fortresses and castles: Sabina surprises you
discover the fortresses and castles of the Sabina, between history and power,
ghosts and legends, mysteries and realities
 Mastio a scarpa |
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 Rocchettine al tramonto |
 Borgo di Rocchette |
 Rocchette vista da Rocchettine |
Rocchette and Rocchettine
Free visits
In studying the past of this corner of Sabina one cannot ignore the twin boroughs of Rocchette and Rocchettine. There is no precise information regarding their foundation but their history is relatively recent, built at some time in the course of the XIII century. Originally they were known as Rocca Giudonesca (Rocchettine) and Rocca Bertalda (Rocchette). The first belonged to the Diocese of Sabina (Vescovio) but then they passed to the Orsini and Savelli families that would control them for many centuries. Originally they were intended to guard the important highway that connected Rieti (Terni) to the Tiber Valley and Rome. With time Rocchette became a rural hamlet, even it conserved much of its original military structure. Rocchettine instead was slowly, over time abandoned. This has meant that despite it now being a ruin it has maintained its original austere medieval fortresses look. Rocchettine was constructed on a hillside that had formed by the erosion caused by the Laia Torrent passing between the mountains. The great southern facing circular tower is still clearly visible, it was erected presumably during the tenure of the Savelli family, as were the outer walls at the summit of which used to run a wooden gallery so as to permit the movement of lookouts along the walls. The tower on the northern side of the fortress has a square footprint and originates back to the initial building phase of the fortress.Although the tower is enclosed in of surrounding walls from a later peiod, it gives us the idea of how the "castrum" structure was at the time of its foundation. Other tan the tower Very little is left of the original structure. . Near the fortress stands the Church of San Lorenzo that was totally transformed after the 18th century reconstruction. The whole complex – except the church - was built with materials found locally such as limestone, typical of the Sabine area and of the Central Apennines.
Rocchettine castle
How to get here
Torri in Sabina, via Rocchette
 Camera Bella |
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 Salone delle Feste |
 Sala della Loggia |
 Cortile del Palazzo |
Palazzo Bonaccorsi
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Bonaccorsi Palace is an amazing gift from the past sunk in history and legend, memories and fantasy. It rose as a fortress on the remains of either a Roman temple or villa and became, over time and with the intervention of the Orsini family, a Baronial Palace. It changed hands many times from the Orsini’s to the Ruiz family, the Annibaldi’s , Bonaccorsi family and eventually to the Duranti Valentini’s. The main floor is entirely frescoed with the Banquet Hall being the most important room with its 8 metre high coffered ceilings and outstanding artwork. Cardinal Schuster was a guest here and so - most probably- was Caravaggio who was close to the Mattei family: it seems that the hamlet of Castel San Pietro is depicted in one of his paintings. The Palace has been recently renovated and is now owned by the lawyer M.L.P Petroni.
Visit Palazzo Bonaccorsi
How to get here
Castel San Pietro, PIazza Grande
Visiting hours
every Saturday from 5pm
every Sunday from 11am
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Ticket
€10 p/p
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Contact us
Tel: +39 347 72 79 591
Email: rietidascoprire@vodafone.it
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Curiosities
Caravaggio was a close friend of the Mattei family, the owners of the castle in the 16th century, and he often stayed here and it can be seen in one of his paintings.
 Torre longobarda |
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 Catino |
 Rocca di Catino |
 Rocca di Catino |
The fortress of Catino
The castle of Poggio Catino
Free visits
On the road that from Rieti led to the Lower Sabina, by the end of the VII century a fortified settlement had been constructed, on what was then the boundary between the Duchy of Spoleto and the territories of St. Peter's.
The castle, position on Monte Moricine was known as the podium of Catino, it soon became an aggregation point for a population living in a harsh territory, covered in thick forest suitable only as pastures and mountain crops. Poggio Catino would originate, at a later date, to accommodate the overflow population of Catino, whose layout was such that did not permit any further expansion. By the XI century the two where fiefs of the potent Abbey of Farfa, as was most of the territory of the Bassa Sabina. The holding changed hands a number of times and following a controversy with the Commune of Rieti, in February 1478, it passed to a Genoese merchant by the name of Meliaduce Ciccala. The founders of Catino were the Lombards and the tower that still soars above the hamlet is known as Torre Longobarda, as its construction is erroneously attributed to them. It has a pentagonal form and is over twenty meters high. The fortification was built in an extraordinary position, perched on the edge of a deep karst chasm known as Catino. Poggio Catino still conserves the massive cylindrical bastion of the donjon, on which rest the Parish Church and around which cluster the old houses. The whole protected by a solid ring of walls where the remains of gateways and defaces structures are still clearly visible. For many centuries the two locations were fiefs of various noble families like the Orsini, Savelli, Capizucchi and last the Olgiati.
The fortress of Catino
How to get here
Catino, PIazza Belvedere
Park the car and continue on foot
The castle of Poggio Catino
How to get here
Poggio Catino, via Giorgio Gioia 18
Park the car and continue on foot
 Bastione del castello |
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 Cortile interno |
 Vista di Mompeo |
Baronial Palace of Mompeo
Visits: ask information at the Town Hall
An ancient tale recounts that where present day Mompeo rises there used to stand the villa of Fabio Massimo, who was often referred to by Cicero in his works. More credence though is given to the legend that the place was the site of the villa of Gneo Pompeo, so much so that it is said the name of the location derives from this important family!
For centuries, till the end of the XVII century, Mompeo was a fief of the powerful Roman feudal family of the Orsini. In 1653 it passed from their hands into those of the Capponi, a family of rich Florentine merchants and a decade late it was ceded to the Naro, a Roman noble family of Sabine origin. They gave a new impetus to the local economy and a new lustre to the borough by modifying the old Orsini castle and turning it into a splendid new Renaissances style pleasure summer palace.
Of the original castle all that remains are two ponderous scarp towers, which stand at the corners of the building that has a rather vague octagonal shape. Large and luminous windows were opened in the great walls so as to soften the otherwise harsh aspect of the structure.
The marquise Bernardino Naro wanted his residence to have the dignified setting it deserved, so he set about restoring the whole village and improving its appearance. He enlarged the square, installed a fountain, set out a magnificent Italian garden and built an impressive travertine portal to decorate the main entrances into the hamlet.
Mompeo Palace
How to get here
Mompeo, Piazza Regillo
Curiosities
To beautify their new home the Naro employed the most famous Sabine artist of the time; Vincenzo Manenti who painted some of the frescos inside the Baronial Palace.
Fabrizio and Bernardino Naro were passionate about Mompeo, as is testified by the many extensions and improvements they carried out. When they died both had specifically asked that their hearts be buried in the family chapel inside the Parish Church on the Piazza right next to their castle.
 Vista aerea del castello |
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 Il borgo di Montenero Sabino |
 Esterno del castello |
The castle of Montenero
Visits: Renzo 334 6532009
An ancient tradition says that the Fabio Massimo villa – that is mentioned by Cicero – was here. But a more accurate research has shown instead that here in Mompeo was the Gneo Pompeo villa which gave name to the village. Up to the 17th century Mompeo was a fiefdom of the Orsini dynasty. In 1653 it became fiefdom of the Capponi dynastyand a decade later of the Naro dynasty. The noble family from Rome built an impressive Renaissance style residence on the boundary of the ancient Orsini castle giving a new impetus to the local economy and a new lustre to the Sabine village. The two mighty towers of the ancient castle were used as corners for the new rectangular shaped building. Large windows were fitted to embellish the building's façade.. Bernardino Naro had the palace fitted with an imposing travertine stone doorway, extended the square and added a fountain and gardens.
The castle of Montenero
How to get here
Montenero Sabino, Piazza del Comune
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 Castiglione vecchio |
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 Castglione Vecchio |
 Castiglione Vecchio |
Castiglione Vecchio
Visits: Monica 3381952548
It is not that long ago that the last inhabitant of Castiglione left the place to move to the new settlement, situated at the foot of the mountain on which the little hamlet had stood for centuries.
The name of the place derives from the word "Castillo", meaning large castle, this would indicate that it origins date back to medieval times. As a settlement it enjoyed certain autonomy even if its destiny was always very much tied to that of nearby Cottanello. By the XIII century Narni, an Umbrian city not too far from this part of northern Sabina, had become rich and powerful. It had embarked on an aggressive campaign of expansion, spreading fear amongst its neighbours. Castiglione, realising that any attempt to resist would have been vain, agreed to pay feudal homage to Narni and therefore accepted its domination. In 1377 Narni, weakened but bloody infighting, was subjected to Orsini rule and of consequences even Castiglione became one of their many fiefs. Today the ruins of the place allow the visitor to envisage, with some flight of the imagination, what the fortress must have looked like; the remains of the high tower known as the Torre del Podestà, a well placed donjon, defended by strong walls and ditch are still standing to help stimulate the mind.
It only had one gateway, known as "Porta del Popolo". Inside its walls were two churches; one dedicated to San Sebastiano built in 1133, the date is inscribed on a stone beam. The other church, which was the main one, was dedicated to San Salvatore. It had three altars and was decorated with paintings dating to various periods. It has recently been restored and is occasionally opened to the cult.
The residences of the Castellan used to stand on the main square and on its walls the coat of arms of the proud Orsini are still clearly visible.
In 1828 Castiglione lost its municipal standing and was incorporated into that of Cottanello.
Castiglione Vecchio
How to get here
Cottanello
Curiosities
The first written references to Cottanello date to 1072.
It has had its fair shares of turbulences in the past. The most noteworthy was the tyrannical rule of Raullo also known as Sardus and described in documents of the time as Vir Sanguinum - a bloody man. In 1263 Pope Nicholas III freed it from his cruel lordship and it too became part of the Orsini holdings in Sabina.
