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Clitunno Springs can be found in a place of undisputed enchantment along Via Flaminia, between Spoleto and Foligno, in the municipality of Campello sul Clitunno. It’s actually a natural park that protects the sources of the Clitunno River, also known as “the sources of the poets” as they have already been celebrated by Virgilio, Giovenale, George Byron, Giosuè Carducci, etc.

The 2.5-acre park is fenced and open to the public all year round. The springs develop into a series of streams, pools, and even a small lake, with crystal-clear waters, which turn from green, to turquoise, azure and blue thanks to the surrounding vegetation.
Swans and other aquatic birds live there, as well as fish, and amphibians. Marsh and aquatic plants include horsetail, Myosotis palustris, Ranunculus aquatilis, as well as black poplars (Populus nigra “Italica”) and weeping willows (Salix babylonica) all around them.

The ancient Romans worshipped those “sacred” springs, which until the 440 AD earthquake used to be impressively abundant; the Romans actually thought that god Jupiter Clitunno lived in the waters of that very river – they even used to hold spring celebration festivals called “Clutunnals”.
A little further on, they built the small temple of Clitunno, which is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)