Le Mole di Narni: A Beautiful Day Trip from Rome by Train
It has been a while since I made a new day trip from Rome, but I am going to make it up to you with this perfect little gem. Le Mole di Narni is a private swimming area located in the Parco Gole del Nera, a beautiful nature park just outside Narni.
There are several swimming spots to explore around the park, and in this blog post, I will tell you all about my experience at Le Mole di Narni, the other places you can visit in the area, and, of course, how to get there by train from Rome.
By the end of this article, you will be more than prepared for your own day trip to this magical little place. So grab your swimsuit, pack a little snack, and let's escape Rome for the day!
What is Parco Gole del Nera?
Parco Gole del Nera is a nature park around 60 kilometres from Rome, located in the Umbria region and centred around the Nera River. While the name of the river means "black", the water is actually an amazing clear blue, thanks to the numerous natural springs in the area.
The landscape is a beautiful combination of turquoise water, ancient paths, rocky cliffs, and even some old industrial architecture. This combination makes for a wonderful day out, and after spending so much time in Rome, for me it felt like arriving at a peaceful oasis.
One of the best things about the park is that you don't have to pay to visit it. There is a hiking route through the area that is completely free to access. However, if you want to swim in the river, there are several designated swimming areas where you have to pay an entrance fee.
The official park has two swimming areas: Sorgente della Morica and Cove del Mulino. There is also a third option, a private swimming area called Le Mole di Narni, which is where I went.
The two swimming areas managed by the official park are only paid-access during June, July, and August. During the rest of the year, you can access the river shores for free. Sorgente della Morica in particular became quite popular on Instagram a while ago, so it can get busy during the summer months.
During the summer, access to both swimming areas is organized in shifts. When booking your ticket, you can choose between a morning, afternoon, or evening slot. Tickets are also available on site, but I would recommend booking online in advance so you can be sure to get a spot.
At the time of writing, a ticket for either swimming area costs €6.80, while children under 10 can enter for €2. Make sure to check the official website before visiting, as prices and opening arrangements can change.
As you probably already understood, I went to neither of these swimming areas and instead opted for the third option: the private swimming area on the river called Le Mole di Narni.
But before I tell you all about my experience there, let's talk about how to actually get to Parco Gole del Nera from Rome by train.
How to get to Parco Gole del Nera from Rome by train
Getting to the nature park by train is relatively simple, since there is a train station quite close by called Nera Montoro. From the station, it is about a 25-minute walk to the two swimming areas I mentioned above, but if you want to visit Le Mole di Narni, like I did, it is only around a 10-minute walk.
To get to Nera Montoro, you can take a regional train from Roma Termini. Trains run roughly every one to two hours, and the journey takes between 50 minutes and an hour and a half, depending on which train you take. At the time of writing, a one-way ticket costs €6.90.
I recommend buying your ticket in advance through the Trenitalia app, the official Italian railway app. This way, you don't have to stand in line at the ticket machines at Termini, which is always a win in my book.
Tip: If you don't know what the Trenitalia app is, I have written an article about the most useful apps to have in Rome, and it is one of the apps I recommend. Feel free to check it out!
More tips for taking the train
Travelling on a Sunday or public holiday? Keep in mind that the train schedule is different from the weekday schedule. There are significantly fewer trains, so make sure to plan your day around the available connections.
Give yourself extra time at Termini. The last time I travelled to Nera Montoro, my train left from platform 2EST. This was completely new to me, and it turned out to be a separate platform area in front of the regular platform. It added an extra 5–10 minutes of walking to the journey. So if you're taking this day trip from Termini, make sure you arrive early enough to find your platform and avoid missing your train!
My experience at Le Mole di Narni
While I can't wait to visit the two swimming areas I mentioned above soon, personally, I went for the third option: Le Mole di Narni. Le Mole di Narni is a private swimming area with several access points to the Nera River, and it is only about a 10-minute walk from Nera Montoro train station.
At Le Mole di Narni, you will find a timeless historical setting, with ancient mills surrounded by beautiful nature. The area is quite large, and there is more than enough grass and greenery to find a nice spot for your towel. I really loved the combination of the old buildings, the river, and the surrounding nature. It feels very different from spending a summer day in Rome!
A day ticket for Le Mole di Narni costs €12, but keep in mind that prices can change, especially on public holidays. I visited on Ferragosto, the Italian public holiday on August 15, and on that day the ticket was €20 per person instead of €12.
You can also rent sunbeds for €10 per person, and they offer additional experiences that you can book when you arrive, including massages, SUPs on the river, and guided meditation sessions.
The park is equipped with bathrooms, changing rooms, and showers, which you can use freely. There is also a bar where you can buy drinks and snacks, so you don't necessarily have to bring everything with you.
If I can give you one piece of advice, it is to book your tickets through the official website in advance so you can be sure to get a spot. You can also buy tickets at the entrance, but the park has a maximum capacity of 800 people, so booking beforehand is definitely the safer option, especially on busy summer days.
Was Le Mole di Narni worth it?
Okay, so I hear you thinking, Juliette, did you like it at Le Mole di Narni? I've got to be honest, I definitely liked it, but I could have liked it more if it wasn't entirely because of my own decisions. Let me explain.
I booked the ticket for Ferragosto, thinking that either it was going to be tranquillo since everyone was going to an actual beach, or it was going to be crazy busy. Sadly for me, it was the latter, and it felt like the capacity was really at its maximum for the day.
While the nature and the water were still beautiful, it was a little too crowded for me to fully enjoy it. This was obviously not really the park's fault, but more my own for booking this specific date. Next time, I would go on a random Wednesday, because I am sure it will be less crowded and more to my liking.
In general, with all the facilities, I think it is fully worth the ticket price. It is also good to mention that the staff working here are very well-organized and friendly!
Conclusion
I really hope that with this article I could inspire you to make this easy and beautiful day trip from Rome by train. The nature of Parco Gole del Nera is definitely worth exploring, and whatever spot you pick for swimming, I am sure you are going to have a great time. I can't wait to go back soon to discover more of this amazing place close to Rome, and if you have any questions or suggestions for me, always feel free to drop a comment!
Hope to see you soon!
Much love,
Juliette
