Celleno, land of cherries: a hidden gem in the heart of Tuscia Viterbese

Perched on a spur of tuff rock, in the heart of the lush Tuscia Viterbese of Lazio, lies the town of Celleno. Between Lake Bolsena and Lake Alviano, just 20 km from the city of Viterbo and 14 km from the characteristic town of Civita di Bagnoregio, Celleno is home to one of the most beautiful ghost towns in Italy. Celleno is also known as land of cherries and walking here in spring you will see a stretch of splendid cherry trees in bloom throughout the surrounding area.

In June the famous Cherry Festival is held and if you have never seen a 20-meter long tart we recommend you stop by these parts. There are many unmissable events in Celleno as well as the beauties of this hidden gem in the heart of Lazio. Come with us to discover Celleno!

The origins of the ancient city of Celleno, known today as a Ghost Town®, are lost in history. Inhabited since the Etruscan and Roman eras, it was only during the Middle Ages that it developed as a fortified village, controlled by noble families such as the Monaldeschi and the Orsini. Over time, landslides and earthquakes revealed the instability of the tuff rock on which it stood and the inhabitants of the ancient village of Celleno gradually abandoned the old center. In 1951 it was definitively abandoned and thus Celleno Nuovo was born.

A pleasant walk connects the old village and the new village of Celleno. This unusual and evocative city from which you can admire a splendid panorama over the entire valley is the perfect destination if you are looking for the hidden gems of Lazio. Celleno is known for its production of sweet and juicy cherries from which the Maraschino di Celleno is prepared, a unique specialty, which you can only taste in these parts. Stretching out across the surrounding countryside is the Ecomuseum of the Cherry: a widespread, open-air museum that preserves the territory, traditions and local culture. But now let’s focus on the famous ghost town.

Today the ancient village of Celleno is completely uninhabited, it is a silent and enchanting place where time seems to have stopped, every building, stone or glimpse is there to remind you of it. After crossing the entrance portal, the first thing you will notice entering the village is the imposing Orsini castle, symbol of feudal power and center of the ancient city, it is one of the most beautiful buildings in this country. Among the narrow streets of the village, inside some houses, you can notice an interesting reconstruction of scenes of daily life of the past.

Continuing to walk you will find the Church of San Carlo, built in the jubilee year 1625 on the remains of an older medieval church. To the left of the Castle instead, stands the bell tower of the church of San Donato patron saint of Celleno, of which today only the ruins remain. Walking along the Antica Via Maestra, a path will take you around the village where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the village and a splendid panorama of the Valle dei Calanchi. Leaving the village, stop to visit the Convent of San Giovanni Battista. The village is under the protection of the FAI and is part of a cultural and tourist recovery project called Il Borgo Fantasma di Celleno.

The Orsini Castle is the majestic building that guards the city with its tower, it is surrounded by a moat. The castle is accessed from Via del Ponte, crossing a single-arched brick bridge, or from Piazza Mercato. Take a tour of the entire perimeter of the castle, here you will find small cells that house some relics of the past: the ancient oven, the stables and the cellars where the wine was stored.

The castle owes its name to the Orsini family, who obtained dominion of the place in 1527 when Pope Clement VIII assigned Celleno to Cardinal Franciotto Orsini, the Orsini family was lord of the city until 1580, the year in which Celleno was absorbed by the Apostolic Chamber.

The Convent of San Giovanni Battista dates back to the beginning of the 17th century and is a magnificent building rich in history surrounded by a park of centuries-old holm oaks. The original nucleus of the complex is organized around a quadrangular cloister, richly adorned with a cycle of frescoes relating to the Stories of San Francesco. Around the cloister are the friars' cells and in the center a monumental cistern for collecting rainwater.

Towards the middle of the 17th century, expansion works were undertaken, a library was built that was reputed to be among the best in the province and the Convent was able to accommodate a greater number of friars, the convent was closed in 1811 following the Napoleonic Laws.

In this splendid village there is no shortage of initiatives and events that will make your visit even more interesting. Let's start with the magic of the Notte dell'Arpia, a musical event that takes place inside the ghost town of Celleno towards the end of July, the suggestive ghost town will resonate with harmonious notes and will come alive with circus shows. Moving on to folklore, between 12 and 16 September of each year in Celleno the Feast of the SS Crocifisso is celebrated, in honor of the very precious wooden sculpture that is found inside the church of San Rocco, The festivities include religious celebrations and popular initiatives.

If instead you are passionate about Living Nativity Scenes, or you are simply curious about how the ghost town of Celleno can come alive with characters from another era and that recall the birth of Jesus of Nazareth then you will come to these parts on December 26 for the living crib of Celleno. But the most significant and interesting event in Celleno is the Cherry Festival, discover it with us!

The queen of the tables of Celleno, a local excellence is without a doubt the cherry. It is known that when you talk about cherries one leads to another, but when you get to the cherry of Celleno then it is really difficult to stop eating them. The cultivation of cherries began in the late Middle Ages, but was introduced to these areas by the ancient Romans. In 2003, the National Association of Cherry Cities was established in Celleno, becoming a point of reference for other Italian municipalities that produce this tasty fruit.

To celebrate this very delicious fruit every year on the second Sunday of June the Cherry Festival takes place. During this fun festival the women of the town prepare the Crostatona, a 20-meter long tart and strictly filled with cherry jam. Among the most anticipated and fun events of the festival is the International Cherry Stone Throwing Championship, where men, women and children challenge each other in throwing cherry stones to try to beat the record of 22.80 meters. Local restaurants will amaze you with their cherry-based menus from appetizers to desserts and there will be no shortage of Colors, masks and floats.

Celleno is only an hour and a half away from Rome by car and can be an excellent destination for a day trip or a weekend dedicated to the scent of the countryside; consider that in the surroundings of Celleno you can visit other places such as the characteristic Civita di Bagnoregio, Viterbo, the village of Sant'Angelo di Roccalvecce, also called the village of fairy tales because of the murals that decorate the walls of the houses with images of the most famous children's stories or you can cool off in the waters of Lake Bolsena.

To reach Celleno by car if you come from Rome take the A1/E35 towards Perugia and exit at Orte towards Vitorchiano, then follow the signs for Borgo di Celleno. If you travel by train, the closest station to Celleno is Viterbo, Viterbo and Celleno are connected by bus. Alternatively, if you are a sports enthusiast, you could consider including Celleno in a cycling trip to discover Lazio!