Marmore Waterfalls

December 25, 2013

We woke up Christmas morning and had a quick breakfast before departing for the Marmore Waterfalls near the city of Terni which was only a short half hour drive from Narni.  The waterfall is the highest in Europe and is a man-made waterfall.  It was designed at the beginning of the third century BC.   By creating a vast flow of water, it helped clear out the stagnant water that was causing severe health problems for the people in surrounding areas.  The extraordinary beauty of the falls drew people even in ancient times and since the 18th century has been a popular tourist site which has inspired poets and writers and been admired by princes and travelers from all countries.

Today the waterfall is used as a source of hydro-electricity.  The waterfall is usually turned on twice daily.  It runs from noon to 1:00 pm and then for an hour again in the evening.  Three loud intermittent blasts are sounded to alert people that the water is about to begin so no one is near the river below.  The water starts out slowly but soon turns into a loud, pounding rush of water.