Casperia: Medieval Old Town and Stringozzi Tradition

Casperia, formerly Aspra, combines a medieval old town with a distinctive culinary tradition. Its concentric rings of streets follow the slopes of the hill, narrow and meet at Piazza S. Giovanni Battista, beside the parish church of the same name. Church architecture and local cuisine offer further perspectives on the town. Casperia can thus be explored through different themes: its historic settlement layout as well as its architectural history and Stringozzi.

A medieval town centre with clearly defined entrances

Walls dating from 1282 enclose Casperia’s settlement. It is accessible only on foot: from the west through Porta Romana and from the northeast through Porta di S. Maria. The old town is completely inaccessible to cars. This is a practical consideration when choosing a holiday apartment in Casperia if you want to spend time in its historic lanes: the old town is suited to a day on foot, not to getting around by car.

Porta di S. Maria is also known as Porta Reatina. It has a clock that displays medieval canonical time. Together with the walls and the two gates, it provides recognisable historic landmarks in the town centre, while the concentric lanes give it its distinctive shape.

Church history in Legarano

In the municipality of Casperia, the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands in the ancient settlement of Legarano, 3 km north of the town centre. It was built in the Early Middle Ages over the remains of a Roman villa rustica and served as a parish church until 1409. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross, and its nave has a single aisle. The municipality thus brings together different historical scales: the old town’s close-knit, ring-shaped layout and a church with its own architectural and settlement history north of the centre.

Stringozzi and local tradition

Casperia’s cuisine is also part of its history. The Pro Loco of Casperia rediscovered Stringozzi in 1983, and the Sagra has continuously promoted them as a traditional local product. The 44th Sagra dei Stringozzi Aspresi took place from 29 July to 2 August 2026. This edition’s programme combined local cuisine with live music and entertainment for all age groups.

In the wider regional context, “stringozzi aspresi” are among the newly recognised products that characterise agriculture and gastronomy in Lazio. The local tradition and this regional context offer two distinct perspectives on the food: Stringozzi are associated with Casperia while also belonging to a broader culinary tradition. When choosing a holiday apartment to suit your interests, you can consider culture and cuisine alongside exploring the historic lanes as other focuses for your stay.

Art and nature in the townscape

The Presepe Monumentale presents around a dozen views of the medieval old town in miniature. It translates the distinctive settlement layout into a small-scale handcrafted display. The name Teatro Ignazio Gennari also points to a local cultural connection: the theatre is named after the dialect poet Ignazio Gennari.

In the upper part of Casperia stands the Leccio di Aspra, a centuries-old holm oak. It is on private land but clearly visible. The tree adds a striking landscape feature to the historic and culinary themes, without requiring access to private property.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Castel San Pietro, Cottanello, Forano, Casali, Configni, Accumoli, Roccaranieri, Poggio Vittiano.

For the main travel overview: Rieti.