Top 5 Castles around Riofreddo

The Licenza Valley in medieval times In the early Middle Ages, the Licenza Valley was characterized by the presence of small, scattered settlement units, whose occupants were mainly dedicated to agriculture and pastoralism. The entire valley belonged to the Patrimonium Sancti Petri, divided into two dioceses, that of Sabina and that of Tivoli. Between 960 and 1012 the Crescenzi-Ottaviani family was the protagonist of the process of consolidating the valley, coming into possession of numerous properties, often to the detriment of the Abbey of Farfa, whose decline had begun with the end of the Carolingian empire. With the advent of Otto III of Saxony, the abbey recovered prestige and power, reacquiring a large part of its possessions, including the castrum of Castel del Lago, but it was a relatively short historical interlude. Already in the 12th century, many possessions had once again returned to the possession of the noble aristocracy and, in particular, of the Orsini family, with the exception of the settlements of Petra Demone, which remained in the possession of the abbey, and Castel del Lago, a fiefdom of the Colonna family . The 15th century saw a progressive subdivision of the castra between noble families, the opposite process to that which led to their formation (the castle as the sole center of power); to give an example, the castrum of Castel del Lago was under the influence of three noble families: Colonna, Orsini and Atti of Todi. This is the historical period characterized by a process of abandonment of many settlements, a phenomenon which affected in the Licenza Valley the castras furthest from the Licenza river artery and from the valley bottom roads (Castel del Lago, Macla, Petra Demone, Spogna). In this regard, the French historian Toubert hypothesizes that the strongest castras on a productive and economic level survived and that those initially more powerful due to their strategic position on high ground were progressively depopulated.

From the Lucretili site: "On the relief overlooking Lake Fraturno, in the Rovine Morella area, the remains of the medieval settlement of Castel del Lago were found. Not much remains of what once must have been an agglomeration of various buildings with a fortification walls: only a wall on the edge of the slope, some minor walls, traces of stone alignments and scattered construction material, all surrounded by vegetation which makes their identification even more problematic. The settlement of Castel del Lago, initially made up of rural houses in no particular order, it was donated to the Abbey of Farfa in the 12th century. Its strategic position, on the watershed between the Aniene and Turano rivers, was at the origin of the aims of the powerful Roman families, who over the centuries alternated as owners of the land.A document from 1116 relating to the Lateran Council testifies how the Abbey of Farfa complained about the usurpation of some assets, including Castel del Lago, which became a fief of the Colonna di Riofreddo family. Granted by Boniface VIII to the Orsini family, it was destroyed in 1492. When the settlement came into the possession of the Borghese family in the 17th century, the area was characterized by the presence of agricultural crops and large spaces now used as pasture".

Cineto Romano is a small town that dominates the valley of the Ferrata stream. The old village rises right around the Orsini castle which, with its grandeur, defines the profile. From the town, with a short and simple walk also for families, you can reach the Rio Scuro waterfalls, a pleasant place surrounded by nature.

Arsoli is a small town of about 1,000 inhabitants which is part of the province of Rome. Its medieval origins make your visit very pleasant: the tenth century Massimo castle stands out for its importance.

Beautiful climb where you can see the village

From here we can reach the ruins of an old settlement, which was built around a fortified castle which dates back to the 15th century.

A little village gem!

Orvinio is an Italian municipality of 387 inhabitants in the province of Rieti, in Lazio, which stands on a hill around its imposing castle belonging to the family of the Marchesi Malvezzi Campeggi. It is part of the club of the most beautiful villages in Italy. I highly recommend a night walk through its alleys