🌿 Castiglione in Teverina: where time ferments like fine wine

Suspended between Lazio and Umbria, Castiglione in Teverina is not a village to pass through—it is one to savor.It is the scent of earth after rain, the noble silence of medieval towers, the warmth of stone at sunset. Perched on a travertine spur overlooking the Tiber Valley, this gem of Upper Lazio preserves the splendor of centuries of history and the authentic flavor of refined rural culture.

🏛️Origins: From Etruscans to Fortresses and a Hard-Won Freedom

The history of Castiglione in Teverina dates back to proto-Villanovan and Etruscan villages, but it was around the year 1000 that the village began to take shape, when the people of nearby Paterno, after their town was destroyed, sought refuge within the walls of the Rocca.

Over time, the town was at the center of fierce feudal disputes, passing through the hands of the Monaldeschi, the Savelli, and the Farnese, who shaped its architecture and destiny. But in 1637, something rare and extraordinary happened: the townspeople redeemed themselves, paying 20,000 scudi to purchase their freedom. A gesture that still lingers in the streets as a quiet pride—etched in stone and in the character of its people.

🏰The Village: Stone, Art, and Memory

Walking through Castiglione is like leafing through an illustrated book where every alley has a voice, every doorway a story, every window a glimpse into eternity.

Don’t miss:

• The Monaldeschi Fortress, dominating Piazza Maggiore, is the village’s symbol: a proud, austere stronghold that tells of the Middle Ages without nostalgia.

• The Collegiate Church of Saints Philip and James, which houses a 17th-century altarpiece and a precious 15th-century panel of the Assumption of Mary—a testament to refined artistic sensitivity.

• The Church of San Giovanni, the heart of popular celebrations.

• The Church of Madonna della Neve, a small countryside sanctuary beloved by locals—off the tourist map but at the center of the village’s soul.

Every stone is original, every restoration has respected the place’s spirit. The village is perfectly preserved, but never frozen—it lives, breathes, and welcomes.

🌾Untouched Nature and Soulful Trails

The landscape surrounding Castiglione in Teverina is a dreamscape of vineyards, olive groves, calanchi (clay ravines), and nature reserves. From the village heights, your gaze stretches to the Cimini Mountains, the Amerini hills, and Lake Alviano—now a WWF Oasis and sanctuary for herons, falcons, and migratory birds.

• The Valley of the Calanchi, lunar and silent, invites quiet passage.

• Monte Casoli Reserve offers shady trails, rock-cut archaeology, and breathtaking views.

• Lake Alviano beckons for photography, reflection, and slowness.

Here, nature is not a backdrop—it’s a discreet protagonist accompanying every step.

🍷Wine as Culture: Vineyards, Museums, and Farming Festivals

Castiglione in Teverina is a land of wine and agricultural memory. It’s here that the Strada del Vino della Teverina begins—a food and wine route that connects farms, historic wineries, and deeply rooted traditions.

At the heart of this culture is MUVIS – The Museum of Wine and Agricultural Sciences, the largest wine museum in Europe, housed in the atmospheric 19th-century cellars of Count Vaselli. A journey through:

• Ancient barrels

• Winemaking tools

• Films, scents, labels, and stories

A sensory and cultural experience that celebrates the deep bond between people and the land.

🎉Festivals, Traditions, and Flavors of the Past

Castiglione is a village that knows how to celebrate—with elegance and sincerity. Its traditions are alive, shared across generations:

• Wine Festival of the Tiber Hills (August): music, tastings, winery tours, late-summer charm, and authentic conviviality.

• Threshing Festival: rural reenactments, vintage tractors, warm bread, and stories under the stars.

• San Martino Mushrooms & Wine Festival (November): the forest becomes a dish, the cellar opens up, and the village glows with autumnal colors.

🧭Why Visit Castiglione in Teverina

Because it’s one of those places that doesn’t just appear—you discover it only if your eyes are open and your heart attentive. Here you can:

• Stroll through an unspoiled village without pretense

• Visit a wine museum that’s also an emotional journey

• Look out over landscapes drawn by wind and light

• Taste bread, oil, and wine that need no introduction

• Meet people who speak through hospitality, not marketing

“Castiglione in Teverina is an ancient wine poured into a goblet of living stone. You drink it with your eyes, savor it with your mind, and carry it in your heart.”