Forte ditch you can see numerous animal and bird tracks. 🚶 ♀️ Paths, landscapes and slow paths: The trail network is varied and suitable for all levels: from short walks near the ruins to longer ring routes that cross the forest and climb the ridges. The main accesses start from Canale Monterano and the nearby parking areas. 👉 Tip: Follow the Hiking Trail in Nature, Archaeology and Geothermal Landscape, which can be done in about 3 hours. Monterano is a place where nature has taken its time back. Among ruins, woods and sulfur, each step tells a story that goes beyond the centuries and accompanies the walker in the heart of the Lazio landscape.