Holiday apartment in Civitella Cesi: discover history and nature

Civitella Cesi combines impressive traces of the past with a natural setting and a variety of paths. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Civitella Cesi, you can tailor your stay to very different interests: medieval architecture, Etruscan history, landscapes and wildlife, or a local culinary tradition.

Holiday apartment in Civitella Cesi between Castello and archaeology

One of the town’s defining historical features is the Castello di Civitella Cesi. Its origins date back to the first half of the 11th century. On the outside, especially along the side walls and rear façade, the Castello preserves the layout of a medieval fortification. This means that a single building reveals both its long history of development and a clearly visible part of the former defensive structure.

The archaeological site of San Giovenale is particularly multifaceted. It preserves the remains of archaic Etruscan houses from the 7th and 6th centuries BC. The houses were built from blocks of tuff and roofed with terracotta tiles. At the same site, the ruins of the Castello Di Vico and the Chiesa di San Giovenale bear witness to partial resettlement in the Middle Ages, before the site was completely depopulated in the 15th century.

Antiquitates in Civitella Cesi also has its own distinct focus: the facility combines an archaeological education park, an open-air museum and a research centre for experimental archaeology. In the Chiesa di San Leonardo, the altars feature paintings of the Madonna and Child with Saints Leonardo and Antonio, the Madonna with Saint Isidore, and the Madonna del Rosario with Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine of Siena. The cultural spectrum thus extends from archaeological traces of habitation to sacred art.

Paths for different types of holiday days

The Caprareccia walking and riding trail in the San Giovenale and Civitella Cesi SCI area is approximately 3,800 metres long. The Lontaneto walking and riding trail, also located there, is approximately 1,500 metres long and leads to the archaeological area of San Giovenale.

A broader option is the seventh stage of the Cammino Tuscia 103. It leads from Civitella Cesi to Monte Romano through the archaeological area of San Giovenale and can be completed on foot or by mountain bike. This allows local history and physical activity to be combined in a single stage. When choosing accommodation, the key consideration is whether you want to focus on individual trails, archaeological discoveries or a longer stage.

Close to nature and birds of prey in the SCI area

The San Giovenale and Civitella Cesi SCI area has been designated a Site of Community Importance because of its highly natural character and limited human alteration. Numerous diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey occur in the area, including the black stork (Ciconia nigra). The tuff cliffs are considered ideal nesting sites for the birds of prey found there. This creates a clear landscape focus for visitors interested in natural history alongside the archaeological themes.

Local flavours in Civitella Cesi

The local character also includes the Sagra delle fettuccine al tartufo.

Further places to help you get your bearings in the region: Soriano Nel Cimino, Cellere, Caprarola, Sutri, San Martino Al Cimino, Montalto Marina, Orte, Marina Di Pescia Romana.

For the broader travel overview: Viterbo.