Solfatara Lake
Not far from the explosives factory, in the modern part of Fontana Liri, the
characteristic Solfatara Lake can be found. Its sulphurous waters, described
in the past as "precious waters", gush out from the numerous springs located
in its cavity and even from a crack in the rock, where it can also be drunk,
taking legitimate advantage of its countless therapeutic benefits.
The analysis of these sulphurous waters underlines their therapeutic and
depurative qualities.
In 1931, in the east part of the lake, there was built a restaurant-hotel that
included thermal baths, and a stone plaque just outside this structure
declares the presence of Pliny the Elder in this territory. The story tells that
the first thermal baths in this area date back to the Roman era. As discovered
in several findings, among which there was a plaque too, close to the
Solfatara Lake, there was villa Lateria, property of Quinto, brother of Cicero.
Around the lake today there is a park, with restaurants, children's games and
a path to take enjoyable walks, in order to perceive the peculiar and unique
smell of hydrogen sulphide, which comes from the lake. The structure of the
old mill still exists today. It is called the "grindstone of the Zippo" and
together with the only emissary of the lake they make this territory even more
fascinating.