Discover Sasso: Holiday apartment in Sasso among rocks and history

Sasso combines striking rock formations, traces of ancient settlements and the designated Sughereta del Sasso nature reserve with the buildings and churches of the Borgo. Its historical traces span the period from prehistory to the Middle Ages.

Borgo del Sasso Among Rocks and History

The old district of Borgo del Sasso lies at an altitude of around 310 metres above sea level at the foot of Monte Santo. The panoramic road to Sasso rises steadily and passes the large rocky peaks of the Sassoni di Furbara. Due to their shape and colour, they are reminiscent of the Dolomites. Above Sasso is a rocky cliff known by locals as “Scoglio di Sant’Antonio” or “Il Monte”. Remains of 12th-century masonry are preserved there. The medieval Castello del Sasso stood on one of the rocky peaks; it was abandoned after repeated incursions by the Saracens.

Gate, Palace and Chiesa di Santa Croce

The medieval Borgo del Sasso is entered through a battlemented gate. A fortified palace stands on the village square; the Margraves Patrizi had it built in 1552. The Chiesa di Santa Croce is the most important ecclesiastical complex in the Borgo. Filippo Patrizi founded it in the 16th century as the church of the palace and the small village that developed around it. The church has a single-nave layout with two side chapels.

Traces from Prehistory to Antiquity

Sasso contains traces of an Etruscan settlement and the remains of Roman masonry structures. The ruins of a hermitage of monks who followed Saint Anthony are also preserved on the rocky cliff above the village. During the Middle Neolithic, the Grotta Patrizi served as a burial site for seven burials. The historical arc therefore extends from prehistory through the Etruscan and Roman periods to the Middle Ages.

Landscape, Water and Special Places

Sughereta del Sasso is designated as a Zona Speciale di Conservazione (ZSC), or Special Area of Conservation. In the hamlet of Pian Della Carlotta is the Acque Cerette thermal complex, which was particularly known for its sulphurous waters in Roman times.

Borgo and Rocky Landscape at a Glance

The gate, village square, palace and Chiesa di Santa Croce are the focal points of the Borgo. The Sassoni di Furbara, the rocky cliff, the Grotta Patrizi and the Etruscan-Roman remains represent the area’s rocks and older traces of settlement. Cib’Arte was a traditional event held every summer in the medieval Borgo del Sasso; the second edition took place on 26, 27 and 28 July 2024.

More Places for Your Travel Planning

If you would like to extend your travel plans beyond Sasso, you can find more places to choose from here: Saracinesco, Cineto Romano, San Gregorio Da Sassola, Frascati, Castel San Pietro Romano, Pisciarelli, Manziana, Lanuvio

To the higher-level travel overview: Rome.