Rocchette e Rocchettine

Torri in Sabina, via Rocchette

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In studying the past of this corner of Sabina one cannot ignore the twin fortresses 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.