Cold spring of lithium-magnesium water rising in a wooded hollow at Molella, in the territory of Sabaudia, channelled inside an ancient Roman cistern. The site, of considerable historical and natural interest, has repeatedly been flagged by local associations as in need of urgent safety and restoration work, as it is one of the most characteristic yet least known water points in the archaeological area of the Circeo.
In the heart of the Circeo forest, surrounded by imposing vegetation, lies the “Lucullus” spring, also called the “Bagnara”, protected by an artificial grotto. It is a spring of bicarbonate-lithium water rising inside an artificial vault obtained from an earlier Roman cistern measuring about 10.30 by 5.85 metres. From the left-hand wall a jet of water flows into one larger central spout and two smaller side spouts. The abundant flow supplied the famous “fishponds of Lucullus” and various villas on the shores of Lake Paola. Over the years the site has deteriorated badly, partly because of numerous but incomplete restorations. Structural work is currently under way at the spring to reopen the site permanently.
The name is recent and is linked to a nearby fishpond that has always been wrongly attributed to the Roman general Lucius Licinius Lucullus. The spring was discovered in the early years of the last century by Dr Pietro Cardinale, who highlighted its therapeutic virtues. The water was considered very useful for treating many conditions. Its commercial use was proposed to boost the finances of the Municipality of San Felice Circeo. This led to a legal dispute with the then owner Luigi Aguet and, after a long trial, ownership passed to the townspeople for free and unrestricted use. Since then, although it lies in the municipality of Sabaudia, it belongs to San Felice Circeo. Unfortunately, the water is no longer drinkable today because of serious pollution of the water table.