discover the fortresses and castles of Sabina, between history and power,
ghosts and legends, mysteries and realities
The castle of Rocchettine
How to reach
Torri in Sabina, via Rocchette
 Castle of Rocchettine |
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 Castle of Rocchettine |
 Village of Rocchette |
 Village of Rocchette |
Rocchette e Rocchettine
Torri in Sabina, via Rocchette
Visits: free
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.
Palazzo Bonaccorsi
Castel San Pietro (Poggio Mirteto), Piazza Grande
Visits: Giuseppe Bizzaro, +39 334 3073859
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.
 Camera Bella |
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 Salone delle Feste |
 Sala della Loggia |
 Cortile del Palazzo |
Bonaccorsi Palace
How to reach
Castel San Pietro, PIazza Grande
The Fortress of Catino
The Castle of Poggio Catino
Catino (Poggio Catino), Piazza Belvedere
Poggio Catino, via Giorgio Gioia 18
Visits: free
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.
 Fortress of Catino |
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 Catino |
 Fortress of Catino |
 Fortress of Catino |
The Fortress of Catino
How to reach
Catino, PIazza Belvedere
Park the car and continuee on foot
The Castle of Poggio Catino
How to reach
Poggio Catino, via Giorgio Gioia 18
Rocca Baldesca
Salisano, via di Roccabaldesca
Visits are not permitted
Rocca Baldesca is an imposing fortress on a hilltop flanked on 3 sides by 2 streams. It was built in the 5th century by the Tebaldi family and after changing ownership through the centuries it ended up permanently under Farfa Abbey guardianship in 1093. Its dominant position granted control of the Via Cursina - the road connecting Rieti with the Tiber valley. It was abandoned in 1594 due to the growing phenomenon of brigands in this area.
Rocca Baldesca
How to reach
Salisano, via di Roccabaldesca
 Rocca Baldesca |
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 Rocca Baldesca |
 Rocca Baldesca |
Palazzo Baronale of Mompeo
Mompeo, Piazza Regillo
Visits: information at the Municipality
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.
 Palace of Mompeo |
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 Palace of Mompeo |
 Mompeo |
Palazzo Baronale of Mompeo
How to reach
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.
Il Castello di Montenero
Montenero Sabino, Piazza del Comune
Visits: Renzo 334 6532009
Montenero Castle is a medieval fortress built on the remains of a much earlier castle attributed to one of Charlemagne’s knights whose gravestone can still be found in the castle. For this reason the castle was looted during restoration works because they say that where there is a knight of Charlemagne’s grave a treasure can be found. The castle was of great importance for various different reasons: as a garrison because of its location and as property of the Orsini family that kept it from being ransacked. It had innovative defense systems, dungeons and thorough disposal methods of unwanted characters.
 Castle of Montenero |
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 Montenero |
 Castle of Montenero |
Castle of Montenero
How to reach
Montenero Sabino, Piazza del Comune
 Castiglione vecchio |
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 Castglione Vecchio |
 Castiglione Vecchio |
Castiglione Vecchio
Cottanello
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 reach
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.
 Roccantica |
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La Rocca di Roccantica
Roccantica, via Nuova 1
Visits: Comune di Roccantica, +39 0765 63020
The origins of this settlement are tied to the history of the Counts of Sabina. It is probable that in the Early Medieval Period one of them was behind its fortification. A sure fact is that for a short time they used it as one of their principal residences. From 1060 Roccantica was constantly faithful to the Roman Pontiffs and they, more than once, intervened in its favor in disputes between it and the Roman Commune. Its loyalty to the Holy See ensured that in the local geopolitical scenery Roccantica enjoyed an important advantage.
In 1454 the castle passed to Orso Orsini, but Roccantica way already set on a slow but steady decline that had started in 1391.
The main defense tower has a square shape and is positioned at the end of a triple line of defense walls. The outermost ring is still easily distinguishable, with its buttresses still intact. In the second are positioned three gateways know as; Il Portone or Porta Reatina, Porta Nuova and Porta dell'Arco. A portion of this circle of walls still scurvies and one of the towers that used to dot it is almost intact. The inner most ring of walls is now totally incorporated but the expansion, over time, of the village.
There used to be gateway in these walls but during the Orsini tenure it was demolished and replaced with a Renaissances style open passage flanked by two columns, it is now known as Le Colonne.
La Rocca di Roccantica
How to reach
Roccantica, via Nuova 1
Curiosities
The "Revotano" is a gigantic krast chasm, with a 250m diameter, one of the largest found in the Apennine range. Its depth has yet to be ascertained.
An ancient popular legend connects the place to Roccantica. It is said that once, where the "Revotano" crater is, long ago there was a hill on top on which used to rise a village. The people of this place lacked religious fervor and lived sinful lives and so the place was swallowed up forming the immense hole seen today.
Only a few God fearing souls, warmed by angels, managed to flee and save their lives. They settle on the opposite hill thereby giving life to Roccantica.
