Among the most evocative and little known places in Lazio there is certainly the "ghost village" of celleno, located in the province of Viterbo and about an hour and a half by car from Rome. A real pearl overlooking Lake Bolsena, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The ancient part is found in the Teverina wine route, a strategic position that in the past has been a source of much attention.

Celleno, the "ghost village" of Lazio

The charm of Celleno is suggestive and irresistible, so much so that it is included in the list of the 25 "incredible ghost towns of Italy" drawn up by The Telegraph. The Lazio village overlooks Lake Bolsena. It is located at a crossroads of villages not to be missed, including the famous one Civita di Bagnoregio.

The history of Celleno begins in the thirteenth century BC, with the settlement before the Etruscans, then of the Romans. The name of the city comes from the Latin "Cell", which means "cave". The village stands on a tuff rock. Throughout its history it has been affected by several natural disasters. Among the most important was a terrible earthquake in 1931 which caused much of its destruction. It is counted among the "ghost towns" because in fact it is an abandoned village, at least as regards its original part, the one that contains the remains of the ancient castle and the network of alleys that surround it.

The new village of Celleno was rebuilt nearby during the 30s and today has just under 1.500 inhabitants. The Lazio village is placed under the protection of the FAI (Italian Environment Fund) and is considered one of the most enchanting in the region.

celleno castle wiki
Orsini Castle in Celleno - Valerio Orlandini, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Get inspired

The village of Celleno, as mentioned, is located in the province of Viterbo. It can be reached from Rome by car, with about an hour and a half journey. The village is a very suggestive destination for a trip out of town, the main attractions are the Orsini Castle, which dominates what remains of the ancient village, the Church of San Rocco and L'acqua Forte, water sources with a very ferruginous flavor. The whole village is made up of narrow streets and tuff houses, an enchanting layout that has also attracted the attention of foreign tourists.

The Orsini castle represents the heart of the ancient village and in the past it was the seat of the town hall. The Church of San Rocco is the most important religious building in Celleno and is also located in the ancient village that stood around the Castle. The plant was subjected to an important restoration work between 2001 and 2002. Other points of interest in the Lazio town are the Convent of San Giovanni Battista, and the Churches of San Carlo and San Donato.

An event not to be missed in Celleno is the famous one Cherry Festival, event usually held in June and offering various activities in the area. The party is an important opportunity to try the different culinary dishes, all obviously based on cherries, which are prepared, and to learn more about the territory of one of the most enchanting villages in Lazio.

Photo source in evidence: Castello Celleno - Vitmalinovsky - Own work CC BY-SA 3.0

Celleno, discovering the ghost town last edit: 2021-10-16T15:30:00+02:00 da Claudius Cafarelli

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