I Ruderi

Civitella d’Agliano is one of central Italy’s best-kept secrets. Founded some 3,000 years ago by the Etruscans, later occupied by the Romans and shaped by the Middle Ages, the village has retained much of its historic character. Its cobbled alleyways and narrow steps wind through a beautifully preserved medieval centre, perched above the Tiber Valley and its distinctive limestone cliffs, known as calanche. Life here moves at a gentle pace, with a pizzeria offering dine-in, takeaway and bar service, plus a bakery, wine bar, café and mini-market approximately 6–7 minutes away on foot. However, the uneven roads and steep gradients can make walking challenging, so a car is recommended. A supermarket and a wider choice of restaurants and services are accessible by car. The village’s quiet atmosphere is part of its charm, while the surrounding countryside offers plenty to explore by car. Winding roads lead to the gardens of Villa Lante, the Sacro Bosco at Bomarzo and the shores of Lake Bolsena in Lazio, as well as Orvieto, with its cathedral and surrounding vineyards, in Umbria, all approximately 30 minutes’ drive away. 

Getting There

Airports nearby:

Airports: Rome, 1 hour 30 minutes; Florence, about 2 hours

By Car:

Motorway exit at Orvieto, 40 minutes along paved, winding roads. Cars cannot enter the old section of Civitella d’Agliano; the nearest parking, for several cars, is in a small piazza reached through a narrow archway, about 100m/110 yards from the house.