Presidenza della Repubblica Presidenza della Repubblica

The Castelporziano Estate

The natural environment

The Castelporziano Presidential Estate is located at about 25 kilometres from the centre of Rome and extends over a 60 sq km surface (about 6,000 hectares), including several historic hunting grounds such as “Trafusa, Trafusina, Riserve Nuove and Capocotta”.

To the North-West, the Estate borders with Via Cristoforo Colombo, to the North-East with State Road “Pontina”, to the South-East withVia Pratica di Mare and the rest of its perimeter borders with a 3-kilometer-long uncontaminated beach along the Tyrrhenian Sea.  

Castelporziano comprises several coastal ecosystems typical of the Mediterranean environment. Blending seamlessly from the coastline to the inland areas, the landscape features a succession of sandy beaches, recent sand dunes with their pioneer and colonising species that actively consolidate the soil, stabilised old dunes with ample backdune wetlands and maquis shrubland enriched with evergreen and aromatic species. This stretch of land gives way to holm oak thickets, interspersed in the wetter areas with a lowland woodland of oaks occasionally mixed with cork oak forests. There are also grazing lands for wild livestock breeding and extensive cereal cultures for animal fodder.

Most of the Estate features lowland hygrophilous woodlands (lowland woodland typical of humid environments) characterised by the presence of evergreen and deciduous oak trees and more specifically hygrophilous species above all near the wetlands.

This is one of the last biodiversity-dense areas of the vast forests and woodlands that once - in ancient times - stretched along the entire coast of Latium.

The stone pine forest, which until a few years ago covered 1,000 hectares in pure and mixed configurations, has now practically disappeared as a result of a plague of Toumeyella parvicornis (commonly known as “pine tortoise scale”) that decimated the pine tree populations across Italy’s central and southern Tyrrhenian coast.

A major forest restoration project, already underway, is allowing the reinstatement of mixed oak forests in different shades depending on the various soil characteristics, re-establishing the forest cover that long set Castelporziano apart among Mediterranean Basin landscapes.

The combination of native oak species includes evergreens such as holm oaks, cork oaks, and Quercus crenata, a hybrid between Turkey oak and cork oak. Among the deciduous oaks, there are the Turkey oaks, English oaks, and Hungarian oaks, while poplars, narrow-leaved ash trees, maple trees, and white and oriental hornbeams cover the more humid and cooler wetlands.

The undergrowth is rich in aromatic plants: strawberry tree, cistus, heather, juniper, mastic, myrtle, Phillyrea, laurel, Rhamnus alaternus, and broom.

In the less accessible areas, the forest is rich in old growth and monumental trees. The latter are subject to regular surveying and constant monitoring; the 2025 census recorded 22 monumental trees belonging to five different species.

From a biological and ecosystemic perspective, the 'pools' are of particular interest. They are natural water tables that bear witness to the long-past existence of wetlands, flooded woodlands, and marshes that once stretched southward to the Pontina Plain and northward to the Maremma region.

The great variety of vegetation is matched by a similar wealth of wildlife species.

There are numerous ungulates that live in the wild. They mainly consist of wild boars, fallow deer, and roe deer, with red deer present only in small numbers. Along with ungulates, the forest is populated with numerous other mammals: foxes, hedgehogs, and among the Mustelidae, there are martens, beech martens and badgers, while rodents include porcupines and Corsican hares, among the lagomorphs.

The wolf, one of Italy's large mammals at the top of the peninsula’s food pyramid, has recently returned.

From a zoological point of view, it is worth mentioning the wild boar, which belongs to the genetically purest species among those native to mainland Italy, the Italian subspecies of roe deer (native to central-southern Italy and recognised as being taxonomically different from the European roe deer), and the Corsican  hare.

Castelporziano is home to numerous bird species, both non-migratory and migratory. The oak forest offers refuge to various species of woodpeckers, jays, and nocturnal birds of prey such as little owls, tawny owls, and barn owls, as well as diurnal species including buzzards, kestrels, and sparrow hawks. Among the migratory birds, many come to spend the winter, such as wood pigeons and woodcocks, while other migratory birds are attracted to the wetlands and include Anatidae, waders, and stilt birds, all of which populate the ‘pools’ and temporary water reservoirs. In spring, bird life is enriched with other species such as the golden oriole, the turtle doves, black kites, and a wide range of insectivore species.

Castelporziano has a migratory bird-ringing and surveying station for the identification and study of migratory birds. Important collaboration projects with ornithological groups and organisations strengthen the Estate's activities in monitoring the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) and support the safe incubation and  hatching of loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nests relocated from highly human-impacted areas to Castelporziano.

Of particular note is the presence of reptiles, including the European freshwater turtles, amphibians, and aquatic insects and crustaceans that typically live in the “pools” as well as species that thrive on the decomposition cycle of rotting wood, especially large beetles usually associated with old-growth trees that are found in the Mediterranean vegetation and in the beach-dune systems.

Cattle breeding is an important part of the typical Roman rural landscape. The Castelporziano Estate ensures the preservation of Maremmano horses and cattle, which are almost extinct, by breeding them in the wild and having them handled by “Butteri”, the skilled mounted cattle herders from the Maremma region of Tuscany, according to centuries-old tradition.

Great care is taken in selecting and maintaining the typical genomes, which allow the specimens bred at the Estate to be top performers in major cattle shows.

Agriculture has traditionally been intensive in the area, and farmland is now an integral part of Rome’s rural landscape. Within the Castelporziano Estate, 867 hectares are devoted to farming and livestock breeding, comprising 600 hectares of grazing land (in addition to 267 hectares of woodland pasture) and 143 hectares of arable land.

Over the years, protection measures for the safeguarding of the naturalistic value of the only real green lung in a densely populated and urbanised area have been progressively intensified, thereby enhancing its environmental significance.

In 1977, hunting was banned, and in 1985, the Capocotta area was annexed, adding an extra 1,000 hectares approx. to the Estate, thus sparing it from urban sprawl. In 1999, the Estate was recognised as a State Nature Reserve and subjected to protection measures in accordance with the criteria for protected natural areas. In line with these objectives, a History and Nature Museum was built in Capocotta with a view to promoting in-depth environmental education.

To maximize protection of the delicate equilibrium of natural ecosystems, a  Scientific Council and an Interinstitutional Coordination Committee were established to support and optimize the management of the Estate.

Since 1995, an environmental monitoring system has been established in collaboration with several research institutes and scientific agencies to continuously monitor key environmental parameters. The system surveys pollutants, the organic composition of the soil, the level of groundwater aquifers, the properties and salinity of groundwater, the state of conservation of forests, the density of animal populations, and temperature and precipitation data. The Estate also operates a network to monitor CO2 and H2 O mass fluxes and energy exchange between the forest and the atmosphere, providing information on the carbon balance of Castelporziano’s forest ecosystems.

The data of the environmental monitoring programme is made available to the scientific community, transforming the Estate into a Mediterranean-based living lab.

Castelporziano is known among scientists as a unique area of high naturalistic value due to its high level of biodiversity, considering the complexity of its forest ecosystems, its remarkable wealth of flora (around 1,200 species) and fauna (over 3,500 species) in addition to the presence of natural ‘pools’ of water and temporary and permanent wetland areas. This biological richness, together with  the presence of numerous species and habitats of interest to the European Union, have led to Castelporziano being included in the Natura 2000 network, established by the relevant EU directive, classifying it as a SAC (Special Area of Conservation) and SPA (Special Protection Area).

Over the last five years, the efforts undertaken to protect and enhance natural resources have been rewarded with important recognitions for the sustainability of forest management. In 2020, the Castelporziano Estate was granted a Sustainable Forest Management Certificate under the PEFC (Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes), thus becoming the first certified forest in the Latium Region.

Since 2026, the Estate has held dual certification according to FSC and PEFC standards for sustainable forest management and the enhancement of ecosystem services.

Castelporziano and the Laurentino area

The Castelporziano Estate encompasses a vast territory formerly known as Laurentino, stretching from the city of Lavinio - Laurento, a town associated with the legendary landing of Aeneas in Latium, to the foothills of the Alban Hills, the Tiber River delta plain, and the coastline.

Human settlement in the area dates back to prehistoric times: starting from the early Iron Age (9th century BC), the area was occupied by settlements with dwellings which, during the Archaic period (800BC- 500 BC) gradually stabilised through a slow process of urbanisation. These settlements were typically perched on hilltops overlooking natural communication routes and reached considerable prosperity, as in the case of the town of Decima.

As Rome consolidated its power (400 BC-300 BC), the entire Laurentino territory was covered with rustic -type buildings, villas, and residences that served in the organization of the area’s agricultural activities, while the main roads, historical Via Laurentina and Via Ostiense, took shape.

Shortly after the Second Punic War - and even more so during the late Republican era (200 BC - 100 BC), coastal settlements began to emerge along the old shoreline. They consisted largely of villas belonging to prominent Roman aristocrats, in an area close to Rome and that had already become quite well-known thanks to Ostia, Rome’s port - town.

During the Roman Empire, refined residential development continued with the construction of numerous villas. Historical sources mention those owned by the emperor’s family, as well as one belonging to the writer Pliny the Younger.

The villas relied on a small village, Vicus Augustanus, built in the Augustan age and active until late antiquity, for essential services. The coastal settlements were connected to Rome through a complex roadway system consisting of the Ostiense and Laurentina roads and their branches, as well as the Via Severiana, an ancient coastal footpath connecting the Latium Vetus coast to Ostia’s port.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the territory passed into the hands of the Catholic Church and, from the 5th century AD, is recorded as property of the Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. The first fortification on the site of the present castle dates to the 10th century AD, and ownership was later transferred to the monks of San Saba, who held it until 1561. When Pope Pius IV ordered the closure of the San Saba monastery, the Castelporziano Estate was incorporated among the assets of the Ospedale di Santo Spirito.

In 1568, the estate was sold to the Florentine Del Nero family, who retained ownership until 1823, when it was purchased by Duke Vincenzo Grazioli. In 1872, Quintino Sella, then Minister of Finance, promoted its acquisition by the Italian State for use as the King's hunting estate.

Since 1948, the Castelporziano Estate, together with the Quirinale Palace and Villa Rosebery in Naples, has been at the disposal of the President of the Republic.

The Roman villas

The ancient Roman villas built in the Laurentino area fall under a dual typology of extra-urban residences: rustic homes, destined to be used for agricultural purposes, and villas otium, stately homes mainly used for the owners’ physical and mental leisure.

Remains of the first typology of homes can be found in the Malafede valley and on the adjacent hills. The stately homes were scattered throughout the coastal axis along Via Severiana and remains can still be seen along the coast, bearing witness to the monumentality and wealth of their decorations, especially their mosaic flooring, the wall paintings and the marble panelling.

The Castle and the Hamlet

After the disintegration of the territorial organisation following the fall of the Roman Empire and the turbulent historical events of the post-Classical era, in the early Middle Ages the areas surrounding Rome was largely owned by the Church. The establishment of the Domusculta Lauretum by Pope Zachary (741-752 AD) for the agricultural, social and religious organisation of the area dates back to this period.

As the political scenario evolved, the original nucleus of the Castle was established between the 10th and 11th centuries. It began as a tower, around which additional buildings were gradually added within a fortified enclosure - an arrangement that, by the 14th century, would be identified and referred to as castrum. In 17th-century cartography (e.g., the Alexandrine Cadastre of 1660), the Castle is often depicted as a quadrangular fortification with corner towers, a double entrance gate, crowning elements, and battlements. Extensively renovated by the Grazioli family (1823–1872), the Castle now has a perimeter almost twice that of the original structure. The bel étage preserves furnishings dating back to the reign of the House of Savoy, largely transferred from the Quirinale Palace and other pre-unification residences, and to a lesser extent, acquired directly by the House of Savoy. Despite the variety of styles on the bel étage, the dominant themes celebrate the House of Savoy and hunting.

A distinctive feature of the hamlet is the green area laid out as a classical Italian-style garden, the Horti della Regina (Queen’s Gardens). The garden’s upper terrace hosts a large 2nd-century AD mosaic, at the centre of which stands a majestic horse sculpted by Master Ceroli, from the Quirinale Contemporaneo (Quirinale Contemporary Collection). The Horti include a citrus grove, espalier lemon trees, and the “mound” where the Queen herself enjoyed spending her leisure time.

The garden also features a number of trees and shrubs donated to the Office of the President of the Republic, each accompanied by a commemorative plate that also details its main botanical characteristics.

The History and Archaeologycal Museum

The Historical and Archaeological Museum, housed in a building within the Castle, displays over 200 objects from archaeological excavations carried out on the Castelporziano Estate since the second half of the 19th century. The museum is organized into several halls and showcases a series of exhibits arranged according to the monumental structures to which they belong and displayed in chronological order.

Among its rich holdings, particularly noteworthy - given their historical, documentary and artistic value - are two tombs with lavish funerary artefacts from the necropolis of Castel di Decima (700 BC) and a section of a painted Roman ceiling discovered in the imperial villa whose substantial remains are still visible in the Tor Paterno area.

The Carriage Loggia and the Historic Cars Pavilion

The ‘Carriage Loggia’ and the ‘Historic Cars Pavilion’ display the wooden vehicles used by members of the House of Savoy for royal hunting parties, as well as carriages for travelling along the Estate’s roads and agricultural vehicles used for farming. The large Breaks and Hunting-Breaks were mainly used to transport guests to the hunting grounds. The collection also includes Phaeton and Spider-Phaeton, two sturdy and fast sports carriages. Equally important are the Break wagonettes, used both to carry guests to the chosen hunting site and to train horses.

Alongside hunting vehicles, the exhibition includes numerous other carriages used by the Queen to visit archaeological sites, including various types of gigs and elegant Vis à Vis carriages in which ladies accompanied their sovereign. Of particular interest is the carriage described in historic inventories as being “at the service of the royal princesses” for countryside rides. The display also includes farming carriages and carts, as well as wagons used to transport game taken during the hunt.

The Carriage Pavilion has recently expanded the collection with two cars: the Fiat 513 Mod. 4, known as “Saetta del Re” and a Lancia Flaminia 335, designed by Pininfarina specifically for the President of the Republic.