The outlet of the Roman Emperor Claudius’ tunnel

The outlet of the tunnel is situated in one of the narrowest and most remote place in the valley, well concealed by the riverside vegetation.

It is a framework made in “opus reticulatum” (a peculiar wall construction technique with litlle stone blocks diagonally placed). It has the shape of a very high arch that surrounds and defines the outlet of the tunnel.

The stoneworks accomplished by Alessandro Torlonia didn’t change the original external framework of the arch because they were restricted only to the enlargement of the tunnel section.

Beside the arch and connected with it, there is a little bridge that gets over the ditch; this is a deep gorge that gets the waters coming down from the overhanging ravine of Capistrello. Those waters, after heavy rainfalls only, turn into a small waterfall (visible through a hole in the rock) that flows under the bridge of the lane.

Outside the structure of the tunnel there is the characteristic “pietra segata” or cut off-stone: a big, squared and smooth boulder. Its aim is unknown even though, according to its shape, it might have been the base for a monument dedicated to the God of Fucino or to the Emperor himself.