Appio Claudio – the stage of the Italian neoreaslimo

The neorealist films of the postwar years show us the landscape of an area not built near the factories of Cinecittà. Often, the background of the scenes recognizes the dome of the nearby church of St. John Bosco (Don Bosco), then still alone in the countryside. For example, Pier Paolo Pasolini, in his film Mamma Roma, chose the area where now stands the parish of St. Polycarp to make many scenes in the film.

The district was built mostly in the fifties also thanks to the INA-Casa. The creation of the district was followed by a slow growth of infrastructure. The area was, from the start, beset by problems of petty crime and conflicts between local residents and those settlements, known at the time of the year 60/70 slum dwellers, they were nomadic people or from regions such as Abruzzo , Molise and Calabria. They slept under the aqueduct Felice, where they had built small houses were also called barracks. Precisely in these makeshift buildings that stood behind the parish of St. Polycarp, a priest named Don Sardella built the first school for these people. The dismantling of this community began in the seventies with the occupation of the parish of St. Polycarp and the allocation of apartments thanks to the efforts of the parish priest at that time Bishop Sisto Gualtieri, a portion of the displaced went to live in apartments in Ostia Lido , others in apartments near the parish.

Today, the area is called totally renovated Aqueduct Park, as they are different one from the Roman period (fourth century), the Claudian Aqueduct, a second was restored by Pope Sixtus V Felice Peretti in the sixteenth century and this was called Felice Aqueduct. In 1980 a substantial boost to urban development was given by the opening of Line A of the Rome metro, which is vital for the neighborhood. Completion of the work took place in twenty years, between interruptions, blocks the road near the station and controversy. Always go back to the eighties interventions to enhance the park, with the demolition of the last huts. In 2007, the last abusive gardens inside the park were dismantled, restoring the beauty and the free use of all citizens of a park with considerable archaeological riches.

Since the beginning of our century, the population of the district prosecution discomfort due to a significant increase in traffic and urban air. The increase in flights to the nearby Ciampino Airport is due to the policy of flights at low prices.