What to see in Nemi (Italy)? Nemi, Italy. Strawberry-strawberry dolce vita near Rome
Dedicated to all lovers of strawberries and strawberries - Nemi (Italy), Where dolce vita, or "sweet life" has a very specific taste and aroma. This is the taste of childhood, the smells of the forest and freshly cut grass, the little joys of summer holidays, when every moment you want to exclaim "Stop, you're great!".
It is these sensations that arise in Nemi - a tiny town immersed in greenery, towering above the lake of the same name. Total in 40 minutes from This is the second capital of Italy - strawberry-strawberry. Nemi has been famous since antiquity for its wild strawberry growing on the slopes of a former volcano. Due to the unique microclimate and fertile soil rich in volcanic ash, local strawberries are considered sweeter than commercially grown varieties. In addition to strawberries, in Nemi you can enjoy strawberries (aka garden strawberries), blueberries, blackberries, raspberries: berries, appearance which is impeccable, neatly arranged in small containers, in portions that are convenient for a snack. They are sold in numerous shops on the way to the main observation deck, which is next to the Ruspoli Palace, which offers panoramic views of.
Although Nemi and small town, a gastronomic tour to strawberry paradise is quite possible to combine with cultural program. This place is unique in its history dating back to the 9th century BC, when the first settlements arose on the shores around the lake, mystical lake Nemi, associated with the cult of the goddess Diana, and the charm of country life with its unhurried rhythm and more relaxed, relaxing atmosphere.
The content of the article:
Where is it located and how to get to Nemi
Nemi is a paradise for lovers of strawberries and wild strawberries
Strawberry Festival in Nemi
Souvenirs and food in Nemi
History and sights of Nemi
1. Where is it located and how to get to Nemi
Nemi (Italy) is located in the Lazio region and is administratively and territorially included in the metropolitan city, formerly the province, Rome (Italian: Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale), which includes the capital and 121 municipalities - nearby cities and the territories adjacent to them.
Nemi belongs to the famous "castles of Rome" - Castelli Romani, a regional park that unites 13 cities located in the Alban Hills southeast of the capital. This area is popular tourist place and today, as in past times, is a favorite vacation spot of the Romans.
Accordingly, it is best to get from Russia to Nemi by plane to Rome, combining visit to the Eternal City with a tour of the Castelli Romani.
From Rome to Nemi can be reached:
- by car - rented or order a guide service in the outskirts of Rome with a car. This is the most convenient and comfortable way, because direct routes public transport before Nemi. Travel time will be 40-50 minutes.
- on public transport. First option: go with station Roma Termini by train to Albano Laziale station, transfer to the Cotral bus, get off at the 5th stop in Genzano di Roma, a town in the western part of Lake Nemi. From Genzano di Roma, Nemi can be reached on foot (3 km) or by bus in 5 minutes; Second option: go to the last metro station Roma Anagnina (line A), take the direct Cotral bus to Genzano di Roma (travel time is approximately 45 minutes), then proceed in the same way as in the first option.
2. Nemi is a paradise for strawberry lovers
God, of course, could create a more perfect berry, but he created strawberries, one English writer noted.
Strawberries growing in the forests surrounding Rome have been known since antiquity. The poets Virgil and Ovid, in particular, noted the passionate love of the Romans for strawberries, despite their high cost. But not only the amazing taste of strawberries attracted the Romans, but also beneficial features this plant in the treatment of many diseases. Due to its heart shape and red color, strawberry was one of the symbols of the goddess of love Venus and was used as an aphrodisiac and an ingredient in cosmetics designed to preserve female beauty.
Here it is worth making a reservation. Strawberries and wild strawberries belong to the same genus Strawberries of the Rosaceae family, the whole essence of which is reflected by the Latin name "Fragaria", which means "fragrant". Speaking of “strawberries”, Russian-speaking people most often mean a plant cultivated by humans (we used to call strawberries large and juicy garden, or large-fruited strawberries (Fragaria ananassa), grown in our dachas and at the same time the most popular for production on an industrial scale). IN Italian(and also, for example, in English language), unlike Russian, do not separate strawberries and strawberries at all. Both in Italian fragole, however, there is a special word for designating wild strawberries - fragolina di bosco, or fragola di bosco. If you want to try exactly wild strawberries, then be guided by this name.
On the slopes around Lake Nemi, two varieties of wild strawberries are grown - one round and one elongated, as well as the usual strawberries with large berries (aka "garden strawberries"). As mentioned above, local strawberries are considered especially sweet. My personal impression is some disappointment: the strawberries looked appetizing and flawless, berry to berry, but turned out to be not as tasty and fragrant as we would like. Perhaps the whole point is that I happened to visit Nemi in mid-April, while high season strawberry picking is in May.
3. Strawberry Festival in Nemi
Nemi is a beautiful place to visit at any time of the year. But especially lucky for those who will be here in late May and early June, when, after the harvest, the annual Strawberry Festival (La sagra delle Fragole) is celebrated.
The tradition of strawberry festivals in Nemi dates back to 1922. This is a bright and colorful event, including festive processions in historical costumes (women in wide red skirts and white shirts with a black bodice), concerts of folk and classical music, poetry readings, excursions, performances and entertainment for children. In parallel with the Strawberry Festival, a flower festival is held, the winner of which receives the "Golden Strawberry".
The culmination of the festive week is the last day, usually on the first Sunday of June: a big strawberry parade, a free distribution of strawberries to everyone from a huge vat filled to the brim with berries mixed with prosecco, and festive fireworks after sunset.
4. Souvenirs and food in Nemi
What can you bring back from strawberry paradise? Of course, a pleasant reminder of the trip is a souvenir in the form of a strawberry (magnet, earrings, bracelet, printed towel, etc.) or even the plant itself in a pot.
In addition to jams, syrups, marmalades and the usual dolce with strawberries - from tartlets to gelato, in Nemi you can try strawberry pasta, risotto, liquor and even pizza with strawberry slices. If you stop for lunch at one of the trattorias, try the local specialty - pasta with porcini mushrooms (funghi porcini), tastes great.
Life hack fromY& C Italy: after walking along the picturesque streets of Nemi, take a glass of cold prosecco with wild strawberries in a cafe (opposite the observation deck at the Palazzo Ruspoli). Luxurious views of Lake Nemi and refreshing, throat-tickling prosecco will give you unforgettable moments in style.dolce vita.
5. History and sights of Nemi
Nemi is a charming and very "Italian" town, which is pleasant to walk around, explore the streets winding between low houses, admire the neat, flower-decorated balconies, drink coffee or prosecco with strawberries in cozy cafes and look into the shops where smiling sellers will chat, like they've known you for a hundred years. Splashes of red and green are everywhere - there are really a lot of these juicy summer colors in the strawberry-strawberry paradise.
The area around Nemi was inhabited by people even before the founding of Rome. During the times of the Republic and the Empire, many representatives of the Roman nobility loved to relax on Lake Nemi. It is said that somewhere here were the villas of Julius Caesar and his successor Octavian Augustus.
The town itself arose only in the 10th century, along with the construction of a fortress. In the Middle Ages, the lake and surrounding areas belonged to members of the Borgia dynasty. Nemi acquired its modern look in the 16th-17th centuries. and since then, only cars and satellite dishes on the roofs of houses remind of the signs of the times. Goethe, Byron, Stendhal, Hans Christian Andersen visited Nemi. The Magic Lake was captured in their paintings by several artists, including the famous British painter and master of the romantic landscape William Turner.
The main attraction of Nemi, of course, is the lake of the same name. Lake Nemi volcanic origin: the collapsed walls of the crater of the volcano formed a hollow - a caldera, which then filled with water.
The name Nemi comes from the word for "grove" - nemus in Latin. Indeed, the lake is framed by dense thickets of trees and shrubs, and in shape it itself resembles a neat female mirror, in which the Moon is reflected exactly in the center on clear nights. It is no coincidence that in ancient times Nemi was poetically called Diana's mirror- on the shores of a magical lake arose Sanctuary of Diana Nemorensis(Diana Nemorensis), or Diana Lesnoy, patroness of flora and fauna, personified by the Moon.
What can you see in Nemi?
- Museum of Roman shipsMuseo delle Navi Romane) , the main exhibits of which are two ships built by the most famous (along with Nero) madcap of antiquity, Emperor Caligula in the 1st century AD. The ships of Caligula, equipped with purple silk sails, were palaces on the water - with marble columns, heating, mosaic floors and even mini-terms. It is still not entirely clear why Caligula needed such large and luxurious ships on such a small lake. According to some assumptions, they were used for the amusement and orgies of the eccentric emperor and his retinue, according to others - to worship the goddess Diana, whose cult was especially favored by Caligula (and possibly both). The lake for centuries kept the secret of the ships that were sunk, most likely at the behest of the next emperor, Claudius, who wanted to erase all memory of Caligula, until they were discovered in the 15th century and removed by lowering the water level already in the 20th century by order fascist dictator Mussolini. Unfortunately, the original ships were destroyed during World War II (only a few charred logs and some bronze statues remain), and today we can see not even copies, but 1:5 scale models. According to legend, there was a third ship, which has not yet been found.
- Palazzo Ruspoli (Palazzo Ruspoli) - a castle-palace with a high cylindrical tower, dominating the city space, is visible from almost any point. It was built as a fortress in the 10th century by the Count of Tusculum (Conti di Tuscolo - a powerful Italian family that for some time controlled public policy, Rome and the appointment of popes). In subsequent centuries, the palace changed its owners, rebuilt and expanded to their liking. Nowadays, exhibitions and concerts are held in some rooms of the palace.
- Umberto SquareI(Piazza Umberto I) at the Palazzo Ruspoli. Here you can sit in a cafe with a panoramic view of Lake Nemi and listen to live music. It is on Piazza Umberto I that the big strawberry parade begins as part of the Strawberry Festival
- Ruins of the Temple of Diana Nemorensis. It's hard to believe that it was once a large, decorated big amount statues temple complex, in which there were rooms for priests and pilgrims, baths and even a theater. The high priest of the temple bore the title of Rex Nemorensis, or "King of the Sacred Grove," and a claimant to this title could appropriate it for himself by plucking a golden branch in the sacred grove ... and killing the previous high priest in a bloody ritual symbolizing the withering and resurrection of nature. Locals claim that the restless spirit of Rex Nemorensis still roams somewhere in the forests around the lake, and advise walking along the local paths with caution, especially on a full moon.
- Church of Santa Maria del Pozzo(Santa Maria del Pozzo). The legend says that they decided to erect the church next to the well (pozzo), from which the spirit of the Virgin Mary appeared.
- Bronze statue of the goddess Diana at the entrance to the city
- Fountain of Medusa Gorgon(Fontana della Gorgona)
- If you came to Nemi with your lover, then do not miss the observation deck, which is called so - Terrace of Lovers(Terrazza degli Innamorati). The terrace offers a gorgeous view of the valley of Lake Nemi with strawberry plantations, which will serve as a great backdrop for your kiss
You can order an individual excursion in Rome or Castelli Romani by car with a guide by simply sending us an application by mail: [email protected] website by calling +7 910 476 34 33 in Moscow or +39 334 8402086 in Italy.
Southeast of Rome in the hills Albano located 13 towns, which are united under common name Castelli - Romani. In any of these cities you can taste excellent food and good wine, as well as see the many castles from which these settlements got their names.
Today, together with the children, we visited a small, but very beautiful city Nemi. Nemi is located near Rome, only 30 km. Best known for its annual strawberry festivals and no less famous Lake Nemi.
Many tourists tend to come here for at least a few hours. With the light hand of Pope Pius II, the city Nemi was named " house of muses and nymphs". Historians claim that in ancient times locals worshiped the goddess Diana, who was considered the patroness of love. Once a temple was erected here in honor of the goddess Diana, but it has not survived to this day. Perhaps that is why the lake in the city Nemi often called " Mirror of Diana».
In 1927, when Benito Mussolini was in power in Italy, two sunken ships were raised from the bottom of the lake. According to historians, they have survived from the time of the emperor Caligula- Holidays were held on these ships.
The size of each vessel was 70 by 20 meters. Some of the decorative elements that adorned the ships have survived, such as the elegantly carved wolf's head of wood and the decks covered with marble and mosaics.
As the Roman writer and historian Suetonius wrote, Caligula “built the Liburnian galleys with ten rows of oars, with a pearl stern, with multi-colored sails, with huge baths, porticos, banqueting chambers, even with vineyards and orchards of all kinds: feasting in them in broad daylight , he sailed along the coast of Campania to music and singing ”(Life of the Twelve Caesars. Book Four. Art. 37)
At the moment, work is underway to restore the Roman ships raised from the bottom.
Not far from Albano lies Lake Nemi. It is much smaller (the size is about 1.5 square kilometers, and the depth is only 100 meters), and it is even more visible from it that this is a former volcano crater. The high walls of the former crater, surrounding the reservoir, protect it from the sun. And if Albano is a cheerful and bright lake, then Nemi is dark and gloomy. The walls of the crater are so high that the wind does not often disturb the surface of the water.
And we again go to the legendary times, when Ascanius and his father Aeneas came to these places from the defeated Troy. Ascanius founded the legendary kingdom of Alba Longa, but his father Aeneas also lived here, nearby. The locals worshiped with the goddess Diana. And they had a sacred grove, a sacred tree with a golden branch grew here. And so Aeneas needed to get into the underworld to Hades in order to consult with his father. To protect himself during this journey, the goddess Proserpina advised him to pluck the Golden Branch from this sacred tree, which Aeneas did. Journey to the afterlife went well.
Since then, a strange and barbaric custom has arisen. Killers lived near this sacred tree, waiting for their killers. A certain man, who bore the title of the Forest King, gloomily walked around him all day long until late at night with a crouching gait, with a drawn sword in his hand. It was a priest, and he was waiting for his killer. According to tradition, the priest of the goddess Diana had to be a runaway slave, moreover, he must have killed the previous priest. By committing a murder, he received the title of the Forest King. So he lived on, with a sword in his hand protecting the sacred tree in the forest. When a new challenger appeared, he had to break the branch of this tree before he killed the priest. The broken branch of this tree symbolized the golden branch broken by Aeneas in front of his dangerous journey to another world. She was a sign, a warning, and a confirmation of the claimant's right to kill the Forest King and take his place. Therefore, the priest guarded the tree day and night. And the killer, having become the King of the Forest, he, in turn, began to wait for his killer. They say that the sinister ghost - the guardian of the Golden Branch, still roams the shores of the lake, in the shadow of the forests, forever waiting for the appearance of his killer.
By the way, something from the once famous temple of Diana has survived to the present, and in 2010, a grove with a sacred tree was also apparently discovered. At least archaeologists suggest that this is it.
It's wild, but this custom was still preserved in the days of imperial Rome. When Caligula came to power in 37 AD, this custom still existed.
Caligula was born in 12 AD. e. and at the time of accession to the throne he was 24 years old. At first, he showed himself to be a good and wise ruler, but after 8 months something happened. He got sick with something, and after that they changed him. Madness followed madness. The most famous is that he made his beloved horse Incitatus first a citizen of Rome, then a senator, and after that he even put him on the list of candidates for consul. And the blood flowed like a river - he executed and killed people in masses, even his relatives. Once, for example, he executed the son of Senator Falcon ... "for refined manners and the ability to behave with dignity." His sexual promiscuity was legendary. Although historians do not consider a single fact of his follies and sexual promiscuity to be confirmed.
Photo from the Internet
In Rome, the cult of Diana was considered "foreign" and not common in patrician circles, but was popular among the slaves, who had immunity in the temples of Diana. This cult attracted Caligula. He often came to Lake Nemi and began to take part in the rituals himself. And then he even decided that the Forest King was getting rich and sent a strong young slave to kill him. But even this seemed to him not enough, and he ordered the construction of two ships, so huge that the world had not yet seen. To arrange a sanctuary of the goddess on the ship and worship her.
These ships were not supposed to sail in open waters. But they had to withstand a huge weight - after all, one of them was supposed to accommodate the temple of Diana. Therefore, a low draft was needed. The vessels were set in motion with the help of hundreds of rowers.
Photo from the Internet
These were not just boats. These were floating palaces with marble buildings, galleries, green terraces with living trees and vines. There were marble mosaic floors, under which clay pipes were installed, with the help of which these floors were heated. There was running water with hot and cold water and a bronze tap (very similar in design to the modern one), with the help of which the flow of water into the tanks was regulated. The nails with which the wooden elements were fastened were treated with a solution that protects them from corrosion.
Photo from the Internet
When in 41 AD The 29-year-old Caligula, along with his wife and child, was killed as often happened at that time - the successors tried to erase even the memory of Caligula's short (only 3 years 9 months) but very extravagant reign. They tried to destroy everything connected with it. And his ships were sunk in the lake. And all the documents related to their construction were destroyed. And there were only rumors about them, but notoriety. However, information about how and why these ships were flooded is also not preserved. So it's all just guesswork.
Photo from the Internet
In the Middle Ages, the fashion for antiquity came and in 1444 Cardinal Prospero Colonna, knowing local legends, organized an expedition to Lake Nemi. And the ships were indeed found. Rather, only one ship was found at first. The cardinal even made an attempt to lift it from the bottom, but only tore off a piece of the bow of the ship.
A second attempt was made in 1535, and again unsuccessful. The ships were forgotten until 1885, when the British ambassador to Italy, Lord Seyvile, undertook his expedition and ripped off almost all the bronze ornaments, mosaics, gold and marble decorations from the mysterious ship with hooks. In the future, all these items became the property of British museums and private collections. But the ships themselves remained lying at the bottom.
Photo from the Internet
And then came the 20th century. Underwater archaeologists examined the lake and found the hull of another ship. It lay close to the shore and was approximately 60 meters long and 20 wide. The ship, once discovered by Cardinal Colonna, was larger: 73 meters long and 24 meters wide. The Italian government has decided that they are a national treasure. And in 1927, Mussolini ordered to begin the rise.
To do this, they decided to drain the lake. For this, it was not even necessary to dig a canal - it turned out that on Lake Nemi, as well as on Lake Alban, the ancient Romans built drainage tunnels. They were used. When the bottom was exposed, two rowing ships appeared. Rails were laid along the bottom of the lake, and ships were pulled ashore along them.
Photo from the Internet
The enthusiasm of scientists knew no bounds. First of all, the uniqueness of these structures, the perfection of forms and the mastery of execution were noted. So, for example, the pine sides of one of the ships were protected from the destructive effect of water with tarred wool and triple lead sheathing. Many of the metal parts of the ships were gilded. Products made of bronze and iron had a high anti-corrosion resistance. Two rotating platforms were found, under one of them there were eight bronze balls moving in a chute. Another platform rested on eight conical wooden rollers, also moving in a chute. Both designs are reminiscent of rolling bearings, the prototype of which was invented in the 16th century by the great Leonardo da Vinci. The purpose of these platforms is still unknown. It is possible that they were used as rotating statue stands.
Photo from the Internet
The device for lifting anchors is also surprising; a crank mechanism is used in its design. In all likelihood, this is the first example of the use of a crank mechanism, except for a hand mill.
Caligula's ships had two anchors. One of them, made of oak, - classic design with iron paws and lead stock. Another anchor, also made of iron and wood, was similar in design to the anchors that appeared in the Dutch navy in the 18th century.
Photo from the Internet
An inscription was found on one of the ship's lead pipes: "Property of Caius Caesar Augustus Germanicus." This is the full name of Caligula. So the scientists became convinced that they were the ships of the mad emperor. Some inscriptions, however, testified that the construction of these ships (or retrofitting?) Continued after the death of Caligula.
The Italian government built a huge museum on the banks of the Nemi, where the barges of Caligula were exhibited until 1944, when, during the retreat of the Germans from the city, the major, head of the unit stationed in Nemi, burned the galleys before leaving. It was an act of hatred. Senseless and devastating hatred. Very little was saved. I found information that this same major, after the defeat of Germany in World War II, found refuge in one of the cities of Germany, where he became a teacher in high school ... and taught art history for many years !!!
The museum is still there, but the exposition in it is very poor.
But recently (in the summer of 2011) the museum was replenished with a new exhibit - a huge previously exhibited unknown statue the famous Roman emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, better known by the nickname Caligula. And they found it by accident. When trying to take fragments out of the country antique statue so-called "black archaeologists" were arrested. They were "untwisted" and they showed where they found the fragments. Scientists went to the place and found the rest of the fragments there, and in addition a bunch of interesting things. The statue depicted a luxuriously dressed young man seated on a cushion lying on a marble throne. Caligula was recognized "on the leg" - the young man was wearing Roman military boots, boots, because of which Caligula got his nickname (because he loved to walk in them as a child).
Photo from the Internet
In the city of Nemi, standing on the lake, there is a small bust of Caligula.
And also this small town Considered the "strawberry capital" of Italy.
Photo by SvetaSG
And here you can enjoy the most natural products.
An overview of the ships of the ancient Roman emperor Caligula on Lake Nemi, in the town of the same name, and the Italian National Museum of Roman Ships located there.
National Museum of Roman Ships (Museo delle Navi Romane) in the Italian town of Nemi.
Let's talk about the ships of the Roman emperor Caligula, which were recovered from the lake. Nemi (Lago di Nemi) and are now exhibited in the National Museum of Roman Ships (Museo delle Navi Romane), located on the mentioned lake town (about 2 thousand inhabitants), famous for its strawberry festival and bearing the same name as the lake - Nemi. Note that administratively the city and the commune of Nemi belong to the Italian capital- Rome, although they are located in the Lazio region, 30 km south of Rome proper. In turn, Lake Nemi is a small circular lake of volcanic origin - one of the crater lakes located here, in the metropolitan region of Lazio, the Alban Mountains (Colli Albani).
Nemi - the name of the lake and the city comes from the Latin word nemus, which in this case means "holy tree". In ancient times, there was no city in this area, but the grove located here was the site of one of the most famous Roman temple cults - the Italian deity Diana Nemi (Diana Nemorense) - the goddess Diana, who in the 4th century BC. became identified with the Greek goddess of hunting, fertility, female chastity and childbirth Artemis. The sanctuary of Diana Nemi is believed to have been located on the northern shore of Lake Nemi, and the lake itself was also called the "mirror of the goddess Diana".
The notorious eccentric Roman emperor Caligula (Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, nicknamed Caligula - "boot", born in 12 g . AD, years of reign: 37- 41 g. AD) had a villa on this Lake Nemi, and it was probably in connection with the cult of Diana Nemi that this emperor built several very large and luxurious barges for use on this lake. According to research, one ship was a floating sanctuary for performing rites in honor of Diana Nemi, or in honor of the Egyptian goddess Isis, and the other was a pleasure barge with buildings on it. After the murder of Caligula as a result of the conspiracy, both ships were flooded.
As noted on the website of the National Museum of Roman Ships museonaviromane.it, "Caligula's ships are a unique example of a ceremonial parade barge.
Similar vessels spread during the Hellenistic period both in the form of sea and river vessels, with richly decorated mosaic floors, roof gardens - real cruise ships"in the Egyptian tradition...
Caligula was especially sensitive to following Eastern customs, adopted by his dynasty from ancestors who had been in the East, and, of course, was not indifferent to the form of self-praise that the possession of such ships gave.
The first of the barges on Lake Nemi was a pleasure ship with a roofed, heated pavilion at the stern, and a pavilion and sanctuary at the bow. The construction of such a ship here is connected with the emperor's villa located on the shores of Lake Nemi.
The second of the barges was used mainly for religious ceremonies, as evidenced by the discovery on board of cult objects associated with Isis, who in the time of Caligula probably began to be identified with the goddess Diana, whose sanctuary was located in a nearby reserved grove.
It is assumed that these two ships were used to participate in the navigium Isidis ceremony, a ritual in honor of the goddess Isis, the patroness of sailors, with whom the navigation season resumed on March 15 of each year,” notes museonaviromane.it.
Ships of Caligula, which have always been known
In the picture taken on October 20, 1928, the then head of the Italian government Benito Mussolini (fourth at the railing from the right side) observes the operation of the pumping station that the Costruzioni Meccaniche Riva di Milano company installed on Lake Nemi during a project to pump water to recover ships Caligula from the bottom of this lake.
As the aforementioned site of the National Museum of Roman Ships points out, after their flooding, the ships of Caligula were always “visible at the bottom in clear waters lakes and were the object of periodic looting and, from the 15th century, clumsy attempts to raise from the bottom. So, as it is believed, local fishermen always knew about the existence of these sunken ships of Caligula, at times pulling out small artifacts from them. For this, grappling hooks were often used, and the items found themselves were sold.
IN 1446. influential cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Senor Nemi Prospero Colonna (Prospero Colonna) and an employee of the papal office Leon Battista Alberti (Leone Battista Alberti) led the search for the search for the sunken ships of Caligula on Lake Nemi, based on stories about these ships, which they discovered at depth 18.3 meters (60 ft) However, the depth was too great for the ships to then be able to get out of the water. Although Alberti proposed an original method for raising ships when he tried to connect them with floating barrels. Though ingenious, this method proved unsuccessful due to extensive putrefaction.
In the course of the enterprise, Alberti invited brave Genoese divers, at the same time it was found out that the skeletons of the ships lying at the bottom were sheathed with lead, and the type of wood from which the ancient Roman ships were made was studied.
At the same time, the research of Colonna and Alberti caused significant damage to the sunken ships of Caligula, because. using the ropes with hooks already mentioned above, the participants of that enterprise tore off boards from the ship skeletons lying at the bottom.
In 1535, an engineer in the service of several rulers, the Bolognese Francesco de Marchi (Francesco De Marchi) reached the sunken ships of Caligula on Lake Nemi with the help of a wooden diving bell equipped with a porthole - de Marchi's design protected the upper body, leaving legs and arms free and allowing breathing ( the explorer described his dives in the work Della Architettura Militare). De Marchi's finds included bricks, fragments of marble paving stones, bronze and copper fragments, and a large number of wooden beams of the sunken ships of Caligula.
Then attempts to study the sunken ships of Caligula on Lake Nemi were made in 1827, and later - in 1895-1896. In the latter case, the work was carried out by the Italian state, namely the Ministry of Education and the Italian Navy. Most of of the extracted material was then acquired by the National Museum, while the other part ended up on the antique market.
On the illustration from the website of the National Museum of Roman Ships in Nemi museonaviromane.
In the illustration from the website of the National Museum of Roman Ships in Nemi museonaviromane.it is a model of Caligula's ship from Lake Nemi.
IN 1926 . Italian state A new commission was created to investigate and restore Caligula's ships on Lake Nemi. The commission included scientists, archaeologists and engineers, under the leadership of the former CEO Ministry of Education (1906), later head of the series art galleries and a supporter of the fascist movement, art historian and archaeologist - Senator from the National Fascist Party Corrado Ricci (Corrado Ricci, years of life: 1858 - 1934).
The conclusions of the Ricci commission confirmed the assessments made back in 1895-1896. lieutenant colonel of the engineering division of the naval forces Vittorio Malfatti (Vittorio Malfatti) that the raising of the ships of Caligula is possible by partial pumping of water from the lake. The commission also provided for the construction of a special museum on the shore of the lake. Nemi. And April 9 1927. in his speech at a meeting of the historical society Reale Società Romana di Storia Patria, the then head of the Italian government, Benito Mussolini, announced the decision to raise the sunken ships of Caligula. The water was pumped out and the skeletons of the ships, as well as numerous artifacts were removed from the bottom of the lake.
A photograph from 1930 showing the wreck of one of Caligula's ships, then recovered from Lake Nemi.
To understand the size of the ship, you can look at the seemingly tiny figures of workers next to the ship's skeleton.
bronze detail depicting a lion, recovered from Caligula's ship from Lake Nemi.
However, the National Museum of Roman Ships, built in 1935. on the shores of Lake Nemi to store these Caligula barges raised from the bottom, was partially destroyed on the night of May 31 to June 1 1944 . due to fire - during the last stretch of the Second World War. At the same time, it is not known who was responsible for the fire, whether the German troops were retreating, a German battery was located next to the museum, or whether the fire was caused by random people. The museum opened again in 1988. However, its exposition now cannot boast of the authentic skeletons of Caligula's ships, because they were destroyed during the aforementioned fire. With regard to the ships of Caligula from Lake Nemi, the museum now contains only a number of artifacts from the raised barges of Caligula, which were not made of wood, as well as what was taken to Rome for storage during the war, and in addition, wooden copies made for the museum ships.
National Museum of Roman Ships in Nemi today
Page describing the National Museum of Roman Ships in Nemi from the official Italian publication “A stone's throw from Rome.
Page describing the National Museum of Roman Ships in Nemi from the official Italian publication “A stone's throw from Rome. Museums of Casteli Romani and Prenestine" (localities near Rome - the Alban Mountains and Prenestine), rus. language, ok. 2012
And then we will give a description of the National Museum of Roman ships in Nemi from the official publication “Two steps from Rome. Museums of Casteli Romani and Praenestini” – publications of the “Mining Society of Casteli Romani and Praenesti” (museum society of the area near Rome – the Alban Mountains and Praenestini), together with the region of Lazio, rus. language, ok. 2012:
“The National Museum of Roman Ships was created to be able to get acquainted with two imperial ships belonging to Emperor Caligula, raised from the bottom of Lake Nemi from 1929 to 1931. Destroyed by fire in 1944 ., the museum was finally opened to visitors in the late 80s.
In the left keel block of the museum building, materials and documentation relating to the frames of ships and their rise from the waters of the lake are exhibited today.
The right wing of the museum is dedicated to the places of worship of the Alban Mountains, (ancient Roman settlements) Ardea and Satricum, with special attention to the sanctuary-temple of Diana Nemorense, which is confirmed by materials of excavations carried out in the 20s of the last century, as well as, in the recent period, from 1989 to 2013. In addition, a part of the archaeological collection of the Ruspoli Palace in Nemi, which came from the temple or from the collection of antiquarian collectibles of the Ruspoli family, is also exhibited.
Recently, the exposition has been replenished with a colossal marble statue Caligula on the throne, restored by the financial police guard in 2011, discovered in the town of Cavalleria in the Nemi Velletri zone . This section of the museum is dedicated to the imperial residences of the Nemi-Lanuvio zone: materials found here (the ruins of the villas of ancient Roman emperors in towns near Rome are listed below) at the villa of Emperor Caligula on the shores of Lake Nemi (the town of S. Maria) and in the town of Cavalleria, at Villa Antonini (by Antonini is meant the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius Approx. site) in Lanuvio and at the Villa of Domitian in Castel Gandolfo, "points out the publication" A stone's throw from Rome. Museums of Casteli Romani and Prenestine.
In an illustration from the website of the National Museum of Roman Ships in Nemi museonaviromane.it:
interior view of the museum.
This review was prepared by the following materials: the website of the National Museum of Roman Ships in Nemi museonaviromane.it (Italian); official publication “A stone's throw from Rome. Museums of Casteli Romani and Praenestini” - publications of the “Mining Society of Casteli Romani and Praenesti” (museum society of the area near Rome – the Alban Mountains and Praenestini) together with the region of Lazio, Russian. language, ok. 2012 .; other materials.
Small towns in Italy have a special charm. Narrow streets, shady green courtyards, appetizing aromas tasty food- all this makes you fall in love with the town and envy its inhabitants.
Nemi is no exception. It is located near Rome, just a few kilometers from eternal city. Therefore, when relaxing in the Italian capital, it is worth setting aside half a day and going to this blessed place.
Why is Nemi famous?
In this small town with an area of about seven square kilometers, only two thousand inhabitants live. Their houses are small neat buildings of two or three floors, many of which are decorated with fresh flowers. Nemi would have remained quiet provincial town, if not for its main source of popularity - delicious and tender strawberries.
Nemi is surrounded by small hills, located under the sun so well that sweet juicy berries grow in abundance on them. The peculiarity of strawberries from Nemi is a bizarre natural shape in the form of a heart and a spicy sour taste.
Everything is made from strawberries in the city: desserts, drinks, and even main dishes. These creations of culinary art are a must try, as the fame of the local strawberry extends far beyond Italy.
Strawberry Festival - the joy of gourmets!
The beginning of June means a grand event - an annual festival dedicated to the sweet berry. The holiday starts with a carnival procession, in which absolutely all residents of the city participate, dressed in costumes of berry pickers. There are also more bizarre costumes; the imagination of the inhabitants does not dry out from year to year.
The city is filled with all possible strawberry dishes, which are displayed right on the streets in order to treat everyone. Small Nemi turns into a carnival Rio de Janeiro: loud music, garlands, clinking glasses and dancing. The traditional and bright end of the holiday is colorful fireworks, painting the sky with rich colors.
Preparations for the event begin long before the first month of summer. We can say that the festival is the main city event, strawberries mean so much for the economy of Nemi and its inhabitants.
Lake Nemi - "Diana's mirror"
Italy's lakes are as famous all over the world as its architectural marvels. One of these lakes is located near Nemi, thirty kilometers from Rome. The lake is famous for its crystal clear water, without a single impurity. A long time ago, the emperor Caligula himself ordered to build on the lake amazing palaces in the form of ships. These were pleasure palaces, and one of them was a temple of the goddess Diana.
Subsequently, the palaces sank, but in the 15th century they were found and removed from under the water surface. Unfortunately, the ship-palaces have not been preserved to this day. After being taken out of the water, they were plundered in order to steal the gold and bronze that adorned them. After the skeletons were kept in the museum, and during the Second World War, the museum caught fire, and the priceless relics were irretrievably lost.
The villa of Emperor Caligula was located near the shores of the lake, and according to some sources, he was buried here. And the dedication of one of the ships to the goddess of beauty and hunting is reflected in the second name of the lake - "Diana's Mirror". The surface of the lake in calm is really so smooth that it is rightly called a mirror, which now reflects the high sky of Italy.
Lake Nemi is insidious - it has strong undercurrents, and therefore is shrouded in secrets and sinister legends. But today, resting there is completely safe and attracts many tourists who are tired of the hot Italian sun. Trees growing in abundance around the water create a pleasant partial shade.
Despite the active development of public transport in Italy, Nemi is best visited by car, which can be rented in Rome. Thanks to this, you will drive around a small town in an hour, but you will see all its wonderful sides. Take your time and stroll through the streets on foot. Go to the shops where locals offer their organic goods: vegetables, herbs, sausages and cheeses. In small cafes, order Italian coffee and strawberry dessert - and you will feel like in paradise!
