Spa
Aquae Cutilliae
Antrodoco (Rieti)
Listen to the story
Aquae Cutiliae, the waters of Cutilia, bubbled up on the Via Salaria between Rieti and Antrodoco, near the village of Paterno, where large ruins remain. The lake beside them was held to be the navel of Italy, and it was famous for a floating island. The water was heavy with minerals, strongly purging and quick to turn things to stone, and people drank it as well as bathed in it. Two emperors died here, Vespasian and his son Titus.