The history of the Rieti territory and its villages is strongly intertwined with that of the great families that ruled them over the years: Orsini, Colonna, Savelli, Farnese, Barberini, Mareri among the most important. The Stemmi experience aims to take the visitor among the most significant ancient castles and noble palaces, including the famous Cesarini Castle in Rocca Sinibalda: monuments, private residences and places devoted to tourist hospitality and event organization.
Casaprota
The village of Casaprota was, during the Middle Ages, part of the numerous possessions of the Abbey of Farfa. In fact, the construction of the castle of Casaprota probably dates back to the beginning of the 10th century, at the behest of the monks of the abbey. In the following years the castle passed from hand to hand among powerful families: the De Romania, the Gentili, the Vincenti Mareri, and the Soderini. In the 15th century the castle, now known as Palazzo Filippi, was enlarged. Sixteenth-century windows open on the facade. Notable is the circular crowned tower that stands over the palace, probably dating from the 14th century.
Cittaducale
Not far from Piazza del Popolo is the splendid 18th-century Dragonetti-de Torres palace. In typical Baroque style, it was donated by the Marquise Dragonetti to the village parish after World War II, and is now a pastoral action center.
Cittaducale
Cittaducale’s Palazzo della Comunità is famous for two reasons: it hosted the Duchess Margaret of Austria, daughter of Emperor Charles V, in the 16th century, with balls and masquerade parties organized for the occasion; and it was restored by the famous architect Jacopo Barozzi, known as the Vignola. The palace, flanked by the Civic Tower, is located in the Piazza del Popolo, in the heart of the S. Croce district.
Collalto Sabino
The baronial castle of Collalto Sabino, located at the highest point of the centre, appears in sources for the first time around 1350. Between the 14th and 16th centuries the castle passed into the hands of many noble families, including the Soderinis, who they subjected the structure to various restructurings in a defensive sense, with the addition of crenelated towers. The castle also belonged to the Barberini family. The current appearance retains Renaissance and Baroque features. Noteworthy are both the central square tower and the two towers at the corners.
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Collalto Sabino
Palazzo Latini of Collalto Sabino is a typical stately building dating back to the 15th century. Irregularly planned and four-story, it retains two medieval towers. There are three portals framing the entrance doors. The main portal preserves the coat of arms of the Latini family: a dove with olive branch on three mountains and an eight-pointed star. Toward the middle of the 1700s the first restorations were carried out, and later an interesting functional reuse was carried out by Gian Piero Latini. Even today the palace is owned by the Latini family.
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Frasso Sabino
At the center of the town of Frasso Sabino stands the ancient Sforza Cesarini Castle. The building was built on the ruins of the pre-existing medieval fortress during the 16th century by the feudal Cesarini family. In 1673, with the marriage of Livia Cesarini and Federico Sforza, the castle passed to the Sforza Cesarini family. The latter made further modifications to make it a lordly residence. A cylindrical corner tower, adorned with corbels, that controlled the entrance ramp to the ancient village survives from the original construction.
Labro
The Noble Vitelleschi castle is properly a noble palace, born on the ancient defense walls of the fortress of Labro. At the beginning of the 16th century, when the fortress was destroyed and the Nobili family lost their feudal rights over the town, it was decided to build the noble residence. The castle is still inhabited today by the descendants of the family, who manage guided tours for the public. Inside the castle there is also a family archive with very interesting documents for the history of Labro starting from the year 1000.
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Mompeo
Mompeo belonged for a long time to the Abbey of Farfa. The first nucleus of the castle was built in the 9th century by a certain Francone with the consent of the Abbot of Farfa. From the mid-10th century, after the Saracen invasions, the fiefdom of Mompeo passed to various families including the Crescenzi and Savelli families. Then in the 12th century the Orsini became lords of Mompeo, who remained at least until 1559. During this period work was carried out to enlarge the original castle. In 1635 the castle was purchased by the Marquis Capponi of Florence, who in turn gave it to the noble Roman Naro family. During the rule of the Naro, the old Orsini fortress was almost completely renovated and the Baronial Palace was built. Since 1995 it has been owned by the Municipality of Mompeo and has received a complete architectural restoration. The interior features a large courtyard and loggia. In the rooms on the upper floor are preserved 17th-century frescoes. The only remaining vestiges of the ancient fortress are the two defense towers.
Montenero Sabino
Archival documents from the Abbey of Farfa date the foundation of the Orsini Castle of Montenero to around the year 1000. The castle was bought by Napoleon Orsini in 1250, then passed into the hands of the Mattei and the Vincentini, but the Orsini are the family that owned it for the longest time. The castle, therefore medieval in origin, was founded as a military outpost of the Abbey of Farfa and was characterized by its rectangular shape with a polygonal tower in the center. Following various modifications between 400 and 600, it was transformed into a noble residence. In fact, the monumental double entrance staircase, the portal with the two circular towers, the inner courtyard and many of the residential structures on the upper floors date from that period. The frescoes preserved in it are also very valuable.
Orvinio
The Malvezzi Campeggi Castle in Orvinio has medieval origins, its foundation dates back to around the year one thousand. In its history, especially in the sixteenth century, it underwent various modifications and additions to the original by the various families that owned it, including the Orsinis. Of the medieval layout it preserves the walls and the cylindrical tower. Upstairs there are rooms decorated with late Conquecentesque frescoes.
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Rocca Sinibalda
The center of Rocca Sinibalda was founded according to tradition by a Lombard nobleman, a certain Sinibaldo. The possession then passed to the Abbey of Farfa, to the Brancaleoni, to the Mareri and finally to the Cesarini. In the 16th century, Cardinal Alessandro Cesarini had the imposing fortified noble palace built from the ancient medieval fortress which today stands out in the upper part of the town. Among the architects who followed the project we remember Baldassarre Peruzzi. The interior, which can be visited, is characterized by three large apartments and two courtyards, in the main room there are frescoes from the 16th century.
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Marcetelli
Marcetelli Castle originally belonged to the feudal Mareri family. It was later sold, in 1655, to Cardinal Francesco Barberini. Having become Barberini Palace, the building bore, according to local oral traditions, the family crest, which would later be removed. Noteworthy is the octagonal fountain in the square opposite.
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Scandriglia
In the town of Scadriglia, next to the church of Santa Maria Assunta, is the Palazzo degli Anguillara. Of fifteenth-century origin, it is characterized by its Renaissance architecture, with late Gothic features such as the historiated mullioned window.
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Torricella in Sabina
The current fortress of Ornaro Alto (fraction of Torricella in Sabina) is the result of various modifications carried out starting from the original medieval complex, dating back to around the 11th century. In fact, in the 1400s the base was added to the tower and everything was raised by one floor. The castle belonged to the Brancaleoni family, then to the Orsinis until, in 1604, on the death of Enrico Orsini, it was devolved to the apostolic chamber. In 1779 the apostolic chamber granted the use of the castle to various local families: the Lucantoni, the Costantini, the Maoli, the Salzeri, the Lattanzio. This agreement was concluded with the Lattanzios and the castle was sold, remaining privately owned until today.
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Poggio Nativo
The origins of the castle of Poggio Nativo can be traced back to the 11th century. In the 12th century the castle was donated to Pope Adrian IV, and from that time it underwent several changes of ownership, until in the early 15th century it was occupied by Paolo Savelli. In 1460, however, Antonio Piccolomini, nephew of Pope Pius II, confiscated the castle from the Savelli family, who had sided with the Angevins and thus against the pope. After 20 years the castle returned to Cardinal Giovan Battista Savelli, a family whose name it retained as it is known today. In 1625 Pope Urban VIII erected the land of Poggio Nativo into a duchy, and in 1633 the castle was sold to Marcantonio Borghese.
Rivodutri
The alchemical door located in Rivodutri in via Umberto I is an important testimony of the pre-existing Baroque palace to which it was the main entrance. It is also called “Portone di Nicolò”, it is a seventeenth-century arch made of limestone. Remarkable are the sculptural decorations with an esoteric and cabalistic theme. Today the building no longer exists and the door overlooks a garden. The Baroque palace belonged to the Camiciotti family, administrators of public and ecclesiastical assets.
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Registered office: Via Manzoni 10, 02100 Rieti
c.o. V^comunità montana
Tax code: 01235650577
