It is 165 metres high and the water of the Velino River plunges with a three-jump drop into the Nera River. The Romans redirected the course of the river because the upper valley was marshland. Diverting the Velino into the Nera it gave origin to this breathtaking view. Its beauty has always been celebrated by painters and poets such as Virgil, Galilei, Lord Byron, Goethe, Hesse. The Marmore Waterfall used to be one of the main and most charming destinations of the 18th century Grand Tour, taken by cultured people in search of the classical past.
The roar of waters! From the headlong height
Velino cleaves the wave-worn precipice.
The fall of waters! Rapid as the light
the flashing mass foams shaking the abyss.
The hell of waters!
By Lord Byron
The waterfall of Marmore near Terni
CHILDE HAROLD’S PILGRIMAGE
At the beginning of 2014 our City Mayor Leopoldo Di Girolamo and his Council presented the Marmore Waterfall as a candidate for the Unesco World Heritage site listing. We hope the Committee will approve and accept it.
We conclude our tour of the religious monuments in Terni with the 17th century Basilica of St. Valentine, built in the same place were S. Valentine was martyred by the Roman soldiers. It is characterized by a portal below and a large window at the top. The interior of the basilica contains St. Valentine’s relics and works of great artistic interest such as "St. Luke", attributed to Luca Fiammingo. The wedding blessing which St. Valentine used to give to the couples in love is commemorated today by the ”Feast of the Holy Promise”. Every year on 14th February a lot of engaged couples come to Terni from everywhere to exchange the holy promise in the Basilica of Saint Valentine.
Nice view of the city center from Palazzo Spada