Attractions and Places To See around Guardea - Top 20

The Rio Grande Basin is located about two kilometers from Amelia, nestled in the Monti Amerini area. The Rio Grande is a stream flowing into the Tiber, and the area is described as an urban river park and a site of naturalistic and landscape interest. Its historical importance depends mainly on two dams: the upstream dam, called Para, which formed the Lago Vecchio (Old Lake), and the downstream dam, called dei Finestroni or Ponte Grande. For centuries, this hydraulic system has guaranteed a water reserve for the territory and has powered mills for grinding oil and grain, still remembered along the course of the basin.

Gorgeous place! Too bad it takes so many rainy days to see any water!

Past the old monastery you will arrive at the old borgo. The elevated old village has been depopulated since the 19th century and has become a real ruin due to erosion and earthquakes. In 1951 it was completely abandoned. Only the old market square and the castle are accessible, the old houses are completely dilapidated and overgrown with plants over the years. The Orsini castle at the entrance of Celleno antico is the most beautiful building in the borgo. It has a large watchtower and the castle is surrounded by a deep moat. It was recently restored and inhabited by the artist Enrico Castellani. This artist was internationally known (he also studied in Brussels) and died on 1 December 2017. On the old market square you can see a beautiful rectangular bell tower, in 3 layers and made of tuff. Only the walls of the old church San Carlo (17th century), left of the castle, remain. Close to the market square is the church of San Donato from the year 1000 in Romanesque style, with a very beautiful portal in basalt stone.

Recent archaeological discoveries have confirmed the Etruscan origins (4th-3rd centuries BC) of Celleno Vecchio, a settlement that enjoyed a great position, i.e. the ancient communication route between Orvieto, Bagnoregio and Ferento. Ancient sources provide evidence that this medieval settlement is one of the fortified villages built by the Counts of Bagnoregio between the 10th and 11th centuries. At that time, the village must have consisted of a number of dwellings at the end of the tuff, protected by cliffs on three sides, surrounded by walls and a small fortress, which is now the Orsini Castle, to protect the only access route. At the end of the 12th century, after the destruction of Ferento, the municipality of Viterbo began a rapid expansion in the Tiber Valley, also acquiring Celleno, which in 1237 was one of the castles of the Viterbo area governed by a Podest (high official) appointed by the local government. At the end of the 14th century, the city center fell into the hands of the Gatti family, one of the most powerful families in Viterbo. During this period, the medieval fortress was completely renovated and converted into a fortified stately home that can still be seen today. The Gatti family ruled Celleno until the last heir, Giovanni Gatti, who was killed on the orders of Pope Alexander VI (Borgia) for refusing to return the castle. At the beginning of the 16th century, the municipality fell into the hands of the Orsini family. Interestingly, the castle still bears the name of this family. Only towards the end of the 16th century was the church able to incorporate Celleno into its possessions until the unification of Italy. In modern times, Celleno Vecchio was often affected by earthquakes and landslides, until it was finally abandoned in the 1930s. Today it is a small, charming and evocative ghost village, characterized by ruins and vegetation, with beautiful views of the surrounding landscape.

After the rainy day, finding this village immersed in the sun was a pleasant surprise. Enchanting!

A balcony overlooking the landscape, a great spot to relax the body

The village of Morruzze has its origins in the medieval period as a fortified villa affiliated with Todi. Although it experienced crucial moments during the 14th century due to the plague and frequent looting, the village has maintained its timeless charm. The palace, acquired by the Paperini family in the 17th century, underwent significant transformations, becoming the structure you admire today. This village, surrounded by a particular tranquility, offers a spectacular view of the Tiber valley and the surrounding hills of Todi. Along its narrow streets, you will find a small fountain and shaded benches that invite you to rest and contemplate the breathtaking landscape.

ocated on a hill overlooking the Tiber valley, Montecchio preserves the charm of the Middle Ages intact with its alleys, squares, the light tones of the stone and the mighty walls with defense towers. With a vaguely elliptical shape, the village is one of the best preserved in the valley. Soft hills of olive trees draw its territory. Dense woods make the landscape vivid and lush in the summer, while autumn paints the Mediterranean scrub in orange and red.