Holiday apartment in Arlena di Castro: tuff plateau, churches and Etruscan traces

Holiday apartment in Arlena di Castro among tuff stone and history

Arlena di Castro is situated on a tuff-stone plateau at the foot of the Monti Cimini in a hilly landscape.

Churches and castle ruins in Arlena di Castro

The Church of San Rocco was founded around 1460. The present building of the parish church of San Giovanni was created in the 18th century by rebuilding a structure that had been erected in the late 16th century. Both buildings represent different phases of the town’s history and complement the historical impressions conveyed by Arlena di Castro with its ruins and traces of older settlements.

The walls of the castle ruins of Arlena di Castro are 1.30 metres thick. On the north side, three windows are still visible: inside, they are widely splayed, while outside they narrow into narrow loopholes. The course of the wall follows the outline of the tuff spur on which the settlement was founded. As early as 1630, the castle ruins of Arlena di Castro bore the name “Roccaccia di sopra”; the derogatory name referred to the state of decay of the complex at that time.

Etruscan tombs near La Piantata and Ararella

At La Piantata, in the immediate vicinity of the Arlena-Piansano provincial road, there is an underground Etruscan chamber tomb with painted decoration and an onomastic inscription. Based on its architectural and decorative features, which have parallels in the painted tombs of Tarquinia, the tomb is dated to the final quarter of the 4th century BC.

In the Località Ararella near Arlena di Castro, along the Strada Provinciale Caninese, there are further Etruscan tombs. The burial chambers are carved into the tuff stone and were originally covered with protective roof tiles.

Festival traditions and regional products

The patronal festival of San Rocco in Arlena di Castro takes place every year on 16 August. Historical re-enactments also take place in Arlena di Castro during Holy Week.

The products of the area are also part of Arlena di Castro’s character. Green asparagus from Canino, with the protected geographical indication IGP, is cultivated in the area of Arlena di Castro. Canino extra virgin olive oil, with the protected designation of origin DOP, is also cultivated and produced there. Alongside churches, ruins and tombs, this places regional agriculture at the centre of the travel experience.

Which accommodation suits your travel interests

For your travel planning, Arlena di Castro offers several specific points of interest: the hilly tuff-stone landscape, the churches, the castle ruins, the Etruscan tombs, the festival dates and the products of the area. If you choose a holiday apartment or holiday home in Arlena di Castro, you can focus on cultural history, landscapes, festival traditions or regional cuisine. This allows your accommodation choice to be guided by the topics you would like to explore more closely during your stay.

Further places for your travel planning

For your further travel planning, you can also consider Roccalvecce, Celleno, Bomarzo, Cellere, Chiusa, Collevecchio, Caprarola and Colle Farnese.

For the higher-level travel overview: Viterbo.