Urban Vineyard Inaugurated at Rome's Parco San Sisto

On September 30, 2025, Rome inaugurated an urban vineyard at Parco San Sisto, at the foot of Villa Celimontana, as part of the Roma Mater Vinorum project. The initiative, a collaboration between the Municipality of Rome and the International Association Iter Vitis, with support from universities and agricultural institutes, aims to revive the capital's historical wine heritage. The vineyard covers approximately 1,400 square meters and features seven native historical grape varieties—Bellone, Nero Buono di Cori, Cesanese, Moscato di Terracina, Mammolo, Abbuoto, and Malvasìa Puntinata—selected from over a thousand rooted vines. These varieties once covered large parts of the Palatine, Aventine, and Imperial Forums in ancient Rome. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri stated that the project adds a piece to Rome's recovery of its connection to land, food, and agriculture, extending agricultural areas while triggering urban regeneration. Councillor Sabrina Alfonsi described the vineyard as an open-air environmental laboratory providing climate data, absorbing CO2, lowering temperatures, and promoting biodiversity and pollinator insects. The Roma Mater Vinorum project was awarded Best European Project for the valorization of wine and vine culture in October 2024. Future plans include creating a network of urban vineyards at historic sites, offering alternative cultural itineraries and environmental-educational assets.