Rocca Massima

Rocca Massima is a small hill town near Rome. Like so many of these wonderful towns it has been losing population for decades. At one time it was the home to people who worked on the farms in the valley below while enjoying the safety and warm breezes of living on a hill. There is no way for cars trucks or trains to climb the hill, so supplies are brought up by donkey to this day. As the jobs on the farms faded due to mechanization, many people left for Rome. It is easy to fall in love with this place as you walk through the narrow, almost deserted, alleys and look out at the surrounding countryside. Since it is on top of a hill, there are no trains or buses, so you must drive, park at the bottom of the hill and walk up.

There are a number of these plaques throughout the town marking the location of a now closed business. This plaque identifies a grocery store

Beautiful and empty alleys. We found a coffee shop open with a small group of men who still live here