The peak of Monte Cimino in Central Italy is crowned by an ancient beech forest and massive volcanic rocks. None, however, are as famous as the sasso menicante (trembling stone), which was already known to Pliny the Elder, who recognized it as a natural wonder in his Natural History. This massive trachytic peperino rock was hurled to its present resting site during the age of Monte Cimino’s volcanic activity, between 1.35 million and 800,000 years ago. When the boulder crashed on the mountain, it found itself balanced on another buried volcanic rock. Until a…
