LAZIO
Proceeding south, you reach Lazio, where you must stop and visit Rome, the capital, my hometown. The city can be overwhelming for the number of scooters zigzagging around like mad mosquitoes, but in between the summer heat and the winter humidity, the spring, from late April to early May, is perfect. If you start feeling overwhelmed by the traffic, the heat, and the culture-overload, spend a relaxing afternoon bouldering in Soriano, near Viterbo, or venture for a climbing weekend at the top-shelf crag of Grotti. After some cragging you will regain your energy for visiting the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums.
Soriano is a newly developed bouldering area submerged in a thick forest, right at the bottom of the Cimini Mountains, near Rome. The basalt boulders are dispersed in the green of the forest and are easily accessible via trail. There are problems for every age and bicep size – but locals don’t allow grading – so be prepared to improvise.
The areas Cypress hill, Linea Gotica, Settore Dogma, La Prua, La Cozza, La Torre, and the Bunker are the places to be. However, as this is a very new area it might be impossible to spot the boulders, unless you go with a bunch of people from the Ecole Verticale (www.ecoleverticale.it/) the climbing gym in Rome.
Grotti is a pocketed limestone crag with some very pumpy routes up amazing water streaks. There are close to 70 routes here, and very few climbers. If you decide to visit this area get in pretty good shape, because the pockets are tendon-cut sharp and they do not distinguish beginners from pro climbers. It is best to visit in late autumn or late spring. The main sectors are La Curva, Iniziazione, Paretone, La Mano Rossa, Erotica, and Il deposito.
