13 km south-east of Tivoli and about 35 km from Rome, at a height of 651 m, stands the picturesque and medieval San Gregorio da Sassola, situated in the heart of Prenestini Mounts.
The area
Built between the 6th and 9th centuries and initially known as Castel San Gregorio, it owes its name to Pope St. Gregory the Great, who donated the feudal holding to the convent of Sant'Andrea al Celio in 587.
The history
The village
- Brancaccio Castle
- Convent of S. Maria Nova
- Roman aqueducts
- Church of St. Gregory the Great
- Church of the Madonna Cavata
- Church of St. Biagio
The Mola bridge
The Mola bridge is an integral part of one of ancient Rome's aqueducts: the Anio Vetus.
Originally it consisted of two superimposed rows of 22 arches each (of which only eight remain today), with a total length of about 150 m and a height of 25 m. Six arches, three in each row, have collapsed because the water of the gully eroded the foundations; two others were deliberately brought down by local farmers.
The Mola bridge represents the source of inspiration of numerous painters, among them Ettore R. Franz.
It has been restored in recent years.